In that part of heaven reserved for heroes of labor, I can almost bet Joe Hill is whistling a merry tune — way to go union members, way to go.

In Capetown, South Africa, members of union refused to unload containers of arms and munitions for the Chinese ship the Yue Jiang a couple of weeks ago. The arms were to be transshipped to the poor, suffering nation of Zimbabwe, where current president and autocrat Robert Mugabe has brought the country to ruin with his 20-plus years of power. A recent election may have ended his rule, but he has refused to release the results. That must tell us something. His goons and other supporters have been intimidating the opposition’s supporters.

The probable winner of the election has fled to South Africa in fear of his life. The South African dock workers, apparently deciding more arms were not what was needed in Zimbabwe, took quick action. Hopefully, this will help Zimbabweans, where prices for food and drink have more than doubled in the last few weeks.

Anyway, back to Joe Hill. Solidarity and support among working people everywhere was what he lived and died for. The support of the African port workers for the working people of Zimbabwe would make him happy wherever he may be.

This incident may also be a hint to China — that there’s more than enough death-dealing tools in Africa and elsewhere already. Are the Chinese in their quest for world economic power trying to compete with the United States as the top arms dealer of the world? There must be a better way to make a buck, Euro, yen or ruble.

Benita Helseth