〈麵包與玫瑰〉這首歌出現在電影的最後幾幕。事實上這首歌並非當代的歌曲,它的歌詞是源自於《美國雜誌》(The American Magazine)1911年12月刊登的一首詩,名稱也是〈麵包與玫瑰〉,由詩人 James Oppenheim (1882-1932)所作。因為這首詩,讓「麵包與玫瑰」成為20世紀初非常著名的政治口號,也是所有勞工罷工時,所想要爭取的理想目標。不過,「麵包與玫瑰」這個口號,也不是 Oppenheim創造的,當時他會寫出這首詩,也是另有由來。
第一個喚出「麵包與玫瑰」這個口號的人,其實是 Rose Scheniderman(1882-1972),美國早期的社會運動與女性主義者,她也是為美國女性爭取投票權的重要推動者之一。在她的演講裡曾經出現過這樣的一句話:「勞工需要麵包,但是她也必須有玫瑰」(The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too.)。所謂的麵包,代表的是工資;而玫瑰,則代表著尊嚴(dignity)。
對於企業來說,勞工販賣的是體力和時間,於是企業總是認定工資即代表著體力與時間的對應價格。但是 Scheniderman 說,不是的,生活不單單只需依賴麵包而已,「女性勞工需要的是生活的權利(the right to live),而不只是生存(to exist)── 那種生命的權利(the right to life),就如同所有富有女性所享有的生活權利,包括陽光、音樂、還有藝術。」(註二)
在此,「麵包」與「玫瑰」(bread and roses)被放在一個對等的關係裡(使用對等連接詞 and),意味著兩者是同樣的重要,也具同等的份量。企業給付勞工工資固然必要,但是萬萬不能忽略給予同等的尊嚴與尊重。工資(麵包)與尊嚴(玫瑰)缺一不可。尊嚴雖然難以估量,但是,一個工資不足以好好過生活的人,一個沒有時間好好過生活的人,必然沒有尊嚴可言。因此,雖然無法直接兌算,爭取更高的工資,或者爭取更多的時間,也意味著爭取尊嚴。
因為 Schneiderman 的演講,以及 Oppenheim 的詩作,讓「麵包與玫瑰」成為流行,甚至影響了1912年一月到三月在麻薩諸塞州勞倫斯城(Lawrence, Massachusetts)的紡織業罷工。在這場名留史冊的勞倫斯紡織業罷工中,大部分上街頭的勞工都是女性,這些被低價剝削的女性會離開家庭、走出工廠,目的就是爭取更多的工資與時間,不只是生存,還要生活(品質)。生活所需的,不只是麵包,還包括玫瑰。這次歷史性的女性與移民/移工罷工,迅速擴及整個勞倫斯城,參與罷工的工人來自四十多個國家及地區,共超過兩萬人加入,逼得美國國會不得不展開紡織產業的內部調查,也使得企業不得不儘快妥協,果然在兩個月後,不只麻薩諸塞州,這場罷工為整個新英格蘭地區爭取提升了20%的工資。雖然遺憾的是,在這場罷工前後至少有三個人不幸的犧牲了,但這場抗爭不只有美麗的口號,也得到美麗的結果。於是,1912年的勞倫斯紡織業罷工,後來即被稱為「麵包與玫瑰罷工」(bread and roses strike)。
正如同早期黑人團體在爭取自我權利、建立自我意識、與接受大眾認同的過程裡,必須透過大聲述說著自己身為非洲後裔而感到自豪的宣言一般,同性戀者也在認同運動裡,必須為自己爭取自我存在的自豪感。這裡所謂的「驕傲」(pride)即意味著「我以同性戀為榮,也以同性戀而感驕傲,甚至願意大聲說出我就是同性戀」。也就是說,「驕傲」 就是一種宣言,宣示著同性戀的存在與認同。而我們所認識的彩虹旗,就是這種驕傲的代表,可謂是是 LGBT 的驕傲旗幟,也是這個族群真實存在的證明。
"What the woman who labors wants is the right to live, not simply exist — the right to life as the rich woman has the right to life, and the sun and music and art. You have nothing that the humblest worker has not a right to have also. The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too. Help, you women of privilege, give her the ballot to fight with."
註三・全詩如下:
Bread and Roses (By James Oppenheim)
As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses
For the people hear us singing, bread and roses, bread and roses. As we come marching, marching, we battle too, for men, For they are in the struggle and together we shall win. Our days shall not be sweated from birth until life closes, Hearts starve as well as bodies, give us bread, but give us roses. As we come marching, marching, un-numbered women dead Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread, Small art and love and beauty their trudging spirits knew Yes, it is bread we. fight for, but we fight for roses, too. As we go marching, marching, we're standing proud and tall.
The rising of the women means the rising of us all.
No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life's glories, bread and roses, bread and roses.
註四・歌詞全文:
There is power in a factory, power in the land
Power in the hands of a worker
But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand
There is power in a union
Now the lessons of the past were all learned with workers blood
The mistakes of the bosses we must pay for
From the cities and the farmlands to trenches full of mud
War has always been the bosses way, sir
The union forever defending our rights
Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
There is power in a union
Now I long for the morning that they realize
Brutality and unjust laws can not defeat us
But who'll defend the workers, who cannot organize
When the bosses send their lackies out to cheat us?
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own
Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone
What a comfort to the widow, a light to the child
There is power in a union
The union forever defending our rights
Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
With our brothers and our sisters, together we will stand
There is power in a union