I need to bounce this as I am happy to report that Juneteenth is now a US holiday, as I suggested here all those years ago. I have changed my view on MLK Day. I am still NOT a believer in the "Great Man" theory of history, but I have grown into the view that we should raise up exemplars. And I think we can look to someone like MLK to appeal to the better angels of our nature So Happy Juneteenth everyone! And to celebrate -- the original general order Number 3:
Happy Juneteenth to all. Absolutely delighted by this new holiday and the history behind it. Way overdue!
How many states will do an Arizona and decline to observe it at the state level? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr._Day#State-level_passage
First of all, it's racist that this sock remains banned... Second of all, it's been mildly amusing watching conservative twitter twist itself into knots over this... I mean you have the full opportunity to embrace and celebrate something to woo those black Americans that have supposedly been brainwashed by Democrat promises and propaganda and what do you do? You trot out Candace Owens & her brother stating that they (and all the other right thinking black people in America) don't celebrate or want this holiday and state that the holiday is a leftist attempt to shame white America into hating their country and get rid of the 4th of July and that blacks have not been oppressed since the end of the Civil War... The utter stupidity of these folks... Also, I can't wait for the first nationwide retailer to hop on board with the "Juneteenth Celebration sale", offering a 25% discount on sheets...
America: the only country where some people are stupid enough to complain about getting additional days off because it interferes with their racism.
Texas for obvious reasons was the first to recognize the holiday, making it official in 1980 (under a Republican governor). I did find a reference to an official governor's proclamation in Texas in 1938. It was not an official holiday but rather a call for celebrations of "Emancipation Day" (as it was called back then). Sadly it was seen as a segregated holiday only
It IS overdue, but I'd have preferred a federal Election Day off instead. A lot of POCs need that day to navigate the roadblocks set up to prevent us from voting. I was able to vote in 2020, but I expect to be denied at some point going forward.
I suspect POC are more proportionally in jobs that wouldn't give that day off even if it was a national holiday.
Agreed, but a federal holiday would save more votes than not having one. Certain groups of conservatives are always bleating about wanting to do stuff on their own, without any handouts or assistance. Dr. King is one of the people who worked to give them that chance. Part of me thinks such a tireless servant of all the people his should get his own day, but I'd still take the voting day...
Now, replace Presidents Day (Just an excuse to buy a mattress) for Democracy Day, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Democracy Day is too "partisan"-every Republican member of Congress. Definitely. Just move the Columbus Day "slot" (mid-Fall) to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November and call it Republic Day! Everybody wins Have to move Veterans Day, though. I know it was "Armistice Day," but can't have three federal holidays in November (well, four, including my birthday! ), plus the day after Thanksgiving.