2.16.2009

happy presidents' day?


"Why? What for? When did this holiday come about? Why do we need one to celebrate presidents in general? Which narcissistic president declared it to be a holiday? What the crud do I want to celebrate the president for? And why isn't there a Citizen's Day?"

All questions I asked myself this morning when I realized it was a holiday.

So, it case you were wondering too, let's learn together...

According to Britannica Online:

The origin of Presidents’ Day lies in the 1880s, when the birthday of Washington—commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first president of the United States—was first celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to Mondays. The change was designed to schedule certain holidays so that workers had a number of long weekends throughout the year, but it has been opposed by those who believe that those holidays should be celebrated on the dates they actually commemorate. During debate on the bill, it was proposed that Washington’s Birthday be renamed Presidents’ Day to honour the birthdays of both Washington (February 22) and Lincoln (February12); although Lincoln’s birthday was celebrated in many states, it was never an official federal holiday. Following much discussion, Congress rejected the name change. After the bill went into effect in 1971, however, Presidents’ Day became the commonly accepted name, due in part to retailers’ use of that name to promote sales and the holiday’s proximity to Lincoln’s birthday. Presidents’ Day is usually marked by public ceremonies in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country.

So, okay, good. I don't have to have one loving thought or moment of adoration for any presidents this day except Washington and Lincoln. And I don't have a problem with that.

Oh, while I'm thinking about it...How do people keep putting Obama and Lincoln in the same league, sentence, category, pedestal?

How in the world are they comparing the man who abolished (more or less) slavery to the man who, thus far, has done nothing history book worthy?

What's the train of thought here? Bama is black and Lincoln set black people free? So that makes them equally great? They already have his freakin' picture on a coin for heaven sake!

And Obama, using Lincoln's Bible? Really? That's just bad taste. You're creepin' me out, man.

He hasn't even done anything good yet! So what's with the worshiping?! If he finds the cure for cancer or miraculously pulls the government's head out of its butt, then fine...break out the homage.

Till then, the madness has to stop. No more cupcakes with Lincoln and Bama's likeness together! No more, "Much like when Lincoln was president, Obama's facing obstacles..." No. Nothing is the same as it was back then. The black people are free. The white people are free. (Although, if you're Mormon, you better watch your back cuz the linch parties are forming...)

Let's just call it a day and leave Lincoln's name bright and shiny in that cloud on high...by itself.

7 comments:

  1. I'm rather fond of Ronald Reagan. Though his term in office ended the year I was born.

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  2. I don't get why they compare Lincoln and Obama either. He's been in office, what, 2 months? Sheesh...

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  3. I don't mind President's Day or MLK Day or any other holiday like that. Mainly for one reason...I CAN SLEEP IN! I have told Emily, who is 7 and in 1st grade, on those days she had better not come into my room and wake me up. She can go downstairs, watch TV and eat WHATEVER she wants. Just DON'T WAKE ME UP! (Hi, Amy)!

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  4. maybe it means he's going to be assassinated while watching a play? Please?

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  5. You're bold truthfullness makes me laugh. You certainly have a way with words! I couldn't agree with you more, I just wish I had the wittyness-is that a word?- that you do to describe things!

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If you can't say something nice, say it behind my back.