Should we add another National holiday to the list? Juneteenth, June the 19th to commemorate the reading of field order number three in the state of Texas, declaring all slaves are free. It's certainly an event to celebrate and commemorate, I don't think anyone would deny that. A national holiday is to be celebrated by everyone, so everyone gets the day off, with pay. Unfortunately, for that reason alone I'm certain this idea will gain support. The last federal holiday created celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King. Back in 1968 the Uniform Monday holiday act was passed. We still celebrate Lincoln and Washington's birthdays, just not on their actual birthdays, always on Monday. It's the same thing with Dr. King, it isn't celebrated on his real birthdate , just the Monday closest to it. So that begs the question, when to celebrate Juneteenth? Would it be on the 19th of June every year or just the closet Monday? Will it make a difference? That Uniform Monday Holiday act attempted to move Veterans day, and did for a short time, it was restored to the actual day the war ended. It took ten years for that to happen but the significance of the date finally won out over convenience.
I'm not opposed to adding an observance of such a mementos act. I would argue that perhaps the dates of the 13,14 and fifteenth amendments to our constitution should also be remembered, many seem to have forgotten the significance of that legislative action. And what of the civil rights act of 1964? In the area of civil rights there are many steps that could be applauded. Those steps continue until the present day. But what about Juneteenth? It is the date that the abolition of slavery in America was not only declared, remember Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation in Septemeber of 1862 to take effect 1 January 1863. We have to remember however that in reality Lincoln held no legal authority over the confederate states and so the order was nothing more than political posturing at that time. But on Juneteenth the union had been restored and the full weight of the federal government would be used to enforce that order! Yes, all the slaves were freed, effectively immediately. It applied to all slaves, not just black ones, although they were certainly in the majority as far as enslavement at that time in history.
I do support making June the 19th a national holiday. But I feel like it should be more of a remembrance than a celebration. It was a day that freed everyone in bondage in the United States of America. It is a date to remember. We should remember what was gained as a nation. No longer would portions off our nation embrace an ideology that enslaves there fellow man. And that is what should be remembered, lest we ever allow that to happen again, in any form whatsoever. We the people in order to form a more perfect union did engage in mortal combat to make this land the home of the free! Brother fought brother! Yes, it's true men do not easily surrender their ideologies, even when those ideologies are just plain wrong! For that reason all the follow on legislation became a necessity. It's sad to say, the need continues. But I think we should remember what was gained and continue to build upon that. Progress has been slow. But let us not be weighed down with what was, let us remember.
You know following the Civil War a day was set aside to remember. It was called decoration day. The intent was to remember those that had fallen. It wasn't one side or the other, no it was North and South, the widows mostly that started this practice. The intent was to remember and commemorate those brave men. As the years moved forward, people began to forget. The name was changed to Memorial Day and eventually celebrated on a Monday, to take advantage of having a three day weekend! That's what happens when you go from remembrance to celebration. On Juneteenth are we to remember and commemorate, or celebrat an occasion? To commemorate means to show honor and respect for a person or event. Now to remember is to recall, what is it we wish to remember? On Juneteenth are we to remember the reading of a field order, or all of those that suffered over the centuries in slavery? A milestone for a Nation or is it something else? Do we remember or just celebrate. In my experience much is often forgotten in celebration, consider Memorial day as an example of that. To remember, to teach future generations is a solemn obligation. When we fail to do that, we fail our children and the future.
I'm not opposed to adding an observance of such a mementos act. I would argue that perhaps the dates of the 13,14 and fifteenth amendments to our constitution should also be remembered, many seem to have forgotten the significance of that legislative action. And what of the civil rights act of 1964? In the area of civil rights there are many steps that could be applauded. Those steps continue until the present day. But what about Juneteenth? It is the date that the abolition of slavery in America was not only declared, remember Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation in Septemeber of 1862 to take effect 1 January 1863. We have to remember however that in reality Lincoln held no legal authority over the confederate states and so the order was nothing more than political posturing at that time. But on Juneteenth the union had been restored and the full weight of the federal government would be used to enforce that order! Yes, all the slaves were freed, effectively immediately. It applied to all slaves, not just black ones, although they were certainly in the majority as far as enslavement at that time in history.
I do support making June the 19th a national holiday. But I feel like it should be more of a remembrance than a celebration. It was a day that freed everyone in bondage in the United States of America. It is a date to remember. We should remember what was gained as a nation. No longer would portions off our nation embrace an ideology that enslaves there fellow man. And that is what should be remembered, lest we ever allow that to happen again, in any form whatsoever. We the people in order to form a more perfect union did engage in mortal combat to make this land the home of the free! Brother fought brother! Yes, it's true men do not easily surrender their ideologies, even when those ideologies are just plain wrong! For that reason all the follow on legislation became a necessity. It's sad to say, the need continues. But I think we should remember what was gained and continue to build upon that. Progress has been slow. But let us not be weighed down with what was, let us remember.
You know following the Civil War a day was set aside to remember. It was called decoration day. The intent was to remember those that had fallen. It wasn't one side or the other, no it was North and South, the widows mostly that started this practice. The intent was to remember and commemorate those brave men. As the years moved forward, people began to forget. The name was changed to Memorial Day and eventually celebrated on a Monday, to take advantage of having a three day weekend! That's what happens when you go from remembrance to celebration. On Juneteenth are we to remember and commemorate, or celebrat an occasion? To commemorate means to show honor and respect for a person or event. Now to remember is to recall, what is it we wish to remember? On Juneteenth are we to remember the reading of a field order, or all of those that suffered over the centuries in slavery? A milestone for a Nation or is it something else? Do we remember or just celebrate. In my experience much is often forgotten in celebration, consider Memorial day as an example of that. To remember, to teach future generations is a solemn obligation. When we fail to do that, we fail our children and the future.
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