Patriotism or Celebrating Power?

Hmmm. Or, perhaps, yet another reason to be dissatisfied with the results of the Vietnam War?

David Shribman wrote an opinion article entitled "Don't Call it Presidents Day" that I found interesting. It just goes to show, you never know what you'll learn from random clicks while trying to get out of your e-mail account!

Apparently Monday (technically today, but I haven't slept yet, so the day hasn't officially changed over in my little world) is Presidents Day. Except, it's shouldn't be, at least according to Shribman. It should be Washington's Birthday. Except, it shouldn't be that either, since that's Feb. 22, and Monday's only the 20th (he says it's the 19th, but I'll allow him that little error). See, according to Shribman, it goes like this:

"This February holiday is a real mess. Back in the middle of the last century, when Americans didn't hate all their politicians for the mere character flaw of being politicians, we celebrated two holidays. Every American schoolchild knew that Abraham Lincoln was born on Feb. 12 and that Washington's birthday (with the car sales that made it famous) was 10 days later. Two presidents, two holidays. Made a lot of sense: the president who helped found the Union, the president who helped save it."

Aside from the accurate, but not entirely appropriate, political digs, like this:

In 1968, a year in which virtually nothing good happened, Congress started to fiddle with the nation's holidays. Unable or unwilling to move American troops out of Vietnam, and unable or unwilling to move Americans away from violence, the lawmakers instead started moving holidays, the idea being that most of them should be on Monday so as to assure three-day weekends.

It's an interesting piece. Though, I, for one, wouldn't call it a "day off from work," nor would my children, who'd be going to school had they not decided to come down with the flu today (Sunday).

So, Happy...um...Day, folks. Enjoy the time-off if you get it!