Pet Peeves: “Presidents’ Day”
George Washington, by Gilbert Stuart, 1796
Everyone has a few pet peeves. Okay, WC demonstrably has more than a few. But one of WC’s pet peeves is the whole business with “Presidents’ Day.”
Alaska law makes the third Monday in February “Presidents’ Day.” Of course, it used to be celebrated as Washington’s Birthday, and actually celebrated on February 22, the real date George Washington was born. And the federal holiday is still called Washington’s Birthday. None of this “Presidents’ Day” stuff for the Feds, proving they can get some things right. Washington’s birthday got changed to a floating date as apart of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, a triumph of convenience over history, back in 1971.
Some states, including Alaska, formerly recognized Abraham Lincoln‘s birthday as a holiday. Sensible states still do. But apparently someone at the Alaska Chamber of Commerce decided having two holidays in one month was wasteful. But then the Chamber of Commerce is still annoyed by the ideas of holidays in general, minimum wages and overtime. The Chamber of Commerce thinks Foxconn is just fine and that we should stop scrutinizing it. But WC has again indulged his tendency to digress.
No, WC’s peeve is that by celebrating “Presidents’ Day” seems to imply we need to honor all presidents. Not just Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. No , the generic Alaska version of the holiday demands we honor Richard Nixon, Warren G. Harding, Millard Filmore and, shudder, George W. Bush.
WC isn’t having any of it. WC is celebrating Washington’s Birthday today, thank you very much.
If you agree with WC that George W. Bush doesn’t deserve a state holiday, write you legislators and demand they amend state law to restore the honor to the Father of Our Country, not to the sad posse of hacks that have served latterly. The Legislature’s not doing anything anyway. If they can spend hours debating and tweaking a resolution addressed to themselves, they have time for this more important task.
So here’s to you, George <clink>. And thanks.
Update: You think WC is worked up about this? Check out Stonekettle’s screed over at The Mudflats.
I always understood that the “presidents” in “Presidents’ Day” were Washington and Lincoln, whose birthdays fall in February. I hadn’t heard the ridiculous suggestion that the holiday honored ALL presidents, which I agree would be absurd. (BTW, what do you have against Millard Filmore? Was he worse than merely forgettable?)
freshwatersnark
February 20, 2012 at 6:18 pm