[Zenmama18]

But isn’t Good Friday a Federal Holiday?

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

No comment.

Actually one----When are we going to declare a Federal holiday in honor of the ancient Egyptian god Osiris? Definitely would be more interesting than this one

That is a Historically SHALLOW, racist, and insulting thing to say. It probably violates the intent of the Hippocratic Oath! I would certainly prefer to have as my Doctor, a person OPENMINDED enough to endorse the Historic significance of Juneteenth!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is VERY profound, in that, it signifies the end of one race OWNING another race. That is LONG overdue in the US! It IS a BRIDGE toward a future where mankind demonstrates more humanity.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Zenmama18

But isn’t Good Friday a Federal Holiday?

No, it is not.

[macawlaw]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Every Federal office I ever "worked" in was so overstaffed that all the essential work was done by about 20 percent of the employees. The other 80 percent either did no work or just got in the way. Adding another holiday will have no affect on productivity or cost.

Not a federal job, but when I was a prosecutor (county government job) we got the federal holidays off. We were severely understaffed and everyone worked their bootie off.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Neils

When are the special holidays for American Indians? Italian Americans, Asian Americans, Latino Americans?

The difference IS that those ethnic groups were NOT OWNED by another (white) race. Big difference!

[manaboutown]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Neils View Post
When are the special holidays for American Indians? Italian Americans, Asian Americans, Latino Americans?

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

The difference IS that those ethnic groups were NOT OWNED by another (white) race. Big difference!

FALSE!

"Tribal territories and the slave trade ranged over present-day borders. Some Native American tribes held war captives as slaves prior to and during European colonization. Some Native Americans were captured and sold by others into slavery to Europeans, while others were captured and sold by Europeans themselves In the late 18th and 19th centuries, a small number of tribes adopted the practice of holding slaves as chattel property, holding increasing numbers of African-American slaves.[1]

European influence greatly changed slavery used by Native Americans, as pre-contact forms of slavery were generally distinct from the form of chattel slavery developed by Europeans in North America during the colonial period.[2][3] As they raided other tribes to capture slaves for sales to Europeans, they fell into destructive wars among themselves, and against Europeans.[2][3][4]"

From: Slavery among Native Americans in the United States - Wikipedia

[Joe V.]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

The difference IS that those ethnic groups were NOT OWNED by another (white) race. Big difference!

Slaves brought to America were sold by black Africans either directly or to to the Moors, as their middleman.

[Justus]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

The difference IS that those ethnic groups were NOT OWNED by another (white) race. Big difference!

WRONG!!!

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

And all that is fine. Slavery of all types was an abomination. My understanding was than 6/19 was the day that slaves in specifically Galveston, Texas were informed that they were free. Also fine.

My question is whether this event should rise to the level of a national holiday?

Is it as important, in the scheme of history of ALL Americans as 7/4/1776??? Is it as important as Memorial Day, honoring those who died for America (including a very large number of white and some black men that died to free slaves). Is it as important as honoring ALL veterans. Is it as important as Washington and Lincoln? (which by the way were combined to one holiday about 45-50 years ago to keep the number of federal holidays the same after they instituted MLK day)

How about we create a national holiday to celebrate the day that an Irish indentured servant in colonial America was informed his 7 year contract was up and he was free. How about a day to celebrate Japanese-Americans being informed they no long had to stay in internment camps?

I'm sorry, but I just don't see it. I think (my opinion only) that national holidays should celebrate a person or event of great significance to all Americans, not just 12% of the population. After all, 10% of Americans play golf, so where is that national holiday?????

Juneteenth is important to ALL (100%) of HUMAN beings because it ANNOUNCES that NO HUMAN being should own ANOTHER human being. That IS just as WRONG as wrong can be!

[Byte1]

My thought is that I was always under the impression that America was about inclusion, not exclusion. Having a specific date made a federal holiday based on race seems to be separating the races instead of impressing the idea of inclusion upon citizens. But, like covid relief checks, everyone would vote for a paid day off and accept a federal holiday, no questions asked. Humans are easily bought with FREE stuff. Another way to "legally" buy votes.
I have to agree with the other poster that said that the holiday should be merged with MLK's birthday, just like Washington and Lincoln's birthdays were merged. It is the practical thing to do. It won't happen as long as the powers that be give away freebies, but no one seems to care about the national debt anymore, not either side of the political spectrum.
Arguing about gov employee benefits is a moot point and has hardly anything to do with it. Leave has changed over the decades,as well as gov retirement. At one time, gov employees did not have social security, they do now. The percentage of pension has changed also. As a matter of fact, since I retired they started allowing sick leave to be used toward retirement, where they didn't before and you lost it if you did not use it. Things change.
Slavery was a bad thing, but none of my family was responsible for it. My family is a family of immigrants that came over well after the civil war. Still, I do not know anyone that is directly effected by slavery, so I can't relate to this. At least, not American slavery. There was other slavery.
This whole discussion is interesting and informative, but not really going to change anything. My opinion is that some folks are just pushing buttons by implementing this "federal holiday" at this time. Other than attempting to buy votes, I can not see where it is doing anything to heal the racial divide.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Juneteenth is important to ALL (100%) of HUMAN beings because it ANNOUNCES that NO HUMAN being should own ANOTHER human being. That IS just as WRONG as wrong can be!

Do we really need a holiday to tell us this? I would think morality tells us.

and why is it racist to question this new holiday?

[retiredguy123]

Does anyone really believe that this new holiday will improve race relations? I think it will do the opposite.

[Irishmen]

Originally Posted by Joe V.

Slaves brought to America were sold by black Africans either directly or to to the Moors, as their middleman.

the racist anti-Semitic congresswoman from Minnesota family is such and are largest entity in Africa dealing in human trafficking. Yet she wants to run your life.

[Irishmen]

Originally Posted by Swoop

The number of government employees at all levels has grown exponentially. When I lived in Pennsylvania, once a year our local paper listed the top three employers in our county. Over the years different manufacturers & the hospital occupied the top three spots. But about 10 years ago, that changed. Since then, the top three employers in the county were the Federal, State & local governments…

87,000 IRS now in process of being hired. Good Luck to all.

[Irishmen]

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan

Pretty much the way it is. Predatory capitalism has taken over the US, and the corporations are sewing fear, uncertainty, and doubt to lock in their ownership of the country and its government.

What do you think globalism is. Your dollars and resources spent overseas to support these other countries social programs. Without US Aid, Germany and France will collapse.