Originally Posted by Pballer (Post 2227860)

You came to the wrong state for this.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2227877)

If the teaching of history was color blind, we would not have learned about Rosa Parks. She is known BECAUSE she was a black activist. If she were a white activist, she wouldn't have become the tipping point of the Civil Rights Movement. If Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn't black, he wouldn't have been nearly as influential as he became - and probably wouldn't have been assassinated.

Many things have happened in this country -because- this or that person, group of people, church, school, child, was black.

How do you think the Civil War would've gone, if the slaves were all white Irish instead of black African?

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2227875)

History should absolutely -not- be color blind. It should be inclusive, not exclusive. Atrocities were committed on a variety of peoples throughout history, American, European, World - of all races, all Nationalities, all religions, all ethnicities, all genders, disabilities, abilities, sexual preferences, marital status, lack of marital status. We need to accept these histories, learn OF them, and learn FROM them.

Otherwise it'll just continue to happen. Maybe black folks will be the "target du jour" again once we're done with the transgender trend. Or maybe all those anti-abortion nuts will start targeting women who don't have children, and start a brand new tirade a la Handmaid's Tale, berating them for not marrying and whelping the next generation. Or maybe they'll come back to the Jews. Or maybe it'll be the Irish again. Or the Italians again. Or maybe old people again.

Round and round it goes, where it stops, everyone knows. As long as we say "let's not talk about that, it is unpleasant and hey look how great we are now!" we will continue the cycle.

Originally Posted by JMintzer (Post 2228018)

No one ever suggested "let's not talk about that"...

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2227892)

Only one group was subjected to kidnapping from another country, imported to this country, for the exclusive purpose of being used as chattel and breed-mares for plantations and construction to build this country, then after an entire war broke out to fight against this, became freed, and only two years later after they were officially free, did word get to an entire state to let them know that they had been freed two years prior.

So yeah - it's pandering to one group. When this happens to you, we can pander to your group too.

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 2227898)

Seriously, is that the best you got? Chinese were brought here against their will, wanna give them their own holiday.

Lots of other groups had a real tough time when they got, Jews, Italians, Irish and on and on. Give them all their own days?

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2227979)

I'd be fine with getting rid of Christmas as a Federal holiday. Why are we pandering to one group? Why don't we have Eid as a Federal holiday? Why not Yom Kippur? Why not Beltane? Every religion has its "big deal Holy days" but only Christians get an automatic paid day off or bonus pay for working it, and don't have to use up personal time for the privilege.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2227999)

You're missing the point. Each religion has its own Holy day, where they need to take a day off from work. Jewish bank employees don't get a day off on Yom Kippur if that day falls on a Wednesday. They have to request it in advance, and use up a personal day - something Christian bankers don't have to do, if they want Christmas off. They get it off, with pay. A free Holy day for them, while everyone else has to "pay" for theirs by using up a personal day, or vacation pay. Or in some cases, they have to take a day off without getting paid at all. While Christians get the day off with pay, because it is customarily a paid holiday on a federal level.

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 2227840)

How is it that we disagree with something and all you can say is we are bigots. So if you disagree with something I write will it be ok to call you a bigot or worse?

Originally Posted by margaretmattson (Post 2227713)

As a retired, Christian, woman, I hope this holiday becomes known as Freedom Day. Different than the 4th of July which celebrates our nation freeing ourselves from British rule, Juneteenth celebrates the rights of every individual.

To celebrate, I took a few moments and counted my many blessings. As a woman, I am treated exactly as a man, as an elder I am allowed to retire and enjoy the rest of my years as I see fit, and as a Christian, I am allowed to practice my religion openly. In many countries, the people are not as fortunate.

Yes, the official holiday commemorates the freeing of black slaves. But, because we became a nation that truly believes in freedom for all, women eventually fought for their rights, children were no longer forced to work, a generation of Americans fought world wars to stop those who believed in racial superiority, a black woman refused to give up her seat, a black man had a dream, gays became proud, and so many more fought and continue to fight for individual freedom. No man, woman, or child should be stripped of these basic, "inalienable" rights.

Originally Posted by BrianL99 (Post 2227824)

Yes, I meant 2020.

Why should schools teach "Black History"? History should be color blind.