President’s Day Reality
March 12, 2021
It seems that President’s Day has lost its meaning to the people as many harsh realities about the holiday have been highlighted.
Is President’s Day turning into a Columbus Day Holiday?
As the years pass and information submerges Americans change their sentiment towards certain things, such as holidays.
President’s Day has received a lot of backlash from Americans.
First of all the official name of the holiday is not President’s Day, it is called by the US Office of Personnel Management, Washington’s Birthday.
The presidents that have birthdays in February are Geroge Wahsingotn, Abraham Lincoln, William Henry Harrison, and Ronald Reagan.
What’s ironic however is that none of these birthdates land on Presidents Day and never coincide with the third Monday of the month.
Everyone has learned in the past administrations and in the 232 years that the executive branch wields too much power, particularly unchecked power.
The past administration left a hate sentiment for Presidents Day seeing it as an undeserving holiday for undeserving people.
Why does the executive branch get a holiday and not the judiciary or the legislative?
Presidents Day is viewed as a three day weekend, with lots of deals instead of the reflection on holding presidents accountable or commemorating presidents for their work.
The past administration wasn’t the only bad one, there was also Clinton’s that left the nation in a horrid debt.
There is Andrew Johnson who was the first president to face impeachment, then there is Bill Clinton, Donald Trump twice, and the honorary mention, Richard Nixon.
Should those names be under the same list for celebration with Abrham Licoln, George Wahsingont, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin D.Roosevelt, or of Thomas Jefferson?
Senior Damby Renteria said, “Well in my opinion, we should celebrate presidents day.
The reason is because even though there were many negative things happening this year, we should be able to look forward to celebrating those who were there to help us… presidents have made some kind of change that has marked history whether it has been good or bad.
I do believe we should celebrate all presidents and thank them for their time as president.”
Some historians argue that having a holiday for the presidents is too general and can undermine the legitimacy of the good presidents.
Robert Schlesinger, author of White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters argues that Presidents Day should only honor George Washington, especially in today’s political climate.
It is important to hold every single president accountable for what they did, every single one.
There shouldn’t be an idolization for presidents, every president has their own share of baggage that should not be overlooked.
President’s Day could be a day for remembrance of the good and the bad.
After all it is through acknowledging the bad that people can move forward.
There has to be a change in mindset about President’s Day and the celebration of the holiday.
Teachers should include in their lessons on that subject the good, the bad, and the ugly.