# New Public Holidays In US **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 6, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670 "2010-11-06T04:35:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/21 "2010-11-07T01:23:41Z")
As long as we’re coming up with new holidays, I’d support Obama’s birthday being a holiday, but let’s wait until he finishes his second term. How’s that sound Curtis? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/22 "2010-11-07T01:40:20Z")
We have too many holidays in the December/January timeframe. We have no holidays in August. Move MLK day to August. He deserves a better holiday. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/23 "2010-11-07T01:51:54Z")
When can we celebrate the breaking of the evangelical protestant stranglehold on rational thought? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/24 "2010-11-07T01:56:28Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > When can we celebrate the breaking of the evangelical protestant stranglehold on rational thought? Darwin’s birthday - February 12th. A month that desperately needs a holiday for regular people, since Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays got scrunched into one, and only the Post Office and banks get it off anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/25 "2010-11-07T02:02:46Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > We have too many holidays in the December/January timeframe. We have no holidays in August. > > Move MLK day to August. He deserves a better holiday. Once again, I offer you Obama day: August 4th. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/26 "2010-11-07T12:29:05Z")
> [@\_mostly\_Harmless](#): > > I’d support a holiday marking the end of WWII. I also support a holiday remembering nine-eleven but I don’t really like calling it ‘Patriot Day’. (I have nothing against patriotism I just don’t like the sound of that name). It’s more than that - the people who died that day were random victims who died because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were just ordinary people trying to get on with their lives. Calling them patriots is bizarrely missing the point. In Massachusetts, “Patriot Day” marks the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. _That_ makes sense. A day for the end of World War II, I could also get behind - here in Norway, May 8th is Liberation Day - but if the US is going to have such a holiday, it’s about time to get moving; the generation that fought the war is not going to be with us for much longer. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/27 "2010-11-07T13:53:00Z")
> [@flodnak](#): > > It’s more than that - the people who died that day were random victims who died because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were just ordinary people trying to get on with their lives. Calling them patriots is bizarrely missing the point. Exactly. It would make much more sense to call it “A Good Day to Call In Sick Day”. > [@](#): > > Reunification Day-April 9th, Surrender of Lee’s army, essential end of Southern Rebellion Suck it, Dixie > [@](#): > > Victory Day-September 2nd, End of World War II We already have that, dear. > [@](#): > > Remembrance Day-September 11th, 9-11 terrorist attacks See above > [@](#): > > Reformation Day-October 31st, the Protestant Reformation, end of Roman Catholic stranglehold on Europe This is ridiculous Curtis, even for you. > [@](#): > > James K Polk’s Birthday-November 2nd, Birthday of one of America’s greatest Presidents I’m generally in favor of random days off, and can’t think of any reason NOT to celebrate Polk, so sure, why not. I agree with some others that the timing isn’t ideal though. Did he do anything significant in March? We could use a March holiday. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/28 "2010-11-07T14:23:29Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > James K Polk’s Birthday-November 2nd, Birthday of one of America’s greatest Presidents > > Whaddya think Hell yeah! How about an official government closing holiday for every president! As a state employee I endorse this plan. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/29 "2010-11-07T15:07:19Z")
For 11 September, we just ought to save up a bunch of immigrants and swear them in all at once. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/30 "2010-11-07T15:11:56Z")
> [@howye](#): > > Hell yeah! How about an official government closing holiday for every president! As a state employee I endorse this plan. This is a great idea-- it will add a whole new level to Presidential politics. “I’m not voting for him. He was born on Christmas and we already have that day off. I’m voting for the guy born in April.” Plus, once we’ve had 200 or so Presidents, we won’t have to work at all. The robots will take care of it for us. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/31 "2010-11-07T15:14:06Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Reunification Day-April 9th, Surrender of Lee’s army, essential end of Southern Rebellion > Victory Day-September 2nd, End of World War II > Remembrance Day-September 11th, 9-11 terrorist attacks > Reformation Day-October 31st, the Protestant Reformation, end of Roman Catholic stranglehold on Europe > James K Polk’s Birthday-November 2nd, Birthday of one of America’s greatest Presidents > > Whaddya think In the first place, we don’t need any more public holidays. Those things are expensive. In the second day, there is no reason to celebrate the Protestant Reformation. It predates thef formation of our nation and we’re not a Christian nation anyway. We don’t have a state religion. You’d undersand this if you bothered to read the Constitution. In the third place, what the makes James Polk worthy of a holiday? Did he fight of a zombie invasion I am unaware of? Or is it just that he was in favor of slavery? Gotta keep those niggers down, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/32 "2010-11-07T15:16:40Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > No and it doesn’t just celebrate the Protestant Reformation but the breaking of the Roman Catholic stranglehold on the human mind. For Roman Catholicsm to have had a stranglehold on the human mind, the human mind must be best represented by the minds of Europeans? Is that what you think? PS: If you’re working on your Christmas list, I understand that it’s now possible to get white hoods and robes over the interwebs. You’ll have to make your own cross to burn but it’s not hard. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/33 "2010-11-07T16:34:30Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > In the third place, what the makes James Polk worthy of a holiday? Did he fight of a zombie invasion I am unaware of? Or is it just that he was in favor of slavery? Gotta keep those niggers down, after all. James K. Polk made three campaign promises, fulfilled them all, and did not run for a second term. For this reason, some consider him the greatest president. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/34 "2010-11-07T16:36:13Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > James K. Polk made three campaign promises, fulfilled them all, and did not run for a second term. For this reason, some consider him the greatest president. Yes, but I was making a point about the implicit racism of Qin’s OP. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/35 "2010-11-07T17:23:53Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Yes, but I was making a point about the implicit racism of Qin’s OP. Yes but you asked what makes him worthy of a holiday, and it’s as I posted. The reasons people admire him have nothing to do with racism; he did not have unusually racist views for his time such that his presidency is deeply associated with the concept of racism (neither did he have particularly unracist views, to be clear). If anything, he is uncomfortably associated with Manifest Destiny. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/36 "2010-11-07T18:00:20Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Yes but you asked what makes him worthy of a holiday, and it’s as I posted. The reasons people admire him have nothing to do with racism; he did not have unusually racist views for his time such that his presidency is deeply associated with the concept of racism (neither did he have particularly unracist views, to be clear). If anything, he is uncomfortably associated with Manifest Destiny. All the more reason to dismiss him as a candidate worthy of special recognition today, in my opinion. Racism may not have been abhorrent in his day, but it is today. There are already too many slave owners and racists who are still lauded in the US for my tastes, but I’ll stipulate grandfathering in those cases. Adding another today simply sends the wrong message, or the right one depending on your personal philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/37 "2010-11-07T18:13:15Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > All the more reason to dismiss him as a candidate worthy of special recognition today, in my opinion. Racism may not have been abhorrent in his day, but it is today. There are already too many slave owners and racists who are still lauded in the US for my tastes, but I’ll stipulate grandfathering in those cases. Adding another today simply sends the wrong message, or the right one depending on your personal philosophy. I’m not saying he IS worthy of a holiday, just why some people find him the “greatest” president. He also founded the US Naval Academy and the Smithsonian Institution. Most people think both of those things are pretty cool. Personally I don’t think we need more holidays; we’re just fine as is. JKP is an interesting historical footnote; worthy of being commemorated in a They Might Be Giants song, but that’s about it. Skald was like “James K. Polk OMG RACISM” which is silly. First of all, Manifest Destiny, while a more or less inherently racist policy, was more about Native Americans and Mexicans than it was about black people or slavery. JKP’s presidency is simply not significantly associated with strong actions or opinions regarding black people. He wasn’t an abolitionist, which was not exactly unusual for the time. You might say that he failed to be a great man in this regard, and it’s valid. But to specifically critique him as if he was somehow exceptional in his desire to (ahem) “keep them niggers down” as per **Skald** ’s post’s, is not historically correct nor does it reflect the main thrust of the presidency. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/38 "2010-11-07T18:16:21Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Yes but you asked what makes him worthy of a holiday, and it’s as I posted. The reasons people admire him have nothing to do with racism; he did not have unusually racist views for his time such that his presidency is deeply associated with the concept of racism (neither did he have particularly unracist views, to be clear). If anything, he is uncomfortably associated with Manifest Destiny. I wasn’t talking about people in generous, **Hello Again**. I was pointing out the disturbing, jingoistic, Eurocentric, imperialistic, white-supremacist subtext of Qin’s threads. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/39 "2010-11-07T18:19:46Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I was pointing out the disturbing, jingoistic, Eurocentric, imperialistic, white-supremacist subtext of Qin’s threads. Which, when you think about it, is rather bizarre since young \*\*Curtis/Qin \*\*is Asian. (And what is he now? 15 years old?) ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670/40 "2010-11-07T18:27:34Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Which, when you think about it, is rather bizarre since young \*\*Curtis/Qin \*\*is Asian. (And what is he now? 15 years old?) Of his race I was unaware. And I was uneasy, even as I typed it, with the label _white-supremacist_. I won’t back off on Eurocentric, though, and imperialist is pretty much an understatement. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-public-holidays-in-us/559670.md?page=3)