The Made-up Holiday

When I was a child, there were two holidays in February outside of Valentine's Day. I mean real holidays, when the school was closed and stores were open, but most official functions were shut down. They, of course, honored two of the most important men to have lived in this country, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

These men were important because they had been presidents of the United States, but there was more. George Washington could have been king and declined that honor in order to show us all just what a common-person country we should be. Abraham Lincoln was a man so burdened by troubles and dark depression in his own life, but he gave light to tens of hundreds, and that light continues to shine as the USA continues to define diversity and show a beacon to the world of acceptance and justice.

Now those holidays are cheapened by inclusivity -- all presidents are honored on one day. Okay, it may take a lot to achieve the position of power that the president is in the world today, but not all of our presidents have been so honorable that we can lump them together into the same bag of prestige. There were Teapot Dome and Watergate that brought a down-turning of that lamp the lady in the harbor carries. There have been made-up gossips and crises that have affected the honor of the office. And so we're supposed to honor each of these men equally?

Rescind this holiday and go back to giving due to those who have earned it.