On Milk and Honey: For a More Patriotic President’s Day
Perhaps it’s a legacy of too much milk and honey. The currents of time lead us to the lotus eaters shore, and too many of us do as the lotus eaters do. The principles and struggles of yesterday are thus too easily forgotten. In the absence of correct memory, it is all too easy to distort the happenings of the past, especially if that means one can get a brand new, shiny P.H.D. for the novel idea. Although there are such things as dissertation boards and peer-review, when the discourse is too fully immersed in politics, honoring logic and truth may be less important than forwarding an agenda. This point, however, means little to most people. Their days are filled with toil and care. They rely on the educated and the media for information. If that information is almost ubiquitously twisted, they may never quite catch the distortions. When a person rises at 6 A.M. for an 8 to 12 hour day of work, sometimes doing physically taxing labor, the details are less important than maintaining the stability to follow the routine again on the morrow. Schools observe the presidential national holidays, but since state laws vary as to which holidays need to be observed, Americans from one state versus another may have conflicting ideas about which day is an actual holiday. While some people still understand and care about the guiding principles of our nation, others do not, and it would be nice to see a fresh perspective and celebration of these holidays.
In school, children are required to learn about each observed national holiday, but there are multiple reasons why this learning could be improved. With the increasing popularity of the socialist, anti-American Critical Race Theory, even if spun as Wokeism, some teachers may actively seek to sew the seeds of discontent and pose distorted information as correct information. If anyone challenges the biased instruction, drama with a capital D erupts, and children could face various kinds of punishment whether official or unofficial (e.g. passive aggressive behavior from the instructor or an uncalled for public humiliation session). This type of situation is seen in classrooms that celebrate the debunked work of the biased, plagiarizing, Communist Howard Zinn. Not willing to look into the quality of his scholarship, he is taken for a guru of history who selflessly exposes historical ills. That he cuts out pieces of quotes that oppose his spin on history or leaves out important historical information all together is ignored by the well meaning individuals who teach his work. They believe in love and diversity so much that they shut out any views that shake their own, diminishing diversity of thought in the process. Children, in their limited knowledge, innocently accept this instruction, their heart strings pulled, and they grow up to hate their own country and misunderstand the history of the West. This, of course, is a worst case scenario. Many children, at the mercy of their own passing whims, simply mix up the holidays. Why remember if a day is President’s Day or Washington’s Birthday when there are games to play and an endless stream of attention grabbing stimuli at the reach of a hand? Children, capable of so much learning, lack the maturity to direct their attention toward better forms of entertainment. The details fall through the cracks that they avoid stepping on, lest they break their mother’s back.
For all the complaint, some schools, parents, and communities still honor and observe the national presidential holidays. Some children care about the history of their country too. They recognize that the national holidays aren’t simply days off but rather opportunities to celebrate the great promise of the country and its inspiring and valiant founding. It’s a time to honor those who bled and wept to fight for our collective liberty, step by step, and to enjoy the peace and prosperity of the land. It’s a time to remember the sacrifices of our forefathers and learn more about the people in our community and their great or small but heartfelt contributions to a better nation. I seldom enter conversations with people I don’t know. It isn’t because I don’t want to. Simply put, I’m an introvert. Nevertheless, I can recall countless conversations with people around town about relatives and friends who contributed in some way to a better quality of life for all Americans. Regardless of their political stance, they hold and share the spirit of Americanism. That’s why it is so sad to see the growing habit of insulting and devaluing the founding of the nation and the hard work of the American people throughout the years. It’s a form of self-hatred, the head of the beast tearing its own flesh.
The reality is that in this imperfect world, thanks to the efforts of the founders, Americans share the good fortune of living in almost ubiquitous peace and prosperity. That’s not to say that there hasn’t been tragedy and struggle, but tragedy and struggle characterize life in general. When focusing in on the United States and the West, it is easy to see our shared advantages. Slavery ended; discrimination is illegal; nearly everyone has access to plumbing, electricity, and clean water; and consumer indulgence is a regular facet of daily life even for those with a low-income. That doesn’t negate the fact that there are people suffering, but things can still be improved. It is our liberty that offers us the opportunity for improvement. It’s hard to see everything to be grateful for when the media is all about selling the next new thing, and everyone yearns for what they do not have, but in this land where merit and effort are still valued, people enjoy conveniences that would be impossible for those in the past or even in some other countries.
The philosophical position of the framers was in the equality of man. They were not confused. They did not make a mistake. The men who founded the nation were educated in logic and political philosophy to say the least. It was their intention not only to fight for fair representation but also to found a new republic based on this concept of God given equality. The founders were imperfect as all humans are. When I hear people tearing down these great heroes, I can’t but help feeling upset. These men were brave enough to fight for the future of all Americans rather than only a small elite. They could have easily waged the Revolution without the humanist position they wove into the founding documents, but they didn’t. Even though many years passed before the scales of power would tip and slavery could be defeated, the founding was the start.
Fine and well. Not everyone will agree with me, but perhaps everyone might find something to be grateful for that ties with the founding of the nation. I know how relieved I am not to live in a country ran by tyrants that torture people for protesting or stone women to death for speaking in public. I can’t express in vivid enough words how thankful I am that people with opposing views don’t vanish in the middle of the night, never to be heard of again. My heart rejoices that there are opportunities for everyone to advance even if it takes hard work and time. The opportunities that are there are motivating forces. Motivation in the heart of man is a beautiful thing and makes for a better world. Nihilism, on the other hand, is like a disease. What are you grateful for about this nation and the founding? I would love to know.
My vision for a better future includes a more meaningful and intentional celebration of President’s Day, Washington Birthday, and Lincoln’s Birthday. For one, the holidays should not be lumped together at the will of individual states. Each state should observe each holiday on the same day. Although February is often awash with rain and snow, it would be nice if there were more parades and barbeques. The libraries are closed during these national observances, which strikes me as odd, since libraries have been such an important part of our country. Perhaps libraries should be open with increased pay for employees. If that sounds too costly, individuals may forgo the library, parade, and the barbeque and share warm meals and remembrances at home with open doors for their friends and neighbors. Perhaps we should adopt the custom of holding small concerts of American rooted music and encourage new artists to put their creative bent on a traditional genre. With so many things going on in February and with the business of people’s lives, these changes may seem unrealistic, but as times change, so does the culture. Let’s change it for the better and enjoy the benefits.
Edited 3\4\23 at 10:37 P.M.
