Presidents' Day

It's today, Presidents' Day.  I still don't like it, not at all.  Once upon a time, February 12th was celebrated as Lincoln's Birthday (1809) and February 22nd (originally the 11th) as Washington's Birthday (1732).  Although both dates are recognized, Presidents' Day is the day off.  Are we really celebrating the Presidencies of some of these guys??????  Why would we want to and, in effect, diminish the accomplishments of those who made major positive contributions?  Is this the result of the modern garbage called "inclusion?"  Let's go back to Lincoln's Birthday and Washington's Birthday.  I know, I know......  "But Washington owned slaves."  Perhaps that's fodder for a future post.

In the same vein, a fellow alumnus from Amherst, a black man, suggested renaming Martin Luther King Day.  He thought "Black Heroes/Heroines Day" or some such designation would be more fitting.  As much as I've admired the work, words, and courage of MLK, I think I like the idea of a more "inclusive" (ha ha ha!) day.

I've written about his before, but while I'm at it......  Why don't we name more schools, public buildings, etc. after people?  Instead of flowers or shrubs or trees or rivers, schools should bear the names of folks who made a difference.  Court houses and city halls should be dedicated to people who contributed to society.  They could be local people or those who played even larger roles.  This would help to explain some history--regional, state, or national.  And it would also tell people that we value and appreciate contributions from others.  Of course, in a local district the three (one former) junior high schools and two high schools are so-named.  But the overwhelming number of students I've encountered from them have no ideas who Isaac Crary, John Pierce, Stevens T. Mason, Charles Kettering, and Charles Mott are.  Oh well......

I think ignorance has become an industry.  I don't claim to be the smartest guy around and, in fact, shake my head at how little I sometimes know or how gullible I am to modern methods of spreading information (or misinformation).  I know I fall victim to it, too.  But it seems there is a growing peril of ignorance for profit.  I hear some of the callers to radio shows (and sometimes the hosts!) and this supports my belief.   And note the proliferation of judge shows, reality shows (which have little to do with "reality" as I know it), and tabloid talk shows on the boob tube.  A profitable industry, indeed, ignorance must be.

A recent Detroit newspaper editorial called for a state constitutional amendment.  Instead of voters electing members of the state board of education and the trustees/regents/governors of our three major universities, the board members should be appointed.  That would require an amendment.  The appointments would be made, if the newspaper has its way, by the governor and confirmed by the state senate.  I had to chuckle.  We elect our governor and state senators and haven't done such a good job with that recently, either.  Maybe they, too, should be appointed.  Or, maybe, Hamilton was right and we are proving that people can't rule themselves with representative government.  Maybe......