I got this idea from the MLK thread about the Martin Luther King Holiday.

Seems there are a lot of individuals that paid a key role in forming the United States into what we have become today. Some of which might really have a strong case for a day of honor, but honoring so many with special days seems absurd, so, to float an idea, why not one day to honor all of our "Hero's".

If we were allowed only one more Federal Holiday, that would include all the "best of the best" of the United States of America's past:

1. How should this Holiday be named?

2. What should be the qualifications for an individual to be honored on this day?

3. Your nominations for this honor.

1. How should this Holiday be named? Let's borrow from pop culture and make it a celebration of the American hall of fame. The people nominated would get elected by a select committee of voters selected from historians, journalists, statesmen, and other selected voters.

2. What should be the qualifications for an individual to be honored on this day?

They should meet a standard of exceptional contribution to the positive legacy of the United States of America.

3. Your nominations for this honor.

The initial class should be superb and then maybe a standard of percentage of ballots would be mandatory for selection in future years for a maximum of new entrants of five per year who meet the high standard.

My first class would include Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR, MLK, Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford.

I really don't think we need any more holidays but perhaps international women's day- holidays are really to remember poeple that otherwise not be remembered- I don't think we are likely to forget our founding fathers- but MLK's holiday was an uphill battle due to conservatives hatred for him- just look how hard it was to get his holiday in Arizona, or 'bamas inclusion of Lee in thier holiday- I wonder why they did that?

I really don't feel we have American heroes much anymore- and am quite disillusioned with a large amount of the hero worship we have in this country-

ONly one I would like to see would be international womens day- to honor all women.

I can't let gross mis-statements go on unchecked like this..

It was Senator Robert Byrd who said:


Do you have conservative hating blinders on CR because I believe we can do without such blind hatred on this board.

Onto the topic...


A nice day would be remember where we came from and what hard work got us there because as technology advances, everything becomes a lot easier.

I thought I might put this under Domestic Policy, but decided to go with Casual Conversation instead in the hopes of a lighter conversation in which Politics might be kept out of this.

Sadly, it appears I was wrong.

1. How should this Holiday be named?

I think that, rather than having a fixed single date as an extra holiday, the Federal government should pass a law giving every employee an extra day's paid vacation. Each person can then choose whether or not to take it, and can decide when, in conjunction with their employers, and with a reasonable amount of notice (i.e. at least 28 days' notice).

You could call it "Civilisation Day". Just think - "Hi Boss, is it okay if I take my Civilisation Day on my birthday this year?"; "My wife and I are going to take our Civilisation Day next Monday and take a long weekend in the mountains". That kind of thing.

2. What should be the qualifications for an individual to be honored on this day?

The individuals being honoured would be all those comprising the American workforce.

3. Your nominations for this honor.
Whoever wants to take the extra day.

Another suggestion I would have would be to celebrate democracy by having an election day. In this all Americans would have election day off to take care of the business of voting and to pay their respects to democracy.

Now there is a very intriguing idea. Being that it is a Tuesday you wouldn't have as much problem with people not being able to vote as they were off to Vegas due to a 3 day weekend. They still have to come in to work the day before and the day after. Employers are more likely to let their employees have the time off to vote because if they didn't they have to pay them more. Interesting.

Also, I like the American Hall of Fame Day. Maybe set it up like the Nobel prize with specific categories. Some categories could be government, civil rights, industry, arts and culture, and potpourri for 500 Alex.

I really think that "talk like a pirate day" (September 19th) should be instituted as a federal holiday to celebrate those fun loving bucaneers of the bounding main who were always getting into wacky situations where they were forced to rape, pillage, and plunder and commit various atrocities while talking with the coolest dialect ever. For the first entries I would nominate those two great Disney pirates, Blackbeards Ghost, and Captain Jack Sparrow.