Virginia one step closer to eliminating a state holiday honoring Robert E. Lee/Stonewall Jackson. +bonus

[Homerboy]

Virginia will eliminate a state holiday honoring Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. It'll make Election Day a day off instead

Lee-Jackson Day, which falls on the Friday before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January, will be replaced with Election Day in November as a state employee day off. Gov. Ralph Northam said it'll make it easier for Virginians to vote.

www.cnn.com

Election day is a holiday now too. Which it should be nationwide.
Certainly a step in the right direction. Good on Virginia, it's elected officials and it's people.

This week, the Virginia House voted to strike Lee-Jackson Day from the list of state holidays. The holiday, observed on the Friday before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January, honors Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson as "defenders of causes."

I found the bolded "ironic" and quite disgusting.

 

[zinfamous]

The hell? So when was this "Lee-Jackson day" initiated? I mean, it's not coincidence that it coincides with MLK weekend, and probably exists in response to and only to mollify racist hillbillies in VA that were mortally offended that an assassinated black man dared to receive a holiday, right?

 

[Homerboy]

The hell? So when was this "Lee-Jackson day" initiated? I mean, it's not coincidence that it coincides with MLK weekend, and probably exists in response to and only to mollify racist hillbillies in VA that were mortally offended that an assassinated black man dared to receive a holiday, right?

It certainly seems that that is what occurred. Good news is that it appears the hillbillies are being told now to go fuck themselves. We're making (some) progress...

 

[Fenixgoon]

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice

 

[CU]

The hell? So when was this "Lee-Jackson day" initiated? I mean, it's not coincidence that it coincides with MLK weekend, and probably exists in response to and only to mollify racist hillbillies in VA that were mortally offended that an assassinated black man dared to receive a holiday, right?

Found this.

"Virginia began observing Lee's birthday on January 19 in 1889. Jackson's remembrance was added to the holiday in 1904. Martin Luther King Day became a federal holiday on January 15 in 1983, which was close to Lee-Jackson Day. The days were combined in Virginia (known then as Lee-Jackson-King Day) until 2000 when they became separate holidays. It was arranged so that Lee-Jackson Day was to be held on the Friday before Martin Luther King Day. " source

Seems Lee-Jackson day came first. MLK was started about 100 years later. The days were close together, so they combined them, but then split them again after 2000. So, it didn't exists as a response.

 

[Homerboy]

The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice

FWIW, I want to quote Veruca Salt, but sadly, I know that's not how it works.

 

[zinfamous]

Found this.

"Virginia began observing Lee's birthday on January 19 in 1889. Jackson's remembrance was added to the holiday in 1904. Martin Luther King Day became a federal holiday on January 15 in 1983, which was close to Lee-Jackson Day. The days were combined in Virginia (known then as Lee-Jackson-King Day) until 2000 when they became separate holidays. It was arranged so that Lee-Jackson Day was to be held on the Friday before Martin Luther King Day. " source

Seems Lee-Jackson day came first. MLK was started about 100 years later. The days were close together, so they combined them, but then split them again after 2000. So, it didn't exists as a response.

Interesting. That's actually quite unique in comparison to all of the confederate statues that have gone up over the years, only ever in protest to the various Civil Rights movements of their day. I understand Lee day being a thing early on, though.

 

[outriding]

Should replace it with General Sherman day

 

[shortylickens]

I lived in Virginia 11 years, never even heard of this.

 

[theeedude]

Should replace it with General Sherman day

 

[K1052]

The next time the Democrats get control of congress and the presidency they should reallocate Columbus Day's holiday to Election Day.

 

[zinfamous]

The next time the Democrats get control of congress and the presidency they should reallocate Columbus Day's holiday to Election Day.

Now watch as the GOP enthralls their southern white racist and protestant base into suddenly championing the honor of those "poor poor Italian Americans (Catholics)!"

 

[hal2kilo]

Was born and raised in VA. Left in 1972. I have some memories of seeing calendars with Lee's holiday. Not quite sure if the school actually took off. But I'm sure at least in Arlington, it was no longer recognized as a day off by the third grade. Of course, prayer in schools went away around the same time. I remember my 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Roseman, definitely not jewish, would read Bible verses in the morning and then one day, I think she may have had a tear in her eye, she said she could no longer read the bible. I think we still had a period of silence after that. I'm about 65.5 years old.
Edit: Ironically, the high school my mom and dad and Owsley, by the way, went to Washington and Lee HS. And it's still there.