MLK Day - A day off, really?

            Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A civil rights leader, a pioneer, a man with a dream. One of the most influential black men in U.S. history. How should a man of this caliber be honored? What can we do to ensure that the generations to follow will know who this man was? What he did? The struggles he endured and the cowardly way his life was taken?

           A Memorial in Washington D.C. sounds like the proper way to immortalize him and everything he stood for. Done! The monument they have in the Nation's Capital is a gorgeous one. It's 30 feet tall and depicts Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "emerging as a stone of hope from a mountain of despair" (taken from an associated press article.) It really is an impressive sight. If you haven't been there or at least checked it out online then you better not be quoting him on facebook! He really was a great man and deserves to have his legacy literally etched in stone.

          That's enough though right? Let me run down the federal holidays that come up every year;
                           

• New Year's Day - self explanatory. It's the new year, start it with a day off.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Celebrating his birthday.
• Presidents Day - Celebrating the birthday of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Our Nation's first president and decorated Army General. Lincoln was one of the greatest presidents to ever serve in office. If you don't know about him then you're an asshole.
• Memorial Day - In honor of all the fallen soldiers that gave their life in pursuit of freedom and the American way of life.
• Independence Day - Celebrates our independence from British rule and the start of the United States Of America.
• Labor Day - "Celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers." (Wikipedia)
• Columbus Day - Honors Christopher Columbus who accidentally discovered America.
• Veterans Day - Honors all our Nation's Veterans both past and present.
• Thanksgiving - It's all about the Pilgrims and Indians and a day to give thanks for what you have in your life.
• Christmas - Jesus' birthday which also happens to be the same day Santa brings presents to all the nice little boys and girls around the world. (if they believe in him)

         Now, you tell me. Does he really deserve a federal holiday? Or was the Government looking for another day off and this is the best they could come up with? I'm not taking anything away from him, so please don't start freaking out. All I'm saying is, he has his own day off and we have to combine two of the greatest presidents' birthdays into just one day. Sounds a little fishy. I don't think his dream of equality had anything to do with an entire day off. That seems awfully selfish.

        The only other day that is honoring just one man is Columbus day. I know he made it to the U.S. by accident but he was still the first one here. I'm not getting into the whole "Indians were here first" argument. In 1492 Columbus sailed the Ocean blue and that's the end of it. He discovered America and should probably have a day to himself.

       I'm not saying the civil rights movement doesn't deserve a day off. I think maybe it should incorporate more of the people that were involved. Maybe have a "Civil Rights Day" or something to that affect. If you compare it to the other federal holidays, does it really sit in the same basket? What basket? Anyway, Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I had to work today anyway. So to honor the man and everything he did for civil rights, I'll be heading to 1964 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20024 to get a Hand-job for a Ham Sandwich.