WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN HOLIDAYS?

The birthday celebrations of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln vanished in the sea of political correctness

When I was growing up, I always looked forward to February because we got to celebrate two holidays – Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on the 12th and George Washington’s birthday on the 22nd. Washington’s birthday was an officially designated federal holiday. Although Lincoln’s birthday was never a federal holiday,, it was officially designated as a holiday by many states.

Then a tsunami of political correctness swept through Congress. Italian-Americans had long been clamoring for a holiday to honor Christopher Columbus. Columbus Day was created in 1971. African-Americans then demanded a holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King Day was created in 1986.

Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays continued to be holidays until officials realized there were too many paid holidays for government and school employees. So in 1971, Lincolns birthday was combined with Washington’s and eventually the day became known as Presidents’ Day.

As most of you know, I do not subscribe to this Political Correct bullshit!

George Washington led our revolutionary militia in the war for independence from the British. We won and Washington became our first president.

Abraham Lincoln was President of the North during the Civil War with the Confederate States. The North won and Lincoln is credited with preserving the United States of America. Lincoln also freed the slaves.

Christopher Columbus discovered America. Like hell he did! He never set foot on the American mainland. He crossed the Atlantic, an extraordinary feat at the time, and landed on the island of Hispaniola. Columbus believed he had landed in India. He made thee more trips to Hispaniola, but he never sailed beyond that island. It is said that Columbus and his crew brought small pox to the Indians who returned the favor by introducing syphilis to the Europeans. But the truth is that Columbus and his crew pillaged the Hispaniola villages, raped the women and enslaved the islanders.

Martin Luther King Jr. was without doubt one of the greatest men in American history. His civil rights campaign for all minorities, not just for blacks, led to the passage of many anti-discriminatory laws.

Now, political correctness aside, we should restore Washington’s birthday and Lincoln’s birthday as officially designated separate holidays. We should dump Christopher Columbus from the holiday list to make room for Washington and Lincoln. Columbus, never having set foot on the American mainland, does not deserve to be honored with a holiday in this country, especially after what he and his crew did to Hispaniola's 'Indians.'

I believe that Martin Luther King Jr, has earned the right to be honored with a holiday, but only if it’s not at the expense of either Washington or Lincoln.

As for any outraged Italian-Americans, I urge them to go to Hispaniola and campaign there for a holiday in honor of Columbus. Those ungrateful islanders have thus far failed to honor the man credited with discovering America – oops that should be Hispaniola, not America.