Senate Unanimously Approves a Bill to Make Juneteenth a Public Holiday

Re:Senate Unanimously Approves a Bill to Make Juneteenth a P... by vgel on Tuesday June 15, 2021 @07:02PM (#27522735)

I agree that it's frustrating that other efforts aren't being made, and this is easier, but I disagree it's an empty effort. Holidays, statues, rituals -- they're how we define ourselves as a society. They're important. Imagine how people would react if we tried to get rid of MLK day, or President's day, or the extreme negative reaction to proposals to cede Mt. Rushmore? They're symbols of the American national identity, for better or worse.

If you're interested, I highly recommend the youtube channel Religion for Breakfast's series on American Civic Religion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x49n90lWi0s .

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Re:Senate Unanimously Approves a Bill to Make Juneteenth a P... by koheripbal on Wednesday June 16, 2021 @07:04AM (#27527101)

I dislike this holiday from a purely linguistic point of view. Having a national holiday be named after the portmanteau of June and nineteenth seems like juvenile naming.

Was there really no better name for this day?

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Re:Senate Unanimously Approves a Bill to Make Juneteenth a P... by geofft on Wednesday June 16, 2021 @10:56AM (#27529220)

"Juneteenth" has been used for the celebration for over a century, and the name by which various sub-federal governments have recognized it, and I think a law recognizing a particular holiday probably should not rename the holiday while it does so.

That said, "Emancipation Day" has also been historically used.

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Re:Senate Unanimously Approves a Bill to Make Juneteenth a P... by moate on Wednesday June 16, 2021 @02:54PM (#27532097)

It's what the holiday has been called for 150+ years, and a bunch of (likely) white politicians deciding to rename something the black community created seems antithetical to the idea of the holiday.

Reflect on why you dislike this holiday and the difference between its name and "Christmas". Language is fluid and will survive. It's fine. This is a bad take.

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Re:Senate Unanimously Approves a Bill to Make Juneteenth a P... by chaorace on Friday June 18, 2021 @03:28AM (#27548154)

Precisely this. More fuel for the fire: "Thanksgiving", another portmanteau

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Re:Senate Unanimously Approves a Bill to Make Juneteenth a P... by dalbasal on Tuesday June 15, 2021 @07:24PM (#27522924)

There's a difference between empty and symbolic.

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