Today’s “what the fuck” moment:
The Congress, by Public Law 85-529, as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as “Loyalty Day.” I ask all Americans to join me in this day of celebration and in reaffirming our allegiance to our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2006, as Loyalty Day. I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance, and to display the flag of the United States on Loyalty Day.
Loyalty Day, eh? Yet another in a long-line of sad attempts to turn patriotism into simple minded jingoism that the party faithful can slap on a bumper sticker and plaster all over their cars to show what Good Little Americans they are. I was loyal to this country long before Mr. President decided he had to make a special day for it. Mainly by doing my civic duty of pointing out what an incompetent leader he happens to be.
Link via UTI.
Who was it that said “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”?
Well this is a pretty good day for Loyalty-Day, isn’t it?
Loyalty day huh? Does that mean you get a Discount Card for money off American goods? Hmm…
Don’t you guys have something like “Presidents Day”, “Independence Day” and some other strange day which is the same thing?
No, Rich; this one’s different in creepy and ill-defined ways.
Richy,
There’s also Flag day, wherein we celebrate the Stars and Stripes, Presidents Day, wherein we celebrate the fine honorable men who have held that lofty post, Memorial Day, in which we remember those who died for America, not to be confused with Veterans Day, which is the same day as Armistice Day in Europe, and of course Independence Day, commemorating when some ne’er-do-wells decided they’d had enough of the reign of George III.
Loyalty Day may be a distraction from May Day, which is celebrated pretty much everywhere else in the world with parades, riots and such. Oddly enough, May Day was so designated by the Third International to remember the Haymarket Riots in Chicago, thereby creating a holiday of American inspiration that is not celebrated in America. Instead we get Labor Day, wherein very few (if any) march, there being no need for labor solidarity in this enlightened, capitalist land.
It seems that Wikipedia agrees with me about the origins of Loyalty Day.
Do ya think Georgina lost her faith? She only got to mention god once in the … um, declaration and affirmation thingy.
I wonder why The Patriots picked May 1st.
Was anything to do with the Civil War beginning in 1863?
Or was it more to do with the Mission Accomplished speech in 2003?
Or maybe it was something really basic, like another way The Patriots are trying to usurp/co-opt May Day away from The Workers and Pagans like the Nazis did? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day
Maybe it was a combination of all three plus a bit of a diversionary tactic away from ineptitude of the inept in their Oil War.
Do we get the day off? That’s my only concerned. Don’t make up days unless you’re willing to give the nation off that day.
50,000 mexicans got the day off today.
Thousands march on State Capitol for immigration reform
May 1, 2006 Immigration Rally at State Capitol
Anti-reform group protests immigration rally
Attendance drops in DPS on day of protest
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for leagal workers around the country. One of my best friends immigrated from Puerto Rico 20 years ago. It’s the border jumpers I have the beef with.
May 1st is still “May Day” in Austria, and we got the day off. Not that there was anything to do, cold and rainy as it is, and all the stores closed…
Since a few folks seem to have missed NeonCat’s reference, Loyalty Day dates back to the 1920s, and was formalized by Congress in 1958. I suspect every president, per the resolution, releases a similar press release on this day. No idea if the White House made more of a noise about it this year than usual, or if folks are more sensitive to Administration flag-waving than usual.
Maybe Prez Bush could hand out free copies of Neil Young’s latest CD to help celebrate.