NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081203/ap_on_re_us/obama_holiday

MARION, Ala. – In central Alabama's Perry County, government workers already get a day off for President's Day, Martin Luther King Day, and Veterans Day. In 2009, they'll get one more: "Barack Obama Day."

The rural county, which overwhelmingly supported Obama in last month's presidential election, has approved the second Monday in November as "The Barack Obama Day." Commissioners passed a measure that would close county offices for the new annual holiday and its roughly 40 workers will get a paid day off.

Sponsoring commissioner Albert Turner Jr. said the holiday is meant to highlight the Democratic president-elect's victory as a way to give people faith that difficult goals can be achieved.

Perry County has 12,000 residents, most of them black. Voters there backed Obama by over 70 percent in a state that gave 60 percent of the overall vote to Republican John McCain based largely on strong support from white voters.

At the state level, Alabama observes the standard federal holidays as well as a handful of its own that include Confederate Memorial Day in April and the June birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. It observes Martin Luther King's birthday in January but the holiday is twinned with commemoration of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on the same day.

The Perry County Commission's three black members and one of its two white members voted for the Obama holiday.

Commissioner Brett Harrison said Wednesday he voted against the resolution because of the costs to the county, which has a $2.2 million annual payroll and is one of the poorest in the state. He said closing the courthouse would also idle some state employees.

"I'm a Democrat, but just in these financial times, it's not using the county's money wisely," Harrison told The Associated Press by phone Wednesday. "The recognition is certainly well-founded."

Turner said copies of the resolution, adopted at a Nov. 25 meeting, have been mailed to Obama and his transition team.

Seriously? He isn't even president yet. I wonder if they will still have the day in a few years when it turns out that he isn't Messiah for all the woes in America.

(I'm actually jealous. Illinois should have dibs on this holiday!!!)

:D

No one Baracks like Barack.

Who is "Barak" Obama?

Is he related to the President-Elect?

Who is "Barak" Obama?

Is he related to the President-Elect?

Geez, you know who I mean. Even with a typo, you can still tell that I meant Barack. Quit being so picky. :p

Geez, you know who I mean. Even with a typo, you can still tell that I meant Barack. Quit being so picky. :p

Hey! I'm bored at work now. Don't deny me my fun!

Canada never gets any of the good holidays. u_u

It's not using the country's money wisely. That democrat is right. Remember: Obama said nothing about 'country first' like McCain. He'd love mass spending for his own good.

Canada never gets any of the good holidays. u_u
Aye but you do get to be Canada instead of the US, which as trade-offs go is pretty good.

It's not using the country's money wisely. That democrat is right. Remember: Obama said nothing about 'country first' like McCain. He'd love mass spending for his own good.

You're turning a silly excuse for a holiday by a 5 person committee in the middle of nowhere completely unrelated to the President-Elect into an attack against him? :confused:

It's not using the country's money wisely. That democrat is right. Remember: Obama said nothing about 'country first' like McCain. He'd love mass spending for his own good.
He's not spending any money yet...he hasn't taken office. Moreover, he has nothing to do with this holiday being established.

So what are you on about exactly?

It's not using the country's money wisely. That democrat is right. Remember: Obama said nothing about 'country first' like McCain. He'd love mass spending for his own good.
So McCain wouldn't do it because he said he wouldn't?

Do you know much about politicians?

Hell the way this country is headed, india is starting to look good or maybe iraq.:p:(

Hell the way this country is headed, india is starting to look good or maybe iraq.:p:(


I see you've never caught as much as a whiff of India

I find the holiday silly. and it is somewhat in poor taste to name a day after a still living president. Then again this is Alabama. they mix MLK day with Robert E Lee day, mix June tenth with Jefferson Davis day and have a confederate memorial day. Id say Alabama can finally get a pure holiday this way.

Don't people usually get these things once they're dead? That way, they can't do something particularly stupid that forces them to have to change the name of the holiday.

You go to work to get paid and to have a job, not to take meaningless days off, no matter what idiotic cause it is.

This is getting out of hand.

So are the stupid comments in this thread.

You go to work to get paid and to have a job, not to take meaningless days off, no matter what idiotic cause it is.

Meaningless days like Christmas? Or more like 4th July?

Do you know much about politicians?

Did you know Barack Obama is one?

Meaningless days like Christmas? Or more like 4th July?

Theyre not meaningless when they are days off for Jesus and the USA. Only when theyre for some uppity negro.

Huh?

Bad mojo. What do all the rest have in common?

Theyre not meaningless when they are days off for Jesus and the USA. Only when theyre for some uppity negro.

Everyone getting together... to celebrate independence? That seems pretty nonsensical.

Celebrating a birthday (Of a man who - if he existed - achieved his greatest achievement in dying) on a day when we know the actual birth wasn't? Pretty nonsensical.

Everyone getting together... to celebrate independence? That seems pretty nonsensical.

They're coming together as a nation to celebrate their nation's independence. How does that not make sense?

They're coming together as a nation to celebrate their nation's independence. How does that not make sense?

Nothing says 'independent' like needing to be surrounded by millions of people doing the same thing, eh?

Did you know Barack Obama is one?
Good Lord!

Really!?

Anyways, hopefully the UK won't follow suit and have a David Cameron day. That'd be God-awful.

I voted for him....

But, a Holiday....goin a little far there...crazy 'Bama people, lol...

Nothing says 'independent' like needing to be surrounded by millions of people doing the same thing, eh?

The holiday is about national independence from the British Empire, not neccessarily as individuals.

Theyre not meaningless when they are days off for Jesus and the USA. Only when theyre for some uppity negro.

real people don't get holidays.

Don't people usually get these things once they're dead? That way, they can't do something particularly stupid that forces them to have to change the name of the holiday.


They are just a couple months ahead of the game:)

real people don't get holidays.

Because all those Presidents remembered on Presidents day were just made up by the evil historian cartel :p

I think he'll be a good president...

But, come on, he doesnt need a cult, lol...

Because all those Presidents remembered on Presidents day were just made up by the evil historian cartel :p

president is an office. the holiday is for that. hence why Washington and Lincoln got cheated out of days off.

It observes Martin Luther King's birthday in January but the holiday is twinned with commemoration of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on the same day.

http://images.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/thumb/e/ec/Lol_wut_verbose.jpg/250px-Lol_wut_verbose.jpg

The holiday is about national independence from the British Empire, not neccessarily as individuals.

Which is important?

To some people, the idea that a black man can (finally) become president in the (alleged) land of the free is worth celebrating. To others, 'independence' from the British Empire (a long time ago) is (still) important.

Which was my original point. These days don't have to be important to everyone. You celebrate your important days, and I'll celebrate mine. Sort of thing.

http://images.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/thumb/e/ec/Lol_wut_verbose.jpg/250px-Lol_wut_verbose.jpg

that's Alabama.

Which was my original point. These days don't have to be important to everyone. You celebrate your important days, and I'll celebrate mine. Sort of thing.

Which is all fine and good...but, i hear there's a push to make it National which would be the problem...

Which is all fine and good...but, i hear there's a push to make it National which would be the problem...

1) Why would that be a problem? It seems to me, if people want to celebrate a certain event, that's the will of the people, no?

2) Where do you 'hear' that 'there's a push to make it National'? I've hread no such thing.

1) Why would that be a problem? It seems to me, if people want to celebrate a certain event, that's the will of the people, no?

2) Where do you 'hear' that 'there's a push to make it National'? I've hread no such thing.

Meh, Talk Radio, Limbaugh i think, i didnt say it was a credible source, just that I heard it, lol...

And, cant argue with that...Im just saying that that would be the problem, I dont think the majority of people would want it...

But, I could be wrong, More improbable things have happened...

Meh, Talk Radio, Limbaugh i think, i didnt say it was a credible source, just that I heard it, lol...

And, cant argue with that...Im just saying that that would be the problem, I dont think the majority of people would want it...

But, I could be wrong, More improbable things have happened...

I doubt if the majority of people want it either - even with Obama's apparent mandate... which is why I strongly doubt the reality of a push to make the local event of one 'black' community, a national event.

On the other hand, I wouldn't object to another paid holiday...

Look into my eyes, what do you see?
Cult of personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
Ive been everything you want to be
Im the cult of personality
Like mussolini and kennedy
Im the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

Neon lights, a nobel prize
The mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You dont have to follow me
Only you can set me free
I sell the things you need to be
Im the smiling face on your t.v.
Im the cult of personality
I exploit you still you love me

I tell you one and one makes three
Im the cult of personality
Like joseph stalin and gandi
Im the cult of personality
Cult of personality
Cult of personality

--Living Colour

http://noolmusic.com/youtube_music_videos/living_colour_-_cult_of_personality_-_80s_90s_music_video.shtml

Only over 70% voted for him? I figured it would be at least a good 85-90%...

Next should be Festivus. And don't forget Jake Day!













fnord