“FRITZKRINGLE and APFELZRA seem unaware that Christmas is an OFFICIAL FEDERAL HOLIDAY, and has been since 1870.”
I’m aware of it, and I have mixed feelings about it. If Easter didn’t always fall on a Sunday we’d probably have to accommodate that too (some jurisdictions observe Good Friday as well, but I’ve never lived in a state where I got that as a day off).
Look, I think the government (state and/or federal) should only officially observe secular holidays (not just “government” holidays but (for instance) New Years Day), but everyone should be guaranteed a handful of floating “Holidays of Conscience” that they can take when they choose. Of course, if we did that, 90% of the population would choose to make Christmas one of them. It is “in the interests of government economy” to simply close all the public offices on that day, rather than keep them open with skeleton (non-Christmas-observing) personnel, to serve a reduced (non-Christmas-observing) clientele. I too am an atheist, but I would choose to observe Christmas in any case (albeit secularly).
On the other hand, we have practice in accommodating JEWISH holidays that are not Federal Holidays; public schools and courts of law in many places aren’t in session on Yom Kippur. In the future, we may end up taking more notice of Muslim holidays, Hindu holidays, Buddhist holidays… Surely we can come up with a protocol so that everybody’s needs are met, even if it means losing Christmas as a “universal” American holiday.
Ultimately, I’m even in favor of doing away with Sunday’s “special status;” keep everything open 7 days a week, and stagger the work force so that everybody can take whichever THREE days off they want (yes, I’m in favor of a 4-day workweek; if nothing else, it would increase the number of jobs that need to be filled). But that of course would bring Easter back into play…
PS: I have no expectation that any of the above will be implemented soon, if ever (except maybe the 3-day weekend). I mean, we can’t even get Americans to use the metric system. But “This is how we have always done it, therefore this is how we must always do it” isn’t compelling logic.
PPS: Also, not all Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25 (or at all). I wonder how a President Dukakis (Greek Orthodox) would have finessed publicly observing Christmas in December and privately observing it in January…
Dtroutma over 11 years ago
Hmm, Cannabis bush for Christmas??
alex Coke Premium Member over 11 years ago
Nice cartoon. Amazing how so many readers here can pick a fight over a well meaning sentiment.
cjr53 over 11 years ago
Sounds like it is time for a recall election.
fritzoid Premium Member over 11 years ago
“FRITZKRINGLE and APFELZRA seem unaware that Christmas is an OFFICIAL FEDERAL HOLIDAY, and has been since 1870.”
I’m aware of it, and I have mixed feelings about it. If Easter didn’t always fall on a Sunday we’d probably have to accommodate that too (some jurisdictions observe Good Friday as well, but I’ve never lived in a state where I got that as a day off).
Look, I think the government (state and/or federal) should only officially observe secular holidays (not just “government” holidays but (for instance) New Years Day), but everyone should be guaranteed a handful of floating “Holidays of Conscience” that they can take when they choose. Of course, if we did that, 90% of the population would choose to make Christmas one of them. It is “in the interests of government economy” to simply close all the public offices on that day, rather than keep them open with skeleton (non-Christmas-observing) personnel, to serve a reduced (non-Christmas-observing) clientele. I too am an atheist, but I would choose to observe Christmas in any case (albeit secularly).
On the other hand, we have practice in accommodating JEWISH holidays that are not Federal Holidays; public schools and courts of law in many places aren’t in session on Yom Kippur. In the future, we may end up taking more notice of Muslim holidays, Hindu holidays, Buddhist holidays… Surely we can come up with a protocol so that everybody’s needs are met, even if it means losing Christmas as a “universal” American holiday.
Ultimately, I’m even in favor of doing away with Sunday’s “special status;” keep everything open 7 days a week, and stagger the work force so that everybody can take whichever THREE days off they want (yes, I’m in favor of a 4-day workweek; if nothing else, it would increase the number of jobs that need to be filled). But that of course would bring Easter back into play…
fritzoid Premium Member over 11 years ago
PS: I have no expectation that any of the above will be implemented soon, if ever (except maybe the 3-day weekend). I mean, we can’t even get Americans to use the metric system. But “This is how we have always done it, therefore this is how we must always do it” isn’t compelling logic.
fritzoid Premium Member over 11 years ago
PPS: Also, not all Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25 (or at all). I wonder how a President Dukakis (Greek Orthodox) would have finessed publicly observing Christmas in December and privately observing it in January…