Federal holidays such as Veterans’ Day or Memorial Day are supposed to honor those who shaped our country for the better or sacrificed so much for our freedom.
But lately it feels more like remembrance is something for politicians to play with.
On Sept. 10, conservative talk show host Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed at Utah Valley University in broad daylight while debating audience members.
In response, President Donald Trump declared that Oct. 14, Kirk’s birthday, would be declared as a National Day of Remembrance for him just a week after his death.
The speed at which Kirk—a controversial public figure—got declared a national holiday raises the question: What achievements by an individual merit a national holiday?
National holidays should be reserved for people whose achievements positively shaped American society. They shouldn’t be meant to honor those people who divided communities and are shrouded in controversy.
Most importantly, though, establishing a federal holiday shouldn’t be a hastily made decision. Rather, they should be established with the consideration and respect a memorial deserves.
Despite being well-known for his peaceful protests that advocated for civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr. Day took a painstaking total of 32 years to even be recognized as a federal holiday. As part of the collection of stories on their website, the National Museum of African American History and Culture said Martin Luther King Jr. Day took about 15 years to be officially instituted by the federal government.
Subsequently, another 17 years would be spent fighting to get the holiday recognized across all 50 states. Arizona was the last state to recognize the holiday after voters finally approved it in 1992.
On the other hand, Kirk, a controversial figure whose work consisted of debating young adults and college students, was immediately memorialized by the federal government after his death.
The process to pass a federal holiday isn’t easy either.
According to CBS News, a federal holiday is proposed in both the U.S Senate and House of Representatives. If approved by both, all that is left is the president’s signature. And like many laws, this can take decades.
Yet Kirk’s National Day of Remembrance has been approved by both the Senate and the House with Trump’s stamp of approval as well.
Memorial days should be granted to honor individuals who fought for equality or made significant progress for society.
Individuals like Kirk, though, didn’t contribute to either of these. In fact, he frequently criticized the civil rights movement and mostly worked as a social media influencer.
Although there are historically controversial figures with federal holidays, these figures aren’t celebrated for their controversies.
Take Christopher Columbus, for example.
Columbus Day, dedicated to the explorer who discovered the New World, has come under scrutiny on the account of his treatment of indigenous peoples.
Columbus enslaved Native Americans and pillaged their resources throughout his expedition in the New World.
In his letters to the king of Spain, Columbus demeaned and dehumanized Native Americans as well.
But Columbus didn’t get a national holiday for his treatment of Native Americans.
Instead, his exploration of the New World is what earned him his legacy. In contrast, Kirk accomplished little else outside of being an influencer who gained fame angering the masses.
There are individuals far more deserving of the recognition Kirk has gained. For example, take Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony.
Harriet Tubman, a former slave, dedicated her life to the abolition of slavery as a conductor for the Underground Railroad, helping escaped slaves until they could eventually travel North to freedom.
Despite being a wanted fugitive in the south, Tubman constantly went to the South, bringing approximately 70 enslaved African Americans to freedom, according to the National Women’s History Museum.
Tubman’s bravery and selflessness represent the kind of achievement any government should honor, an achievement in which someone risked their life to bring others freedom and hope.
Susan B. Anthony, meanwhile, dedicated her life to fighting for women’s suffrage, advancing gender equality in the United States.
Even as her right to protest was questioned, Anthony actively fought for women’s rights for her entire life.
Because of her efforts, Anthony was given credit for the passage of the 19th Amendment 14 years after her death.
And by the way, the 19th Amendment was pretty significant as it finally granted women the right to vote.
Anthony’s persistence reshaped democracy as a whole, allowing for women’s suffrage to be granted.
These contributions are what deserve national remembrance, as they contributed to greater equality and progress in society.
Despite these highly-praised contributions, both women were only given commemorative holidays as recognition for their efforts, according to a NBC news article.
Kirk’s hasty memorial day demonstrates a lack of consideration and respect for the weight a day of remembrance should carry in our country.
Federal holidays should be reserved for those whose actions helped unite us, not divide us.
Honoring individuals like Tubman, Anthony and King remind us that progress, equality and sacrifice are what truly deserve to be remembered in the United States of America.
In a time where the whole country is debating legacy, or politics, leaders need to think carefully who truly deserves to be recognized.
