Today is Presidents Day

As I typed the headline to this meme this morning I thought about how important an apostrophe can be.   Today is Presidents Day, as in the day to honor ALL who have held the office since our first one.    In fact, when I was a kid, there was a Washington’s Birthday and a Lincoln’s Birthday on the February calendar.   At some point, the two days were combined into one:  Presidents Day.  I remember the elementary school bulletin boards decorated with pictures of them, and I remember the portraits of all the presidents lined up in the school’s hallway.  As a child the presidents were ‘bigger than life’ and we learned about the important ways they changed America.

Today, as I sit here, I think about how this Presidents’ Day, and this president, is so different.     Maybe it’s because I’m a grown-up.  Maybe it’s because modern media and communications now tell us every little thing about their lives.   Maybe it’s because the currrent president acts so differently than those from the past.  Maybe it’s because I have become so disappointed.

Yes, it’s been hard to watch this president.  In fact, I don’t anymore.  I purposely do NOT tune in when he is on TV.  Yesterday I heard he rather pompously (my opinion) circled the track and started the big race.   No…  I could not watch.  Did he have his egotistical smirk on his face?  Probably.      I will not watch him.   He is so about ratings and crowds sizes that it’s my little way to lower those numbers.  Ha

Instead yesterday afternoon, I spent my time canvassing for the “Get Out the Vote” in preparation for the South Carolina primary at the end of this month.   I worked for the candidate, Pete Buttigieg, who I believe will bring respect back to the office of the presidency.  I believe he is intelligent, and thoughtful, and will work with appointed leaders. I think he will treat everyone with kindness.  A man who certainly grew up with his own feelings of not fitting in.  He overcame it, but has empathy for those who still struggle.  Pete served in the military.  He is young, with energy, and he is “hopeful” and enthusiastic.    It’s time to get our youth excited about someone closer to their generation.  We have had enough of old men running everything.

It’s interesting that today, Presidents Day, is a holiday and therefore schools are out.  I wonder if teachers put an emphasis on the special day anymore.   My girls are grown so I don’t know what happens in the classrooms.  Is Presidents Day special?   And, do high schoolers even have a civics class anymore?      Maybe if you are a teacher, and reading this, you can respond.   I’m curious about how this day is treated.

Our current president is so divisive I am guessing that he is not talked about in the classroom.   Will he one day be in a US History book?  Oh lord, will his portrait hang on a wall in a school’s hallway?

Do we really do anything anymore to honor all of our presidents on this day?   It’s a vacation day.  It’s a sales day for shopping.    But, HOW do we acknowledge the people who have held our highest office??

And – really:     Does anyone want to honor them anymore?