By: Tom Tancredo
The news media division of the Democrat Party is celebrating the newly enacted June 19 “Juneteenth” national holiday as the end of slavery in the United States. The problem is, slavery did not actually end on that date — and there are other, less universally applauded motives at work with the creation of our 11th official national holiday.
For example: In all the hoopla over this “belated, long overdue” action, there is almost no mention that the full, official name of this new national holiday is Juneteenth National Independence Day.
A second official National Independence Day celebration? Whoa.
What possible purpose did Congress (and President In Name Only Biden) have in mind by including the word Independence in the official name of the Juneteenth holiday? Words have meaning, and the choice of this word, independence, seems deeply disconnected from the declared purpose of the holiday: commemorating the end of slavery accomplished January 1, 1863 by Republican president Abraham Lincoln. Unfortunately, this was not known to the then-former slaves of Galveston, Texas, until 30 months later, when the Union Army arrived there on June 19, 1865.
Thus the history of “Juneteenth” has nothing to do with national Independence” of any kind. The United States of America was an independent nation since 1776, and neither the existence of slavery nor its abolition affected that independence. So why is the word “independence” in the title of a holiday celebrating the end of slavery?
Is it possible the advocates of a Juneteenth holiday had something additional in mind – and, if so, what could that be? Yes, of course, the hundreds of persons freed from slavery in Galveston on June 19, 1865, also achieved “independence” from their slave masters — but that has zero to do with national independence.
In 1980, the very Republican state of Texas was the first to celebrate June 19 as a state holiday (and an official day off work for state employees, of course). Altogether, 47 states have celebrated Juneteenth in various ways — but not one has designated it as a day of “National Independence.”
It is, therefore, reasonable to ask: Will the Congressional conflation of emancipation and national independence into one single national holiday set in motion two competing celebrations of Independence Day? It seems a bit farfetched, perhaps — until you read the repeated references to the Marxism-based Critical Race Theory made by some of the bill’s sponsors and fiercest advocates.
Given this mindset among the supporters of Juneteenth, we should not be surprised to see those same supporters seek to supplant the USA’s real Independence Day with this new national Trojan Horse — excuse me, holiday. The reason is simple: The most zealous architects and advocates of Juneteenth think July 4, 1776, should recede in importance because the nation declared its independence that day only from Britain — but not from slavery. Independence from slavery waited 87 more years for Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Moral pontifications by today’s elected Democrat lawmakers may be forgiven, given the inherent evil of human slavery, but it is certain that — being enemies of actual historical truth — few of them realize — or can bring themselves to acknowledge — that when the Founders gathered in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall in 1776, they could not have successfully authored the world’s most eloquent statement of human freedom established by Nature and Nature’s God and then launched a successful military campaign to implement it — if they also started a civil war between the colonies by trying to abolish slavery at the same time. (A decade later, they did, however, include in the new Constitution the abolition of the slave trade.)
Now fast-forward three generations to 1865 and a little-known fact about the Emancipation Proclamation, on which Juneteenth is based: Legally and constitutionally, Lincoln’s January 1, 1863, Proclamation ended slavery only in the slave states and territories under the control of the Confederate States of America. Lincoln’s proclamation did not free slaves in either the Union states proper or territories controlled by the Union Army. That’s because its purpose was largely military, not moral or political. It is a sad fact of history that from 1863 through the end of the Civil War, runaway slaves in Union-controlled areas (such as northern Virginia and Maryland) were routinely caught and returned to their owners, as required by federal law.
Slavery was neither abolished nor were all slaves emancipated until December 6, 1865, when the states ratified the 13th Amendment that Congress had passed in January 1865. But hey, why let historical fact clutter up your drive to create a new national holiday — especially when it gives you a chance to undermine the old one?
To be clear, there is room for both June and July national holidays. But there can be only one National Independence Day — and that is July 4.
Will our real Independence Day survive the coming competition with “Juneteenth National Independence Day”? Yes, but only if the real history and character of both holidays are understood and respected.
Unfortunately, that’s a big “if” in today’s America. If the Marxist-based, media-hyped rhetoric about America’s “systemic racism” is used to attack July 4 as a “white holiday” in our schools, media, and civic discourse, by July 4, 2131, we may see that hallowed date become only a historical footnote.
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The name of the Holliday is the acceptance of illiteracy.
I’m not saying it’s not a worthy Holliday,but come up with a name for it that doesn’t sound soooo stupid!
The REASON they included “independence” in the name is because it would effectively over time change the MEANING of the word. If you’ve paid attention you would see that much of what this administration is doing is connected to words and their meanings. If you want to change something, first change the definition words. Right now they are trying to re-define the word “Patriot” as: A right wing radical supporter”, not it’s true definition: “An individual who loves their Country and all that she stands for”. If you have been paying attention you will have seen that this is the strategy this Administration has been using since taking office. You had all better start paying attention as this man sitting in the White House just proclaimed in television that if you challenge his government you’d better bring Nukes. Let me tell you something Creepy Joe, first those Nukes belong to US not YOU. Second and more importantly, you and your criminal enterprise work for US and are about to be FIRED.
Martin Luther King Day, Black History month, Kwanzaa, Juneteenth.
Now talk there is talk of reparations . I am afraid to ask what
could possibly be next !? All the emancipated slaves received what
hundreds of thousands of immigrants risk their lives for today.
Millions of naturalized Black Americans arrived here after slavery.
Do they deserve these “reparations” too ?
That’s it ! A ‘Reparations Holiday ‘ !
Cover for more division & host 2 seperate holidays for July 4th
How can one actually comment on a law so stupid it has to be passed by a group of people who are incapable of governing this country or any part of it. Thank You, Lord Jesus.
Please understand I have watched this government try to govern, and fail time after time. Since the mid to late 60’s, LBJ Started it with the “Great Society” a rather infantile program that failed in its most basic premise. Then along came Jimmy Carter, the great rabbit hunter. His Administration was one great FUBAR. I will not go further because The history, of our great country is currently being “adjusted” by people who hate it. At some point, in the near future we will see book burnings. Guess who were the last people to that? Keep your powder dry!
While we certainly should recognize the independence of American citizens who were not included in our Declaration of Independence from the British, it is unfortunate that hateful Progressives, the same entity that fought to keep American citizens enslaved and continued to divide our nation with Jim Crow laws, will abuse this day in order to further divide American citizens. We need to stop thinking of American citizens by ethnicities; PERIOD!. We need to unite as American citizens regardless of ethnicity, gender (only two), political affiliation, theological beliefs, hair styles and any other physical or ideological attributes we may differ in from one another. We need to celebrate our differences while demonstrating unity. The U.S. is not a democracy where the loudest and most violent mob gets to rule. We are a Republic of democratic voters. We need to stop letting hateful elitists continue to turn US against one another for any reasons other than not standing up for the U.S. or for one another.
Divide and conquer, identity politics, pandering to certain groups, trying to convince everyone that right is wrong, light is dark; the Dems’ world is narrow and limited and not inclusive to anyone who disagrees with their policies. Evil is the best word to describe them.
You need to really read the Declaration Of Independence, especially that part where it says that “ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL”, that includes red, black, yellow and all other colors.!
I’ll work especially hard on Juneteenth and take the death day of a prominent white liberal D’rat off for celebration.
I think there is another aspect to this that is being overlooked. The 1619 project. If one accepts that nonsense, than the freeing of the slaves is the real independence day. That’s what’s behind this.
Fine! Let those that insist on this NEW national independence day, celebrate in their own, new country — maybe Atlantis would work? At least, someplace far away from the United States of America, that celebrates all men were created equal, and celebrate our Independence Day on July 4th. These folks that are trying to force a rewritten American history, may finally have to learn the truth! Juneteenth is a day set aside to divide our country based on race. Note: they’re only celebrating the freedom of black slaves, while ignoring all the Irish, Chinese, Japanese, Native American and other slaves in this country. Also remember, most if those black slaves were rounded up and sold by other blacks in Africa. Also, why not ask “VP Harris” about her family being the largest slave owners in Jamaica? How dare she think she’s better than everyone else, especially white people?! Her various nicknames are quite appropriate! Last, but not least, remember just who’s pulling the strings in the Regime that seized power of our country — none other than the most racist, divisive Ex-president BHO!
The Marxist CRT and cancel culture geeks (FYI their white) this is their Trojan racist horse and unfortunately the black community this being set-up and used by them to your the dumboRats new pet project HATE, this has been their plan ever since Trump won! Hillary was supposed to carry out Obama’s plan, but she lost because nobody liked her then or even now! Obama had big plans to Separate and conquer the black community, Hate was a major part of this to call all white people racists, and dumboRats fell right in line with what he wanted to do, now we have antifa they hate everyone, blmmarxists, socialist, big tech, major corporation, foundations run by, Soros, the Clintons, Gates, Communist China just to name a few, so open you eyes folks all the people and entities are using you the most! It’s all about the MONEY not you!
These foolish democrats will soon get their independence, but they will be beholden to the god of this world, Satan… For all eternity…
I believe a more fitting name would be Liberty Day or Liberation Day. Much like the D-Day invasion was key to liberating France and the rest of Europe from the Nazis, it was the Union Army and Lincoln’s leadership that liberated the slaves. It could also provide an opportunity to educate the young and old alike the meaning of liberty as oppose to freedom or independence. After all, France gave us a Statue of Liberty not a Statue of Freedom or Statue of Independence and it is Liberty that is stamped on every coin (along with E Pluribus Unum and In God We Trust) the US Mint produces. And it is Liberty that is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence which fostered the formation of the Republican Party and its pursuit of slavery’s end.
To the less than 15% of our population demanding this, my opinion is make them 2%.