NEWS THAT MAKES YOU THINK: HOW DO YOU HONOR A PRESIDENT?

 The following is an editorial.

From time to time, The Free Choice E-zine takes a more in-depth focus on a particular news item. Such as the one that is about to be discussed.

Congressional Republican Claudia Tenney, representing the state of New York,  recently presented before Congress the idea of making President Donald Trump’s birthday a national holiday.

WHY?

George Washington

Abraham Lincoln

While each President is rightly honored in their individual home state, only two to date have received national holiday recognition.

George Washington as the founder of our country for fighting alongside his fellow soldiers to win America’s independence from England in the late 1700s before becoming the very first President of the United States, and

Abraham Lincoln, who abolished slavery and saw the United States through a civil war.

John F. Kennedy

While their individual birthdays were celebrated nationally until the creation of President's Day to honor all of America's leaders, out of all the other Presidents this country has seen so far, maybe only one more deserves their birthday celebrated separately too.

John F. Kennedy, a World War 2 Veteran who, as President, not only saw America through the Cuban Missile Crisis and prevented a potential war, but inspired what became the Peace Corps and the monumental event of human beings setting foot on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.

Only time and history determines whether or not JFK or any other President should or will ever receive such an honor, not the whim of someone trying to please their leader.

Mount Rushmore

Especially since Tenney's Florida counterpart Anna Paulina Luna has proposed adding Donald Trump’s image to Mount Rushmore, which already honors Washington and Lincoln along with President Theodore Roosevelt for initiating the Panama Canal and guiding the US through major economic growth by busting large conglomerates while protecting the common employee and Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and the President who oversaw the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of a then fledgling America.

Again, maybe President Kennedy if a fifth face should ever be added to Mount Rushmore but, compared to establishing a holiday, that is an even more major historical decision that should not be taken lightly.

Lee Houston, Junior

Editor-In-Chief, The Free Choice E-zine

February 24, 2025

The above was an editorial.