The Obama WTF? website includes an unexpected story about Senator Obama planning to create another National Holiday in the United States, called Juneteenth Day. The holiday would be celebrated the third Friday in June, two weeks before the annual July 4 National holiday. The name of the holiday, Juneteenth, which sounds suspiciously like Seinfeld's father's imaginary Festivus Holiday, is in fact the name given to the anniversary of the emancipation that occured back in 1865.
While not disputing this day holds significance, it does seem strange that the man who promises to unite America, who claims that "some people see Red State America and Blue State America, but I only see one America", would at this moment be advocating a holiday likely to lead to more racial friction. Oxy Moran does not have a good feeling about Obama's claim to be a uniter. He certainly has no track record supporting that assertion, and based on this latest revelation I am even more pessimistic.
Obama sponsors campaign to make Juneteenth Day a National Holiday; "uniting" the country? 
Senator Obama is one of key leaders in a campaign to make Juneteeth Day a National Holiday in the United States. Juneteeth Day occurs on every June 19th, the anniversary of General Granger announcing the emancipation of slaves in the South West. The Holiday would be celebrated on the third Friday in June. Here's what the NYT wrote about it on 2004:
"Most gatherings are decidedly upbeat, but the sobering reason for the holiday has also been part of Juneteenth's growth. Dr. Ronald Myers, the leader of a movement to make Juneteenth a national holiday, says June 19 should be an annual remembrance of the horrors of slavery"
"We never got our apology, so we need this holiday to remind us that we must not forget," said Dr. Myers, who spoke yesterday at a Juneteenth event at the Capitol led by Representative Danny K. Davis, Democrat of Illinois." New York Times, 6/19/04
According to the latest press release below from the organization leading the campaign, a victory for Obama will likely lead to the introduction of this holiday. Another example of the kind of "uniting" we can expect from the Senator who appears to be becoming a lightning rod for creating racial disharmony in the USA. Obama will be the keynote speaker at the campaigns annual convention this June 19 in DC. No mention of the economic cost of declaring the day a National Holiday anywhere in the campaign literature.
9th Annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance
Returns to the Nation's Capitol
Congress Urges President Bush to Issue a Presidential Proclamation
Recognizing Juneteenth Independence Day in America
(Washington, DC) - As Senator Barack Obama makes great strides in becoming the nation's next president, Juneteenth supporters are hopeful that the "19th of June" will finally be established as a national holiday observance in America. Senator Barack Obama has been a key sponsor of Juneteenth legislation in the senate and keynote speaker at the annual Juneteenth Congressional Reception. This year, the 2008 WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance will feature "Juneteenth, A Grassroots Celebration of American Values, A Music Festival with zydeco, gospel, jazz and blues!"
President George W. Bush has been urged by Congress to recognize Juneteenth Independence Day by issuing a special Presidential Proclamation. President Bush, who has declined participation in the annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance since taking office in 2000, has perplexed national Juneteenth leaders by the lack of personal public acknowledgement and comment on Juneteenth, considered America's second Independence Day.
"President Bush is the former Governor of Texas, where Juneteenth has been observed as a paid state holiday since 1980," states Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF), host of the annual WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance at the nation's capitol. "With the urging of Congress through the unanimous passage of H. Con. Res. 231 by the House of Representatives and the unanimous passage of S. Res. 516 by the U.S. Senate, we are hopeful that President Bush will finally issue a Juneteenth Independence Day Proclamation. If not, we are confident that if Senator Barack Obama becomes president, he will certainly make Juneteenth a national holiday observance in America. We are also truly appreciative of the leadership Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) has provided Juneteenth supporters through legislative efforts in Congress."
Juneteenth, or the "19th of June", recognizes June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, when Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the Southwest. This was the last major vestige of slavery in the United States following the end of the Civil War. This occurred more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Upon the reading of General Order #3 by General Granger, the former slaves celebrated jubilantly, establishing America's second Independence Day Celebration and the oldest African-American holiday observance.
Its unclear why Senator Obama believes that celebrating this Holiday will help unite the ENTIRE country as he has repeatedly promised to do throughout the campaign. Far more likely that it will be seen as payback to one demographic at the expense of another. Opponents will doubtless be demonized as racists in the same way that Senator McCain is stil being for expressing opposition to instituting the MLK Holiday back in in 1983. Hardly a recipe for uniting the country.
