Celebrating Juneteenth

RealClearPolitics ^ | June 19, 2006 | Michael Zak

[Finalapproach29er]

Who was Lincoln's VP in 1960? Why was he dumped?

[rdb3]

Ruh-roh...

[Darkwolf377]

I wonder if Pelosi and Reid will be celebrating this great day for black Americans and the Democratic Party...uh, well, for black Americans?

[AmericaUnite]

Bump.

[JoeGar]

Today, Americans celebrate "Juneteenth"

Sorry, but I don't know anybody who "celebrated" yesterday. Tomorrow, June 21, more importantly, is motorcycle Ride To Work Day.

[samtheman]

The assassination of Lincoln was a disaster that changed the course of history in America. We still haven't recovered from it.

Affirmative action is an over-correction for the racism that was allowed to prevail after the civil war.

I believe that Lincoln, had he lived, would have made a big difference in the lives of African Americans and, as a result, our society today.

To me, it's an example of a single event changing history.

[Darkwolf377]

Somehow I think freeing slaves is a little more important.

[since 1854]

Lincoln's 1860 running mate was Hannibal Hamlin, former Senator from Maine. Lincoln had him replaced in 1864 with Andrew Johnson to appeal to pro-war Democrats. Johnson, a former Democrat Governor of Tennessee, was the only southern Senator to stay with the Union rather than go with the Confederacy. Lincoln then made him Military Governor of Tennesse.

Though Hamlin may have been mediocre, he at least was a solid Republican and would have been a far better President than a Democrat, Andrew Johnson.

[Canedawg]

Interesting!

[Crispus Attucks Patriot]

I've said this before and I still mean it 110%.

Thank God my ancestors were brought to this nation, whether in chains or otherwise. Why? because thanks to them I can claim the honor of being a Citizen of the United States of America and I have far mor opportunities and chances for a better life than I ever would have had in West Africa.

Besides, as Friedrich Nietzsche observed, that which does not kill us can only strengthen us. As a people we survived the middle passage, slavery, Jim Crow, etc. and we're still thriving. In a way its made us a stronger people.

[kittymyrib]

Apparently, you aren't aware of the fact that Lincoln's idea was to send the ex-slaves back to Africa. That would have solved the race problem in America, all right. US Blacks would have had the pleasure of being in their African homelands all these years.

[Restorer]

Lincoln's idea was to send the ex-slaves back to Africa.

Sponsor or promote would be a more appropriate verb here than send.

The return was never planned as anything other than voluntary. The logistics, not to mention the lack of interest among black Americans, doomed the plan from the beginning.

[TexasCajun]

Best Wishes & Good Luck!

I wish more people no matter what their history would appreciate the opportunities this great nation provides.

Too many people never manage to get ahead because they are always looking backwards.

[Perseverando]

"Republicans, freeing people from the Democrat plantation since 1863."

[spintreebob]

Some of us are hermits. Others of us only see illegals.

But when true Americans celebrate, must we pretend they don't exist?

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Buffalo Chips. The Reconstruction was a disaster. It attempted to place illiterate former slaves, and Northern opportunists in control of the South. The South had no right to secede, but under reconstruction the South was treated as a foreign country.
Slavery and Jim Crow cannot be justified. In my opinion slavery would have been eliminated by the turn of the 20th Century had there been no Civil War, state by state, just as it was eliminated in the North.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

Should be the third Wednesday of June but the RTW site says the 19th.

I'm riding tomorrow, but only because the weather is going to be nice.

[JoeGar]

Should be the third Wednesday of June but the RTW site says the 19th.

You're correct -- but RTW is the 3rd Wednesday of July. This year, it's July 19.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

Doh...