Posted on 06/20/2021 5:09:38 AM PDT by Kaslin
Growing up in Texas, Juneteenth has been a holiday for me all my life. A time to BBQ, a time to pray, and a time to celebrate freedom. A time to reflect on June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to take command of the more than 2,000 federal troops. This was two and half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had become law on January 1, 1863.
Imagine Major General Granger walking through the streets of Galveston reading General Order No. 3 out loud in front of homes, courthouses, businesses, and churches. Freeing the last group of slaves in America, many who likely believed this day would never come.
Today, when I hear some conservatives speak out against Juneteenth, it reminds me that we have a long way to go. The hypocrisy of many who claim to be Patriots and defenders of liberty and freedom is undeniable on this issue. Even those I respect, like Candace Owens and Charlie Kirk, are taking a stand against Juneteenth in the name of American Patriotism.
Ironically, Juneteenth is a celebration grounded in the Republican ideals of equality and freedom. In fact, the Republican Party was founded upon the back of the abolitionist movement in the United States. Historic figures such as President Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman were all members of the anti-slavery Republican Party. Their respective legacies and pioneering achievements continue to inform the Republican Party of today.
Just a year ago, I was working with several black conservatives to design the Platinum Plan with the Trump Administration that would bring over $500 billion into the black communities, further criminal justice reform, enhance Opportunity Zone funding, small business funding and yes, declaring Juneteenth a National Holiday. President Trump understood the importance of Juneteenth and he grasped the importance of helping to bring freedom to so many who have received excessive incarceration.
I did not hear a single conservative speak out against Juneteenth when it was announced in President Trump’s Platinum Plan. Now that it has been passed by Democrats, some conservatives have changed their minds and their rhetoric. This hypocrisy is at the core of the spirit division in our nation. We cannot define our truth based on political parties or man-made ideals. That is not patriotism.
Yes, we can celebrate the abolition of slavery in America and still celebrate our nation’s independence, they are not mutually exclusive. Patriotism is celebrating our country’s freedom from the tyranny of Great Britain. Patriotism is celebrating that America was one of the first major world powers to abolish both slavery and colonization. Patriotism is embracing the celebration of freedom based on righteousness, not ideals.
The 4th of July is the promise of monumental events in American history, like Juneteenth. Juneteenth is an example of the fulfillment and affirmation of our nation’s ideals promised by the Constitution and celebrated on the 4th of July. They complement each other and illustrate not only a commitment to equality, but America’s progress in pursuit of a more perfect union.
This Juneteenth I’ll be BBQing with friends and saying prayers for our Nation to continue to be the examples of freedom for the world.
bkmk
In my mind, Juneteenth will always be associated with the execution of Julius and Ethen Rosenburg. So, celebrate it as Communist Execution Day.
Growing up in Texas, I learned in public school in the 60s & 70s about the history of Juneteenth.
It was a Texas-thing. Very few Yankees had no knowledge of what Juneteenth was about.
Juneteenth was designated a Texas state holiday in 1979.
Just more pandering by the libs.
Wasn’t those Julius and Esther Rosenberg?
For me Juneteenth will always be the day the democrats got so upset that Trump was going to have a rally that they had to make up some holiday that no one really cares about just to stop him.
Not just a victory for Republicans it was also a victory for conservatism, for liberty, and for Christianity.
Civil Rights as well. LBJ may have been president, but in the house and senate far more Republicans voted for civil rights than Democrats.
It shows the power of the leftist media to twist things that these achievements are now associated with the Dems.
Yep, I always thought of Juneteenth as a Texas tradition. Was stationed in Galveston for 6 years. I guess it’s OK that it has been designated a federal holiday but with MLK day, black history month and that stupid thing called Kwanzaa not really needed.
My mistake, it’s Ethel.
Ethel
Great post and comments. History/education BUMP!
Ethel, Edsel : )
Has Jao Beijing forgotten? Thanks for your Biden comments on FR. I forgot the specifics. : )
Good luck to the dopey Republicans as they try to position themselves in front of this brand new, bogus holiday.
Belated WELCOME ABOARD!
Pandering is never ok and you left out Pride month, which I happen to be in the middle of celebrating.
She was scum.
No reason to remember her name correctly.
It depends on the individual. some are, some aren’t.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3968694/posts
check out #871 on the latest Q thread.
TRUE
It's just the hypocrisy of Democrats that irritates people.
For Democrats it's Stir-Up-Racial-Hatred-And-Division day..they do not care about black people.
They only use them to further their Marxist goals, which ironically, are to enslave everyone in the entire world.
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