Every year when August rolls around, the awkward political discussions once again raise their ugly heads in Rhode Island.
This is because we're the last state to celebrate Victory Over Japan Day--perhaps the most unnecessary holiday next to Arbor Day.
(We have Earth Day now--do we still need Arbor Day? Do the trees need their own day? Yet, I digress--)
You'll often hear people say that we should no longer celebrate VJ Day in Rhode Island. People point out that the rest of the country has done away with it, and they think that because we haven't yet, we're insensitive conservatives who still want to send a message to the Japanese.
This is, I believe, almost completely untrue.
In all actuality, I don't think we celebrate VJ Day because of what VJ actually stands for. I think we celebrate it for the same reason Rhode Islanders cancel school when a snowflake falls on the ground--
We love not having to go to work.
I don't think I can express how infrequently holidays here are actually observed for the right reasons.
Let's face it--if you live in Rhode Island, you probably don't know the difference between what you're supposed to celebrate on Veteran's Day and what you're supposed to celebrate on Memorial Day.
Most people here use July 4th as an excuse to barbecue, march in a parade, and set off (now legal) fireworks. Chances are, however, that very few of them could answer anything about the Declaration of Independence or the Continental Congress.
We get even more excited on years like this when the 4th falls on a Sunday and we get Monday off too.
This is a state where I once got let out of school early because we were supposed to have particularly "heavy rainstorms." That's right--rainstorms. Granted, we experienced some flooding lately, but that day it was bright and sunny out and it continued to stay that way.
Rhode Islanders just love getting out of work. We'll do anything for it.
Recently I heard my Irish grandfather say that he thinks we should make Cinco de Mayo an official state holiday out of respect for the Hispanic population.
I should mention that my grandfather is incredibly racist. He just wants another day besides St. Patrick's Day when he'll be encouraged to drink.
Let's face it--most people would celebrate the first time Lincoln bought a hat if it would mean another chance to get to the beach during the week.
We're not political.
We just never met a day off we didn't like.
This is because we're the last state to celebrate Victory Over Japan Day--perhaps the most unnecessary holiday next to Arbor Day.
(We have Earth Day now--do we still need Arbor Day? Do the trees need their own day? Yet, I digress--)
You'll often hear people say that we should no longer celebrate VJ Day in Rhode Island. People point out that the rest of the country has done away with it, and they think that because we haven't yet, we're insensitive conservatives who still want to send a message to the Japanese.
This is, I believe, almost completely untrue.
In all actuality, I don't think we celebrate VJ Day because of what VJ actually stands for. I think we celebrate it for the same reason Rhode Islanders cancel school when a snowflake falls on the ground--
We love not having to go to work.
I don't think I can express how infrequently holidays here are actually observed for the right reasons.
Let's face it--if you live in Rhode Island, you probably don't know the difference between what you're supposed to celebrate on Veteran's Day and what you're supposed to celebrate on Memorial Day.
Most people here use July 4th as an excuse to barbecue, march in a parade, and set off (now legal) fireworks. Chances are, however, that very few of them could answer anything about the Declaration of Independence or the Continental Congress.
We get even more excited on years like this when the 4th falls on a Sunday and we get Monday off too.
This is a state where I once got let out of school early because we were supposed to have particularly "heavy rainstorms." That's right--rainstorms. Granted, we experienced some flooding lately, but that day it was bright and sunny out and it continued to stay that way.
Rhode Islanders just love getting out of work. We'll do anything for it.
Recently I heard my Irish grandfather say that he thinks we should make Cinco de Mayo an official state holiday out of respect for the Hispanic population.
I should mention that my grandfather is incredibly racist. He just wants another day besides St. Patrick's Day when he'll be encouraged to drink.
Let's face it--most people would celebrate the first time Lincoln bought a hat if it would mean another chance to get to the beach during the week.
We're not political.
We just never met a day off we didn't like.
Comments
Post a Comment