Carusoswi

Irish suffered exploitation to be sure, but their skin was the same color as non-Irish whites. They did come here for a better life, and exploitation notwithstanding, they were free (as in FREE) to seek a better life. They were not enslaved for several lifetimes. Blacks were enslaved, owned like horses or cattle, forbidden to learn how to read (although some managed to overcome this).

The new federal holiday only seeks to recognize and celebrate that the nation threw off this double standard. As a federal holiday, there is no mandate for states to recognize it or declare it a day off for all employees. There is no cost to you if you choose not to celebrate with us, so what, exactly, is your beef? Do you deny that slavery existed? Do you claim that slaves came to this country of their own accord? Was their life here, as slaves, better than their life in their home country? What about this issue prickles your skin? Feeling guilty? Want to sweep this issue under the rug? How many Irish-American lynchings can you enumerate? How about an example of the destruction of an Irish-American community on a scale equal to the Tulsa Race Massacre can you cite? How many governors stood in the entrance to a university to deny access to Irish-Americans students can you cite?

I bear no resentment to Irish-Americans, but to equate their exploitation to that of African-American slaves is ridiculous. Exploitation of black Americans began with slavery, but did not end with emancipation. They continued/continue to be exploited, exploitation that continues to this day.

Recognition of their being freed is a small, but meaningful gesture. It costs you nothing. Why are you so prickly about this issue unless you are on the side of the "impoverished" slave owners whose business model was upturned by the elimination of slavery?

By the way, in those states that decide to make this federal holiday a paid day off for workers, the backs of your "hard working" employes will bear little weight, as they, too, will receive payment for the day off, so, really, what is the beef that you wish to construct in criticism of this new federal holiday?

Caruso

Carusoswi

Thousands died as the result of the south to oppose freeing of the slaves, and, no, it ain't enough. You and your ilk (well, your ilk as you weren't around then) wished to extend the institution of slavery. We celebrate Columbus Day, even though Columbus was not first to discover America, and he bumped into this continent by mistake, naming native Americans as Indians because he thought he had reached India. No doubt, you are ok with that holiday, but, you have a problem with this one which recognizes a real occurrence.

Thousands did not have to die over the end of slavery, but the south decided to fight the inevitable. Blame that (along with slavery) on the south, not the freed slaves.

Get over your racism, we are moving on.

Caruso

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Wrong to say that they are exploited to this day, government failed them and continues to fail them, that much is true, but they are not being exploited.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

never gonnA happen

Shutterbug1697 Loc: Northeast

It's only a new Federal Holiday.

What's your problem?

Only a handful of states celebrated the day, Texas among them.

I seem to recall that Texas is still controlled by the GOP.

wjones8637 Loc: Burleson, TX

No real problems, but why not the day Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation instead of when the government got around to telling Texas.

Wuligal Loc: Slippery Rock, Pa.

I agree, slavery is wrong but before we begin to celebrate it's demise perhaps there are a few things to be considered. Does the evil of slavery depend on a calendar date or is it always wrong? Is slavery immoral in every country in the world or just in the USA? Does it matter who benefits from the labors of the enslaved? Are the political elite exceptions to the horrors of slavery? What would you personally be willing sacrifice to free enslaved children?

Even as you read these words you are benefitting from the slave labor of children as am I. Every Internet connection, email post, cell phone call, cup of hot cocoa, and plane ride happens at the cost of slave labour.

Maybe we should hold off on our holiday celebration of the end of slavery and consider this:

For those of you ready to the party do you have any desire to eradicate all slavery from today’s world? If so, you can start with North Korea, Eritrea, Burundi, Central African Republic, Afghanistan, Mauritania, South Sudan, Pakistan, Cambodia and Iran where 25 to 40 million people are still enslaved.

There are more than nineteen thousand black and brown children enslaved in Cote d’loire producing cocoa that is then sold to Nestle’s chocolate producers. According to Fortune magazine more than 2.1 million West African children are in “debt bondage” and enslaved in the “….work of harvesting cocoa” until the debts of their families are paid. Who among us has a plan to free nineteen thousand children? Who among us has the courage to start a movement to rescue nineteen thousand children? Who among us has the energy to save nineteen thousand lives?

Six year old enslaved children live out their short lives digging for Cobalt in the mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo. You and I are direct beneficiaries of their labor. Cobalt is found in every lithium-ion rechargeable battery on the planet. It is also used in jet engines, gas turbines and magnetic steel. Cobalt is a production component every time you send an email, browse the Internet, fly in a plane or drive an electric car. Who among us will demand these children be paid $15.00 an hour? Who among us has the courage to burn down a city or storm a federal building in the name of six year old slaves?

The Biden family is once removed from involvement with child slavery but in 2017, BHR Newwood DRC Holdings was set up by private equity firm BHR (owned by Hunter Biden) to acquire a 24% interest in Tenke from Canadian miner Lundin for $1.14bn. In 2019, the acquisition of the holding company allowed China Molybdenum Co, which was already the majority owner of Tenke Fungurume, to have an 80% stake in Tenke Fungurume Mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Is there anyone out there with enough clout to make this information known? Does anyone really care or are we too busy trying to score political points?

Slavery is wrong. Slavery has always been wrong. Slavery will forever be wrong. We can’t change yesterday but we can fix today. Can we put our energy where it will do the most good and leave a lasting heritage? Statues will erode, books will disappear, paint will fade, the true meaning of holidays deteriorates, but if you can save one child from the horror of slavery - well, who knows, perhaps you too will be honored with a national holiday.

InfiniteISO Loc: The Carolinas, USA

Excellent post, and let's not forget forced labor camps in China for political and religious factions out of favor with the communist party.

Wuligal Loc: Slippery Rock, Pa.

Thank you for taking the time to read the post. I'm still up here on my soapbox about slavery but if the American tax dollar or political clout isn't involved nobody much cares.......wonder if it would be any different if those enslaved children had last names such as: Jones, Smith, Kennedy, Obama, Trump or Biden?

Shutterbug1697 Loc: Northeast

Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.

Federal troops had to ride into Texas and let the slaves know what they had been freed when the war ended nearly two years earlier, because Texas was still under confederate control.

https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/historical-legacy-juneteenth

https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Juneteenth

idaholover Loc: Nampa ID

Your Repuke Party self imploded thanks to RINOS like you. What a sell out.

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

you an trump sold out your so called conservatives

idaholover Loc: Nampa ID

Now you can deal with all that comes with this....

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/singer-macy-gray-argues-us-needs-a-new-flag-to-replace-tattered-dated-divisive-old-glory

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

After trumpetts dragged it on ground an beat police over thier head with it.


Buy mo ammo

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

True, that would be a better day, but either way, it is a event in our history that should be recognized, it is as important if not more so than many of our other holidays.