Should 9/11 Be Made A Federal Holiday?

[Greenday]

Past few years, this has really been coming up. People think we should have off for September 11th. A lot of school's closed for it. So should it become a federal holiday?

I personally don't see why September 11th should be made a holiday, but so many other important days shouldn't. D-Day, Pearl Harbor Day, the list goes on, but no one seems to give a crap about those days anymore.

[BroomJockey]

From an outsider's perspective, I've got to basically say "yes, but not as such."

Remembrance Day, Nov. 11, is a federal holiday, is similar, but it's not for any one event. It's a memorial for all soldiers and lives lost in time of war, though originally focused on WWI. I think that would be better. Take your Veteran's Day, expand the scope to anyone who's life is lost to violence, or some such definition, and then make it a national holiday. Any day dedicated to a single event needs significant impact on the history of the nation for it to have any enduring meaning, and while it was tragic, I really think, ultimately, 9/11 won't be more than a paragraph in your nation's history. As you noted, there have been other tragedies, and I'm sure it won't be the last.

[powerboy]

Honestly, no it should not. Yes it was tragic, but so was other things.

[AdminAssistant]

Well, we already have Memorial Day, which is to honor all of our fallen soldiers, although that usually turns into something of remembering all of your dead loved ones....or an excuse to grill hamburgers and drink beer all day.

I don't think it should be a federal holiday, however there is a distinct difference between D-Day (or Pearl Harbor) and 9/11. The vast majority of those who died in the 9/11 attacks were civilians. The majority of those who died at Pearl Harbor were military. D-Day is not a freakin' American holiday, it belongs to all of the Allieds. There were beaches besides Omaha. (Sorry, that one's a big pet peeve.) However, many of those who died then were military as well.

That said, there is an importance to the event. It was the turning point for my generation, and a reminder that just because we are Americans, it does not make us invincible.

I actually just got home from a seminar where the commemoration of 9/11 was the topic at hand. Interesting...

[joe hx]

It kinda already is:

In the United States, Patriot Day occurs on September 11 of each year, designated in memory of the 2,993 casualties in the September 11, 2001, attacks. Most Americans refer to the day as "Nine-Eleven (9/11)," "September 11th," or some variation thereof.

link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Day

[AdminAssistant]

Yes, it is federally recognized as "Patriot Day", however people are lobbying to have a day of paid time off where federal offices, banks, schools, etc. are closed in recognition.

I feel that it should be handled in the same manner as some holidays (Yom Kippur, for an upcoming example). If you request the time off, you can get it. But it shouldn't be a federal mandate.

[Talon]

Personally, I think the day the perpetrators finally face justice - THAT day should be the public holiday.

[Greenday]

D-Day is not a freakin' American holiday, it belongs to all of the Allieds. There were beaches besides Omaha. (Sorry, that one's a big pet peeve.) However, many of those who died then were military as well

Trust me, I know there were five beaches (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah) along with Pointe du Hoc. Reading up on D-Day is one of my favorite research topics. But by federal holiday I just mean a recognized day where you get off of work no questions asked. If it weren't for D-Day, a LOT more people would have died, the Holocaust would have lasted a lot longer, and the Allies might not have won.

[Nyoibo]

I don't see why you can't just have a minutes silence, all through growing up that's what we've had on rememberance day, 11am, 1 minutes silence, in school, and on every job I've had for 1 minute we stop, it works.

[Boozy]

How many flippin' holidays do you people need?

Every time I look Americans are having another day off work. Most of my husband's clients are American, and he's constantly saying, "It will be a slow day. My clients won't be calling, since it's a public holiday in the States."

In all seriousness, what would you do with the day off? It's not exactly a celebratory event. Wouldn't be right to go to the beach or have a barbecue. I'd think it would be better to work than to sit around all depressed.

[AdminAssistant]

Trust me, I know there were five beaches (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah) along with Pointe du Hoc. Reading up on D-Day is one of my favorite research topics. But by federal holiday I just mean a recognized day where you get off of work no questions asked. If it weren't for D-Day, a LOT more people would have died, the Holocaust would have lasted a lot longer, and the Allies might not have won.

I know. But every time June 5th comes around, the American flags break out and there is very little mention of the Canadians, British, Australians, Kiwis, Free French, etc. that also fought and died...many of whom had been fighting for much longer and under much worse conditions than any Americans could even imagine. It's a general attitude of "Europe was in trouble and so after a few years the American calvary rode in and saved the day" that just drives me freakin' nuts.

Sadly, a federal holiday for Patriot Day would probably dissolve into an excuse to grill hamburgers, drink beer all day, and celebrate the end of summer. It's the American way.

[daleduke17]

How many flippin' holidays do you people need?

Every time I look Americans are having another day off work. Most of my husband's clients are American, and he's constantly saying, "It will be a slow day. My clients won't be calling, since it's a public holiday in the States."

In all seriousness, what would you do with the day off? It's not exactly a celebratory event. Wouldn't be right to go to the beach or have a barbecue. I'd think it would be better to work than to sit around all depressed.

We have pretty much one day off a month, but, not all places close on Federal Holidays. Monday was Labor Day, my work was open (but I was making some sweet Holiday Pay).

Only March, April, August and October don't have Federal Holidays in them. Include some State Holidays, and no, people don't work much here.

[Fashion Lad!]

I do believe that 9/11 should be made a federal holiday. I can't speak exactly why. But, I have a strong feeling about it.

[Hyena Dandy]

Sadly, a federal holiday for Patriot Day would probably dissolve into an excuse to grill hamburgers, drink beer all day, and celebrate the end of summer. It's the American way.

Personally I feel that its the human way. If you make something to memorialize one event, the event passes... People forget. Don't get a lot of silence around here on November 22nd... All you need to do is remind people what truly happened. A holiday will just become a day of vacation.

I agree that it should be remembered, but I don't understand why we should all take a day off because of it. How does that honor someone's sacrifice?

[Greenday]

Sadly, a federal holiday for Patriot Day would probably dissolve into an excuse to grill hamburgers, drink beer all day, and celebrate the end of summer. It's the American way.

Since when do we need an excuse for that? I do all that regardless.