Staff Reports
Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate, has raised some eyebrows with his criticism of Juneteenth, the newly recognized federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Ramaswamy believes that the holiday is “useless” and argues that the country should not have multiple holidays that celebrate similar themes.
Vivek Ramaswamy says Juneteenth is a 'useless' holiday, calls to make Election Day a holiday https://t.co/UQZHl8pzjf
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) August 8, 2023
In a recent speech in Iowa, Ramaswamy suggested canceling Juneteenth or one of the “useless” holidays that have been created. He proposed replacing the canceled holiday with making Election Day a national holiday instead. Ramaswamy believes that if every important event in history were to have its own commemorative holiday, we would have no working days left.
Juneteenth is a new holiday so we still have a chance to define what it means to us. It needn’t be about grievance & self-flogging. Let it be a celebration of the American Dream itself. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/NyHfbJoAlw
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) June 19, 2023
While Ramaswamy acknowledges the significance of Juneteenth, he argues that its spirit is already celebrated through other holidays like Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Day. He believes that instead of having redundant holidays with overlapping purposes, each holiday should have a distinct purpose.
Ramaswamy, who is of Indian descent and a first-generation American, posted a video on Juneteenth expressing his pride in the progress that the country has made and celebrating the ability to succeed through hard work. However, his criticism of Juneteenth and proposal to cancel the holiday has drawn criticism from some who see his stance as dismissive and insensitive.
It is worth noting that Ramaswamy is not alone in his mixed views on Juneteenth. Republican Senator Tim Scott encouraged people to focus on the nation’s future and progress rather than dwelling solely on the sins of the past in his statement on Juneteenth this year.
Editorial Opinion: Vivek Ramaswamy’s criticism of Juneteenth raises some valid points about the potential redundancy of holidays. While it’s important to recognize and honor the end of slavery in the United States, having multiple holidays with similar themes can dilute their overall significance. However, Ramaswamy’s suggestion to cancel Juneteenth or any other holiday without a clear alternative plan is questionable. Instead of canceling holidays, we should focus on finding ways to better commemorate their distinct purposes. Furthermore, Juneteenth serves as an important reminder of the progress our nation has made and the ongoing fight for equality, and dismissing it as “useless” undermines its significance.
