A new holiday

I just found out that "Juneteenth" is a new United States holiday. I had no idea it was even being considered. I am about to say something unpopular and, I am sure, someone is going to say it is racist.

Juneteenth is, to the best of my knowledge, a celebration of good news arriving late or, perhaps, the celebration of the memory of the happiness of the people who received the news that they were freed. I am not aware of anything happening or anyone doing anything on "Juneteeth" that actually freed anyone. And that brings us to the question of what U.S. holidays are for.

Washington's Birthday is to honor the father of our country, and, hopefully, encourage all Americans to emulate his selflessness in service to the United States. Columbus Day holds up the explorer and Almirante del Mar Océan as an example of bravery and historical import who's actions lead to the founding of the United States. The Birthday of Jesus is a United States holiday because he is God and the source of all Law, and thus the foundation of the United States. I could continue on discussing all the holidays, even the somewhat troublesome Labor Day, created to honor the people "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold" and to put a brake on the cancer of Communism in the United States. But what does Juneteenth honor? What does it urge us to do? Deliver messages late? Listen to good news? I think to have made any of the following dates a holiday celebrating emancipation of the slaves would have been better, for these acts really freed slaves. :

Aug 1 - The date general Fremont, a Californian, declared martial law and freed the slaves in Missouri.

September 22 - The date President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which would later free the slaves in captured rebel territory.

January 1 - The date the Emancipation proclamation went into effect.

January 31 - The date the 13th Amendment which abolished slavery was passed by the Congress.

December 6 - The date the 13th Amendment was ratified by the States.

All of these dates point to courageous acts and to people who's examples we should follow.