Veteran's Day apathy incongruous with proper values

By John Brannon

This past Sunday, a friend of mine asked me if we had school on Tuesday—Veteran’s Day for the uninformed. I thought to myself, “I’m pretty sure that we get Veteran’s Day off, it’s a relatively important national holiday.” Then I came home, checked out the online calendar, and realized that it wasn’t to be. No big deal for me—I don’t have class on Tuesdays anyway.

Then I began scrolling down to check out the other days off to come in this and the next semester, and I noticed some of the other days we have off. Thanksgiving—that’s a given. Martin Luther King Day—of course. Presidents Day—how could we not? Cesar Chavez day—Cesar Chavez day?

Are you kidding me? California Universities will give students a day off to celebrate (that’s the whole point of the day off right?) the life of one Cesar Chavez, but won’t give students the day off to celebrate the millions of men and women that have kept this country free over the past 200 and some odd years?

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t have anything against Cesar Chavez, really don’t know a whole lot about him other than his fight for farm workers and the fact that he had questionable political ties.

To tell you the truth, I really don’t mind having an extra day off. But have we really gone so far over the cliff of political correctness in California that we have to create a holiday for Cesar Chavez in order to feel like we’re giving equality to all (and I do mean “create” because they sure don’t celebrate Cesar Chavez day in Oregon).

If we’re going to have Cesar Chavez day off, then lets not stop there, because there are scores of people who have been more influential in the lives of American’s than Cesar Chavez. Truman, Roosevelt (both of them), Patton, Powell, Reagan, Rosa Parks, Macarthur, Washington-Carver, and Helen Keller just to name a few.

It seems rational that holidays should be reserved for people and events that have totally shaken the ground of our civilization. Lets get real here. It’s great that Cesar Chavez helped raise working conditions and wages, but should that be worthy of “holiday” status? Which was more important, marches around the Lindsay Olive Plant, or Normandy? Strikes throughout California, or striking the heart of the Third Reich? Putting unfair companies out of business, or helping put an end to the holocaust?

I’m not denying the validity of what Cesar Chavez did. I live in Madera, how could I? But lets give credit where credit is due. Veteran’s day is about those who have fought or served in any way during any war. And come to think of it, we’re in a war right now.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the sacrifices made to protect our livelihood are a little bit more worthy of praise than fighting to raise worker conditions. So since Fresno State doesn’t see Veteran’s day as worthy of time to reflect, take time out of your studying to thank those who fight to protect us and reflect upon what we have because of those fights.