8C
MLKH'he Charlotte Post
Thursday, January 16,1997
Holiday long time in coming
Continued From 7C
the opposition of Sen.
Jesse Helms, R-N.C.,
who labeled King a
Communist, and
President Reagan’
lukewarm attitude
toward the legislation,
Lowery said.
In the final analysis,
what may have sealed
approval of the hohday
was a compromise
offered by Rep. Katie
Hall, Indiana
Democrat who mar
shalled support in the
House for the legisla
tion. Hall, responding
to criticism that the
holiday would be too
close to the Christmas-
New Year’s week,
moved its observance
to the third Monday of
the month. The notion
of a three-day week
end, plus the fact that
the third Monday often
follows Super Bowl
Simday, helped put the
measure over the top,
supporters say.
Arguments concern
ing money dominated
opposition to the holi
day. Costs associated
with lost services on
the King holiday were
estimated at $18 mil
lion for the federal gov
ernment; at $7 million
to Washington state;
at $1.18 million to
Seattle. The estimated
total was an astronom
ical $8 billion for gov
ernment and private
sector combined.
“Every time we’d
bring the bill up in the
Legislature, people
would say, ‘$7 million!
Are you kidding?!
What about all the
people starving in the
streets?!’” recalls
Washington state Sen.
George Fleming,
Seattle Democrat, who
has led legislative
efforts since the early
1970s.
Another common
argument, Fleming
notes, was “‘why put
Dr. King above other
famous people?’ They
didn’t think his legacy
would stand the test
of time.”
, Both , a,rguments.
Fleming feels, are used
to conceal racist resis
tance to the holiday.
Most holiday propos
als encounter strong
opposition, particular
ly today. Moreover,
just about every con
stituency has some
day it would hke to
commemorate.
Feminists have long
fought for a Susan B.
Anthony Day on the
suffragist’s birthday
Feb. 15. The Irish
would prefer to have
St. Patrick’s Day off,
the Finns St. Urho’s
Day (March 16). 'Tree
lovers and environ
mentalists can make a
case for Arbor Day to
be an official holiday.
Commercial interests
push Valentine’s Day.
While legislation
supporting these holi
days has never gotten
beyond the lip-service
stage, special interests
have created a number
of holidays not univer
sally observed.
Longshoremen, for
instance, take off
Harry Bridges’ birth
day to honor the popu
lar labor leader. In the
South, Robert E. Lee’s
birthday has long been
observed by various
states on the third
Monday of January.
This creates an inter
esting historical con
tradiction for those
that, like Virginia, are
adding observance of
King’s birthday to that
date as well.
Not specifically
patriotic or religious,
the King holiday does
not fit any traditional
category. But black
leaders hope it will
become a deeply spiri
tual day.
“I think it should be
devoted to some activi
ty which expresses
love of om fellow per
son, or spiritual recog
nition of some kind,”
says Dr. Donald G.
Keep the Dream Alive &
Support Black Monday
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3241 DRENAN ST. • CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28205
In The Grier Heights
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J.R. “Ron” Johnson TEL.
Owner 704-332-4024
^‘We Share The Dream of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'*
^ Heads Up ^
1218 E. 36th Street
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Phelps, chancellor of
Seattle Community
College District, which
for the past 11 years
has conducted a widely
attended memorial
service in King’s honor
on his birthday. “As
we’ve celebrated it in
the past, it’s become a
day where more people
come together in an
King’s principles,
which are really
American principles in
their truest form.
“It shouldn’t be a hol
iday where we all go
fishing.”
We are proud to remember
the life of a GREAT MAN
who touched the lives of aU
Americans
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
1928-1968
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Specializing in Reptile Footwear-Mauri and Others
Men’s. Women’s and Children’s Clothing
Dennis Hurdle; President
William Pittman; Vice President
3401 South Blvd. Unit G
Charlotte, N.C. 28209
(704)521-8200 • FAX (704)521-8275
Store Hours: 10 - 6 Mon. - Sat.
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Happy
Birthday
Martin Luther
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> V *.4.4  s