It's old, but is it true? (Bush made May 1 Loyalty Day)

[K. A. Pital]

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2006, as Loyalty Day. I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance, and to display the flag of the United States on Loyalty Day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

[Alferd Packer]

It's been around a lot longer than Bush's little proclamation, but if you asked a typical American, I doubt he'd know that it was a holiday. We certainly don't get time off for it.

Oh, and I'd fly the Jolly Roger if I had a flagpole.

[SirNitram]

Da, Comrade.

Loyalty Day, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

To be an American is not a matter of blood or birth. Our citizens are bound by ideals that represent the hope of all mankind: that all men are created equal, endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. On Loyalty Day, we reaffirm our allegiance to our country and resolve to uphold the vision of our Forefathers.

Our founding principles have endured, guiding our Nation toward progress and prosperity and allowing the United States to be a leader among nations of the world. Throughout our history, honorable men and women have demonstrated their loyalty to America by making remarkable sacrifices to preserve and protect these values.

Today, America's men and women in uniform are protecting our Nation, defending the peace of the world, and advancing the cause of liberty. The world has seen again the fine character of our Nation through our military as they fought to protect the innocent and liberate the oppressed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are honored by the service of foreign nationals in our Armed Services whose willingness to risk their lives for a country they cannot yet call their own is proof of the loyalty this country inspires. Their service and sacrifice are a testament to their love for America, and our soldiers' honor on and off the battlefield reaffirms our Nation's most deeply held beliefs: that every life counts, and that all humans have an unalienable right to live as free people.

These values must be imparted to each new generation. Our children need to know that our Nation is a force for good in the world, extending hope and freedom to others. By learning about America's history, achievements, ideas, and heroes, our young citizens will come to understand even more why freedom is worth protecting.

Last September, I announced several initiatives that will help improve students' knowledge of American history, increase their civic involvement, and deepen their love for our great country. The We the People initiative will encourage the teaching of American history and civic education by providing grants for curriculum development and training seminars. The Our Documents initiative will use the Internet to bring infor-mation about and the text of 100 of America's most important documents from the National Archives to classrooms and com-munities across the country. These initiatives are important, for it is only when our children have an understanding of our past that they will be able to lead the future.

This Loyalty Day, as we express allegiance to our Nation and its founding ideals, we resolve to ensure that the blessings of liberty endure and extend for generations to come.

The Congress, by Public Law 85-529, as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as "Loyalty Day," and I ask all Americans to join me in this day of celebration and in reaffirming our allegiance to our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2003, as Loyalty Day. I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance. I also call upon government officials to display the flag of the United States on all government buildings on Loyalty Day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Glory to the revolution!

[K. A. Pital]

What the hell! I read it in some blog and immediately thought it to be false. Because, I mean, "proclaim hereby" a note day, like a king's rethoric and all that stuff, and doing it on May 1st, looked like a spoof of sorts.

And making a "national loyalty" day on 1st May? Looks like Bush is going the Hitler way: "Forget about your social class! Remember - Ein Volk". I don't know if he even had in mind the fact that 1st May already is the holiday most commonly associated with, um, worker rights...

[darthbob88]

I don't know if he even had in mind the fact that 1st May already is the holiday most commonly associated with, um, worker rights...

Not to mention May Day and Beltane, two holidays for celebration and merriment, and also Law Day in the US. Also, interestingly, May 1, 2006, the Puerto Rican gov't ran out of money and was forced to shut down schools and other gov't offices.

[Cincinnatus]

What the hell! I read it in some blog and immediately thought it to be false. Because, I mean, "proclaim hereby" a note day, like a king's rethoric and all that stuff, and doing it on May 1st, looked like a spoof of sorts.

And making a "national loyalty" day on 1st May? Looks like Bush is going the Hitler way: "Forget about your social class! Remember - Ein Volk". I don't know if he even had in mind the fact that 1st May already is the holiday most commonly associated with, um, worker rights...

Loyalty day has been around since at least the 1950's. It was created as a more patriotic alternative to May Day when everybody was scared of communism. This isn't something new Bush just came up with.

[SirNitram]

What the hell! I read it in some blog and immediately thought it to be false. Because, I mean, "proclaim hereby" a note day, like a king's rethoric and all that stuff, and doing it on May 1st, looked like a spoof of sorts.

Perhaps it's the fact I never grew rose-covered glasses, but this is 2003 we're talking about. It was a parallel universe in which up is down, strength is weakness, war is peace, and slavery is freedom. Saying anything against Bush got you condemned.. Or worse.

Just as the CIA agent assigned to track Iran's nuclear weapons program. Her name is well known now. Valerie Plame.

And making a "national loyalty" day on 1st May? Looks like Bush is going the Hitler way: "Forget about your social class! Remember - Ein Volk". I don't know if he even had in mind the fact that 1st May already is the holiday most commonly associated with, um, worker rights...

Not to mention the birth of North Korea...

[FedRebel]

Loyalty Day, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

This sure was under the radar

To be an American is not a matter of blood or birth. Our citizens are bound by ideals that represent the hope of all mankind:

...hence our attempts to limit immigration and permit the existence of redneck vigilantes

that all men are created equal, endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. On Loyalty Day, we reaffirm our allegiance to our country and resolve to uphold the vision of our Forefathers.

I thought that a holiday already existed for this, I believe that it is called...

Independence Day, which takes place every July fourth

Our founding principles have endured, guiding our Nation toward progress and prosperity and allowing the United States to be a leader among nations of the world.

...hence the pointless war in Iraq which only serves to bankrupt and discredit this nation

Throughout our history, honorable men and women have demonstrated their loyalty to America by making remarkable sacrifices to preserve and protect these values.

And they have a holiday already, two in fact...

Memorial day and Veterans day

Today, America's men and women in uniform are protecting our Nation, defending the peace of the world, and advancing the cause of liberty.

Note: this is what Bush tells himself at night in order to sleep peacefully

The world has seen again the fine character of our Nation through our military as they fought to protect the innocent and liberate the oppressed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Actually no, the world now views America as somewhat devious, selfish, and untrustworthy.

These values must be imparted to each new generation. Our children need to know that our Nation is a force for good in the world, extending hope and freedom to others. By learning about America's history,

You might want to think carefully about that

The US Army - Indian wars were nowhere near "extending hope and freedom to others"

The Mexican - American war also doesn't fit that bill

This Loyalty Day, as we express allegiance to our Nation and its founding ideals, we resolve to ensure that the blessings of liberty endure and extend for generations to come.

We already do this (well we're supposed to) every July fourth

The Congress, by Public Law 85-529, as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as "Loyalty Day," and I ask all Americans to join me in this day of celebration and in reaffirming our allegiance to our Nation.

Why May first?

Russia already has that day, 'May Day' ring any bells?

Also is it just me or does "Loyalty Day" sound like something a fascist dictator would make up.[/b]

[Lord Zentei]

And making a "national loyalty" day on 1st May? Looks like Bush is going the Hitler way: "Forget about your social class! Remember - Ein Volk". I don't know if he even had in mind the fact that 1st May already is the holiday most commonly associated with, um, worker rights...

At a guess he - or his advisors - had precisely that in mind. If the day becomes associated with Loyalty instead of class related struggles, that's all for the better, yes? "Rather than fight them, take over their holidays".

[Cincinnatus]

Uh, guys, Presidents have been making these proclamations every year since the Eisenhower administration. Here's one from Clinton. The reason this wasn't reported is because it is completely routine.

Bush makes plenty of vacuous, empty gestures appealing to patriotism, but this one isn't his fault.

[K. A. Pital]

At a guess he - or his advisors - had precisely that in mind. If the day becomes associated with Loyalty instead of class related struggles, that's all for the better, yes? "Rather than fight them, take over their holidays".

Perhaps. Certainly looks like a bad fascist joke. Ol' Mussolini must be laughing in his grave:

In 1920, the French government suggested that May Day should stress national unity rather than workers' solidarity, while Fascist Italy simply banned May Day celebrations in 1923 and substituted 21 April as a holiday to commemorate the Roman empire. A decade later Nazi Germany took over May Day, making it an official National Day of Labour; the next day, the government outlawed trade unions and arrested union leaders. Fascist Spain and Vichy France likewise took over May Day and attempted to make it over into a state-sponsored holiday rather than one asserted by workers, while at the height of the Cold War, American governments recast May Day as "Loyalty Day" and "Law Day" in an attempt to strip 1 May of any labour or socialist connotations.

So, Bush isn't the first and last in line I guess.

[Spyder]

Loyalty Day, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

To be an American is not a matter of blood or birth. Our citizens are bound by ideals that represent the hope of all mankind: that all men are created equal, endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Sounds awesome, so I can just fly over and get a job?

[Enforcer Talen]

In 1920, the French government suggested that May Day should stress national unity rather than workers' solidarity, while Fascist Italy simply banned May Day celebrations in 1923 and substituted 21 April as a holiday to commemorate the Roman empire.

So, Bush isn't the first and last in line I guess.

Yess. . . the world shall celebrate the day of my birth. . .

[Ritterin Sophia]

So... I'm feeling teenish (Read: Rebellious and Stupid), anyone know where I can get a cheap Soviet Flag with the Hammer & Sickle (As in the one used from 1923-91)?

[The Yosemite Bear]

has he declared himself president for life yet?

how about king of Scotland?

[Pelranius]

Is he going to embalm Papa Bush and display the body in a masoluem on the Potamac?

[The Yosemite Bear]

why am I now just picturing him locking his father in a glass coffin, and then filling the coffin full of alcohol and cyanide.

[Patrick Degan]

Reads like one of Woodrow Wilson's brand of propagandistic drivel...

[Durandal]

Doesn't the very idea of a "loyalty day" run contrary to the principles laid down by the Founders?

[Uraniun235]

Those principles have to be re-interpreted in the face of the realities of the modern 21st century world, a world in which you're either with us or against us in the global War on Terror, and by god you'd better make it loud and clear who you're with.