Lindsay Chervinsky, a presidential historian, proposed the cancellation of Presidents' Day, arguing against the tradition of venerating all presidents as if they were royalty. She emphasized that the holiday, which commemorates George Washington and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays, should instead focus on celebrating significant actions that positively impacted the nation. Chervinsky advocates for recognizing the extraordinary achievements of a few presidents, aligning with a vision of normalizing the presidency rather than elevating it to a king-like status. The discussion highlights the need for perspective on presidential contributions beyond mere biography.
I'm not sure that we necessarily want to celebrate the people. I think that we want to have a certain respect for the office... But by celebrating all of them, I do think it causes us to think of the president as somehow other, when in reality they are a citizen just like everyone else.
Instead, it makes a lot more sense to celebrate actions. Let's celebrate Washington returning his command and ensuring that there wasn't a military dictatorship. Let's celebrate Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
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