Today the United States honors the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the slain civil rights leader. However, some states also honor other men in history as well. The Commonwealth Of Virginia (where I live) on the Friday before, celebrates Lee-Jackson Day, a state-holiday to mark Robert E. Lee’s birthday and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Both of these men were natives of Virginia and served as Generals for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Lee-Jackson Day became more of a controversy when, for a time, it coincided with the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth, during that time (only in Virginia) it was called Lee-Jackson-King Day. When I first moved to Virginia the idea of Lee-Jackson-King Day seemed, to me anyway, to be a bit of a contradiction. While Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson may well have been honorable men, they fought on the side of a nation founded principally on the idea that one race of man was inferior to another and that human beings could be owned as property. I thought 'combining' it with the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., for some reason, just didn’t seem right--At least not to me.
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| ~Toby~ |
So if you are observing 'Martin Luther King Day,' and got the day off, or if you are like Carl and I and it's 'just another Monday,' and have to work, I hope your week is off to a good start! I think mine may very well be--Snow is in the forecast!
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| ~Toby and Bubba~ |
Today the United States honors the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the slain civil rights leader. However, some states also honor other men in history as well. The Commonwealth Of Virginia (where I live) on the Friday before, celebrates Lee-Jackson Day, a state-holiday to mark Robert E. Lee’s birthday and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Both of these men were natives of Virginia and served as Generals for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Lee-Jackson Day became more of a controversy when, for a time, it coincided with the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth, during that time (only in Virginia) it was called Lee-Jackson-King Day. When I first moved to Virginia the idea of Lee-Jackson-King Day seemed, to me anyway, to be a bit of a contradiction. While Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson may well have been honorable men, they fought on the side of a nation founded principally on the idea that one race of man was inferior to another and that human beings could be owned as property. I thought 'combining' it with the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., for some reason, just didn’t seem right--At least not to me. 
This photo of Toby and Bubba is so adorable! I visited with my Grand dog Ginger yesterday who is a one year old Golden. She's so beautiful... but my son had her in the back room in her cage :( I guess so she didn't wreak havoc on the birthday celebration. I wish I would have snapped a pic of her.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes... I have to go to work today... Have a good day, Kim.
Yup ~ it's just another work day here in Canada too! errr.... snowy Monday work day that is... :(
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday Kim!
xo Catherine
Yup ~ it's just another work day here in Canada too! errr.... snowy Monday work day that is... :(
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday Kim!
xo Catherine
What a great picture of Toby & Bubba - how sweet and content they are.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the snow (we're expecting some ice).
Woofs
Nadine & Neeli
Angel doggie Apples (1994-2010)
so it's one of those holidays that only certain people get off I guess.........is it the usual suspects, the Government, Banks and Post Offices?
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of the doggies...
Gill in Canada
What a sweet photo of Toby and Bubba...
ReplyDeleteYes, I have the day off and while we have made gains in MLK's dreams, we have a ways to go...
Looks like Toby and Bubba have got the work/life balance just about right.
ReplyDeleteI have to work too, Kim. I don't have a problem with honoring those who have helped shape history in profound ways. I too found it a bit of a challenge to "celebrate" the Lee-Jackson-King holiday when I first moved here, but, since the ONLY people who actually got to have time off to celebrate seemed to be the government workers and the school children, I can honestly say, I rarely took two minutes to even reflect of the "reason" for the day. Just another manic Monday, as Madonna would say!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week and keep warm.
I never heard of Lee-Jackson Day before, but why would I I guess. That sure led to some head-scratching I bet! All three on the same day! Go figure!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week Kim and that pic of Toby and Bubba is the cutest!!
I'm always off on Mondays, but our school district lets out for MLK day.
ReplyDeleteThat certainly is a contradiction for the state of Virginia, LOL. Only in the south. i think Oklahoma is considered a southern plains state, although it was still Indian Territory during the Civil War, and as far as I know, my ancestors fought for the Confederate. People are people to me, we all put our pants on one leg at a time.
Have a great week, Kim.
Liz
Very interesting history lesson. And yes, a juxtaposition for sure... If it caused people to pause and think for a minute, maybe it was worth the strange mix. I appeciate you letting us think on that one today...
ReplyDeleteGod bless ALL people of ALL races, creeds, colors and orientations.
As you can imagine, here is Georgia, Dr King's home state, we are shut down...
ReplyDeleteOur snow from last week is still on ground and we're kind of tired of it!
Buddy washes Sassy's face like that...too sweet!
xoxo
I'm so happy to see that the Chub brothers are flourishing at Golden Pines. Never a doubt. Always love seeing pictures of your dogs.
ReplyDeleteJust another Monday here, too.
ReplyDeleteI see you have a face cleaner in your pack. We have two, Morgan and Noah. It drives me crazy when they lick each other's eyes.
Wouldn't you just love to hear the thoughts of those three men about sharing a day of honor amongst the three of them? ;-)
ReplyDeleteThere is something so heart-tugging and appealing about the white face on an aging golden retriever. It's like the sweetness, wisdom and unconditional love just shines through. How blessed your dogs are to have each other and you!
Mostly, it's just another Monday to me, but being a native Virginian......
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us about this bit of history.
ReplyDeleteI never knew about the other two personalities but of course, Martin Luther King is someone we know, especially in India, the land of Mahatma Gandhi.
Love the picture..our furry friends always look so happy and content at your home.
have a great week
Have a good week! Hope you don't get too much snow. :-)
ReplyDeleteNothing better than a good lickin'! Yes, that threesome all jumbled up together certainly sounds strange.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Lee-Jackson Day before either - I always like learning about local custom's and celebrations. Thank you for including it today!
ReplyDeleteSam
Wish DH had to go to work today! ;-)
ReplyDeleteNever heard of Lee-Jackson-King day, don't think they ever had that here. I am aware of all their birthdays.
Bubba & Toby look so sweet, they are so loving to each other!
Beautiful cardinal picture. One of the few bad things about being retired is that the days sort of melt into one another. I completely forgot that it was Martin Luther King day and went to get the mail. That's the first thing that reminded me.
ReplyDeleteToo bad you don't have the day off to spend with hubby and the kids. Boo. Hiss. Not fair. Love your photo -- I never see mom and pop cardinal together. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! Yup, another day at work for me too. Snow is expected here as well. Whoo hoo (read sarcastically).
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
Staci
I have to agree with you. "Lee-Jackson-King Day" seems like a major contradiction.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that you didn't get the day off... but it sounds like you went into the week with the right attitude!
Love the photos, especially the Toby and Bubba one!
The last picture so made us smile!
ReplyDeleteLove that photo of Toby and Bubba...I miss my golden!
ReplyDeleteIt's been almost a year since she past...such a wonderful dog for thirteen years.
Don't let my daughter know where you live Kim...she will be on the first plane/bus/train...with her husband, bulldog, and rescue kitten in tow to permanently live in your house. If she had to define paradise...you've got it with all those animals!
ReplyDeleteAnother work day for me and I do think he was a wonderful man. I agree-seems like a contradiction to me too. Love that picture of Toby and Bubba--so sweet :)
ReplyDeleteSo, did you get any snow? We've gotten some here today and it warmed up, so we're happy about that!
ReplyDeleteAs for the holiday, I can see the contradiction! We don't have either up here in Canada though.
knock knock
ReplyDeleteis anyone home? its me The Tweedles.
I came to sit for a bit. I saw the little red bird in the tree.. what a beautiful song he is singing..
Now I am going to to give Toby and Bubba a nice kiss, and maybe take a nap with them. Maybe my face will get washed too.
They are so beautiful,, and you know I feel so much better when I come to Golden Pines.
love
tweedles
Thanks for stopping by, I hope to be going home a little later this evening and finishing out my IV antobotics at home! I know I'll have one happy lil beagle on my hands! Hope your week is going well.
ReplyDeleteMarie
90249.....92340
ReplyDeleteThe picture of Toby and Bubba is just so sweet!
ReplyDeleteWe don't really get days like that over here we get the bank holidays & religious ones but I can't think of one public holiday we get to commemorate someone famous.
ReplyDeleteIn saying that the country is waiting to hear if we get a day of for Prince William's wedding ( I do love a Royal wedding ! )