9/11 Remembrance: Should This Day Become a Federal Holiday

“The federal government and federal state governments have passed laws recognizing certain days as a federal holiday. The federal governments have recognized public holidays, which means employers are supposed to give employees a day off, or they are supposed to pay employees for working on the holiday”. The government requires private employers to grant employees time off for a state-designated federal holiday or pay them if they go to work on that day. Additionally, most state and federal governments require employees to be given leaves on the federal holiday. “In the United States, any national holiday is an official holiday that is recognized by the federal government”. “In the United States, federal institutions have the authority to create federal holidays”. During federal holidays, institutions, banks, and schools are closed. This paper will mainly focus on whether 9/11should be a federal holiday.

September 11th, each year, Americans honor victims of a terror attack that took place in lower Manhattan at the Pentagon in 2001 that led to the death of 3000 people. Congress passed a law to name the day patriotic day, but the day has not joined the positions of other certified holidays such as Memorial Day or Veterans Day. “September 11th is still not a national holiday since it is not celebrated the way other holidays are celebrated in America”. This is because most people have something to enjoy during a holiday and although there were so many heroes on this date, most people look back at the deaths and darkness of 9/11. September 11th is still unofficial since businesses and schools do not shut down on this day, but rather things move on as usual. This day was earlier dubbed 'National Day of Service and Remembrance' and was officially named 'Patriotic Day' in 2001.

During the 9/11 10th anniversary celebrations, there were plenty of calls to make it an official holiday since the public can forget about it if it is not made official by the federal government. “Many have pushed 9/11 to be a national holiday, but others argue it would be impractical to do so”. Many argue 9/11 should be made a holiday so that Americans should never forget the victims who lost their lives during the attack that took place in America. Other people suggest 9/11 should be made a mental health day to give those who lost their loved ones a day to remember them.

September 11th is just a few days after Labor Day. This makes it a big reason why September 11th won't be a holiday soon. “Federal holidays cost a lot of money, and it will be costly to add another holiday in the federal government calendar”. States have also been resilient in giving their employees holidays on September 11th since it is expensive. States like Colorado considered it before scrapping the idea because of cost. “Other people argue that 9/11 be replaced by Columbus Day to minimize cost, while others suggested it should be replaced with St. Patrick's Day'. “Just because it is not a federal day, it does not mean it will not be a federal day one day. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday was not made a holiday until 1984”. Congress has the power to make 9/11 a federal holiday, but it seems like it will not be a holiday anytime soon. Therefore, the question is 'how you commemorate an incident: Do you have to give all federal workers a day off to make it significant? I don't think so.'

Turning 9/11 into a national holiday would detract commemorations that occurred in offices such as the Pentagon. In addition, the federal government is discouraging more federal government holidays since it is costly, and it will cost taxpayers as well. “Other people argue that 9/11 can be celebrated together on Memorial Day or Veterans Day to reduce the debate on whether 9/11 should be made a federal holiday”. The only fear that some people have is when years go by, 9/11 could risk losing sense for numerous Americans. It is true when a country moves on without celebrating certain holidays; the holiday will start losing sense with time.

In my opinion, 9/11 should not be a federal holiday. Firstly, organizing a federal holiday is costly and will cost the federal government a lot of taxpayers' money to host the 9/11 holiday every year. 9/11 is a terrorist attack day, and there is no special thing about it. Those who killed on that day can still be remembered but not by making the day federal day. “Additionally, we should not be celebrating a holiday where terrorists took so many innocent lives”. We can still mourn them without making it a federal holiday. Consequently, it will seem like we are celebrating the attack that the terrorists carried out.

9/11 should be labeled as a day of remembrance to honor the lives that were lost during this attack. It can be done without making it a holiday. Additionally, history about this attack should be taught in schools so that the students will understand the terrorist attack that took place on 9/11. “Schools should not skip this day but rather teach students about what happened on this day”. Even though some details and stories can be frightening to students, they deserve to know what happened and one prime example why our country is so amazing and the best place to live your life. Yes, it was a tragic day, but it showed how important and strong every person in our country is. Every school should talk about this day to its students to make them have in mind what happened.

9/11 should not be a federal holiday because people will still not celebrate this day. Holidays turn into celebrations whenever a federal government decides to make it a holiday. Instead of mourning those who were attacked, people will see this as an opportunity to celebrate on that day. People should continue to go to work and forget about 9/11 on holiday. If 9/11 becomes a federal holiday, it would be trivialized by commercialism. The only people who are guaranteed this holiday are those working for the federal government. Therefore, 9/11 should just be left as a remembrance day and not a federal holiday.

9/11 should not be a federal holiday because there is nothing to celebrate. Terrorist attack is nothing to be proud of since it is not a good thing. Other holidays are celebrated because they are events taking place. If 9/11 becomes a federal holiday, then every time terrorists kill our men or women should be made a federal holiday since it diminishes others who have died because of terrorism. “9/11 should not be a federal holiday since it was a horrific event that took place”. When Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7th, it was not made a public holiday while 9/11 was made a patriotic day. It will not be fair if 9/11 becomes a federal holiday. Other equally devastating events took place and are not celebrated in America. Finally, America has too many federal holidays already. Since people don't use holidays to remember events that took place and extend them to vacations, 9/11 should not be a federal holiday.

In conclusion, 9/11 should not be a federal holiday since very few people will celebrate this day. History about this attack should be taught in schools so that the students will understand the terrorist attack that took place on 9/11. It is also important that children understand why society is the way it is. Such as airport security and metal detectors and populated places. We should not be celebrating a holiday where terrorists took so many innocent lives. We can still mourn them without making it a federal holiday.

Works Cited

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