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Perry County will get Barack Obama Day
Published Wednesday, December 3, 2008
In central Alabama's Perry County, government workers already get a day off for President's Day, Martin Luther King Day, and Veteran's Day. In 2009, they'll get one more: "Barack Obama Day."
The rural county, which overwhelmingly supported Obama in last month's presidential election, has approved the second Monday in November as "The Barack Obama Day." Commissioners passed a measure that would close county offices for the new annual holiday and its roughly 40 workers will get a paid day off.
Sponsoring commissioner Albert Turner Jr. said the holiday is meant to highlight the Democratic president-elect's victory as a way to give people faith that difficult goals can be achieved.
Perry County has 12,000 residents, most of them black. Voters there backed Obama by over 70 percent in a state that gave 60 percent of the overall vote to Republican John McCain based largely on strong support from white voters.
At the state level, Alabama observes the standard federal holidays as well as a handful of its own that include Confederate Memorial Day in April and the June birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. It observes Martin Luther King's birthday in January but the holiday is twinned with commemoration of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on the same day.
The Perry County Commission's three black members and one of its two white members voted for the Obama holiday.
Commissioner Brett Harrison said Wednesday he voted against the resolution because of the costs to the county, which has a $2.2 million annual payroll and is one of the poorest in the state. He said closing the courthouse would also idle some state employees.
"I'm a Democrat, but just in these financial times, it's not using the county's money wisely," Harrison told The Associated Press by phone Wednesday. "The recognition is certainly well-founded."
Turner said copies of the resolution, adopted at a Nov. 25 meeting, have been mailed to Obama and his transition team.
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Comments
Posted by Jazzy (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is truly an asinine thing to do. In today’s economy why put more hardship on the town just because you want to celebrate your voting choice. You should be celebrating the day by working hard, just as Obama did, to get where he is. I bet you he did not lay idly by on State Holidays when he wanted something. No he probably worked for it. If you have a job, a State Job no less, with the benefits that come with one, celebrate it by doing your job. By doing it good. Make it official, celebrate the day. But work it. Then have a parade in his honor. Have activities planned at local schools, such as politics day where they learn more about government than they normally do. Have a 100 facts about Obama’s life quiz. Who ever gets the best score gets a free day of homework. For State employees come up with something similar where they still get to celebrate, but they do so by actually working the day. Obama wants to make the economy stronger, and by voting for him you agree with his ideals. Then do so and work harder to make your economy stronger, more durable. Not weaker and lazier.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hahahahahahaha. Nothing surprises me anymore, but could you expect any less.
Posted by newlywed1 (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is so stupid. Obama hasn't even proved himself yet and these idios are giving him holiday. What has done to deserve a holiday, when other great presidents (like FDR, for example) don't have one? I think this whole country has turned Obama into celebrity rather than a politian.
Posted by kdnichols (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep throwing money away and end up like Jefferson County.
Posted by saints_vball_9 (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is ridiculous but I guess it was something to expect...
Posted by 1eyedmule (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Al Turner, Jr. can change the speed limit signs on the road he lives on so he can speed, then this shouldn't surprise anyone.
Posted by sickandtired (anonymous) on December 3, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
when did turner get so much power? why do the people of perry co .keep letting him get away with all this crap?
Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pari1220:
Please explain the word Mutt?? Or anybody
Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK I missed that speech. I must pay close attention to all his speeches. Thank You
Posted by sel36703 (anonymous) on December 5, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No, Mccrary, You have not missed much. Do not excuse pari220 comments as simply a quote from Obama. There's something called taking something out of context. I heard the remarks and pari220 was definitely not referencing the comments appropriately. In joking about picking a pet dog for his daughters, Obama suggested that maybe he will pick a mutt like himself. Mutt is slang word that describes a dog of mixed breeds. Obama being biracial took an opportunity to joke about his race; i.e. a white person referencing themselves as a redneck. By no means was he denouncing himself in a negative manner. What Pari220 said was, “Let the man prove himself first then if he deserves a holiday give him one but don't give him one just because he is a "Mutt".” It is clear that pari220 used mutt with an offensive connotation and the remarks are racist. I agree that this holiday is not necessary, but I challenge pari220 to be a man or woman about what it is they are truly saying. Don’t hide behind words, be clear and assertive about your criticism of Obama and I’m sure it has nothing to do with his character or policy.
Posted by Sunshine (anonymous) on December 8, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pari1220..."turn it around to be racist because that's the way black people are"...
think about that statement and see how offensive that is...besides offensive it is not logical...
whenever you use such words like "that's the way black people are"...you are labeling all black people.
I think that statement should be removed from this sight because when i read it it made me very angry and I wanted to lash out at you, but I thought about it...I don't want to be another raging voice on this blog.
So pari1220, I would ask you to revisit that statement and if the shoe was on the other foot...what would be your response
Posted by sel36703 (anonymous) on December 9, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pari1220, I clearly provided the definition of racism on a previous blog, but you clearly have no understanding of the definition so let me provide it again:
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
I agree that the word racist is used loosely and prejudices are often confused for racism, but the connotations (look it up) of your comments are racist. Its quite childish to defend your comments by simply saying, "he said it first". What was his purpose of his remark and what is yours?
I gave you a valid example using the term redneck to illustrate my point. Now if I concluded that all rednecks are poor white trash and your spouse jokingly called himself a redneck and I in response concluded that he/she is poor white trash, then I have drawn a negative image.I repeat:Don’t hide behind words, be clear and assertive about your criticism of Obama and I’m sure it has nothing to do with his character or policy.
BTW, have you accepted Obama as your President and will you support him as he confronts the challenges of these times. Also, do you feel the reason he is now your president is because he is a "Mutt"?
Posted by sel36703 (anonymous) on December 10, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agreed with you several blogs ago that the holiday was premature. I do not however think that it is racist. I think he has done what most capitalist has done since this historic moment in history, which is capitalizing off the Obama brand; i.e. T-shirts, historic newspaper issues, coins, ect. I do not know Turner personally, but I think that he has allowed his emotion of pride, while understandable, shadow his better judgment. What you might want to understand is that the black community is often highly publicized, generalized, and criticized when one black person does something wrong. However, it is the spirit of most black people to have a deep sense of pride for our community, particularly when there is something to proud about. It’s about Black history something we don't hear much about. But enough about race, I'm glad that you have accepted Obama as your president and like he said on the campaign, he can't do it alone. It will take all of us, so let's not wait to see what he will do, let's support him and let us all do what we can do.
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