It seems that this May Day past was also Loyalty Day [1]. Now this isn't just some spur of the moment proclamation by President Bush. He has proclaimed both in 2002 and 2001. And the previous occupant of the White House was not above some proclaiming himself. As a matter of fact, Loyalty Day (AKA Law Day) traces back to a proclamation of President Eisenhower in 1958 and a joint resolution of Congress in 1961. The ABA lobbied long and hard to get it proclaimed an official holiday in order to combat the forces of International Communism, but few realize why the ex-Soviet Union used to parade its miltary might around on May Day. In fact, May first was proclaimed International Workers' Day in memory of a strike which took place in Chicago, on May 1, 1886, in favor of the eight-hour work day [3]. Somewhere along the way, law and loyalty became synonymous in the American plitical mind.
[1] Strange times when I agree with the Libertarians, but perhaps there is just too much government.
[2] Best know for his golfing and heart attacks.
[3] How un-American!
