Presidents Day is a federal holiday that for decades has gotten past me, in that I don’t understand it.
The day is meant to “honor” the men who have served as our head of state, head of government and our commander in chief. But … why?
Some of these individuals were truly despicable men, let alone presidents.
I remember when we used to honor only the birthdays of two of our presidents: the “father of our country,” George Washington and the “man who saved the Union,” Abraham Lincoln.
For my money, these gentlemen stand above the crowd of others who served as president. Indeed, they tower like the Colossus of Rhodes over a number of them.
I need not mention the names of the more despicable among the individuals who served as president. In my lifetime, I can think of just one man who not only never should have been elected in the first place, but who stands alone as the most vilified, despised and indisputably venal man ever to take the presidential oath.
I cannot honor him. Or many of the others who preceded him.
Yes, I have my favorite presidents. I already have mentioned two of them — Washington and Lincoln. They stand together at the top of the presidential heap.
I’ll just leave it at that.