I'm contemplating the upcoming weekend, and observing Martin Luther King Day. Now, I can't speak for all, but it has been my experience that no other holiday is met with greater eye rolling, ambivalence, and overall 'meh' than MLK Day. And that doesn't account for the truly awful ways I've heard it referred to. I hate to think how late some rednecks must stay up trying to summon what would pass in uneducated circles as witty banter. But I digress. I mean, in their defense, it must be hard to think straight with such constricted oxygen flow and no world view other than that of their own colon. But I digress. Again.

When you consider all of the outright silly holidays we celebrate- most based on some over-adulterated, far-removed ancient ritual, with make believe characters wielding other-worldly powers, whose primary concern, it seems, is that we aren't eating enough chocolate. Well, when you consider those, it makes perfect sense that MLK Day would seem out of place. Because it is.

Unlike most other major holidays, this one is about a real person. A real person who really lived. And did good things. Really good things. Even when people didn't deserve it. That really separates the wheat from the chaff, folks.

Let's consider, and translate, the holidays. Not all of them, mind you. I've got a life to lead. Let's just look at the biggies listed on the average, typical, non-denominational, racially non-specific, 'sorry-we-didn't mean-to-leave-you-out-honestly-some-of-my-best-friends-are-your-type' calendar. (Holy crap this hypersensitivity stuff is exhausting!)

New Year's Eve/Day- The earth circled the sun. Our population made it to a new calendar year. Way to not really do anything significant in making that happen. It would happen with or without you. Since you're here, go ahead and have some champagne. Happy New Year! Way to not die. Go ahead and take the day off. We all know you're too hungover to come in anyway.

Groundhog Day- What's the weather like today? ...In one very specific berg. Where they obviously drink way too much. And their animals talk. And tell fortunes. And predict future weather patterns. And OMG I can't believe this is even on the calendar. Have you ever thought this one through? I mean, really thought it through! Anyway... so, yeah. There's that.

Valentine's Day- Awww. How sweet, right? Hey baby, I'm feeling kind of frisky! How about in exchange for these flowers and chocolates, you forget about what an ass I've been the rest of the year and make good with the whoopee! And in case my gift giving and smooth words aren't enough, here's a little incentive... It's kind of a baby! But grown up like. And it flies with wings. And wears a diaper. And if you don't like me on your own, he will SHOOT you with a frickin' ARROW!! What twisted perv came up with Valentine's Day, and how did they stay out of custody? And who else was brave enough to agree it sounded like a good idea? It's amazing what we will go through for chocolate.

St. Patrick's Day- I'm betting 9 of 10 have no idea where this came from. All you know is it means beer. Green beer. As much as you can drink. Good enough. Who is this Patrick guy? Who cares. Are you still talking? Here, have a beer. It's green. I don't know why, just drink.

Easter- Here's another 'way to not die' holiday. It's Spring! Bunnies and eggs for everyone! The earth is turning and getting warm again. We can finally go outside and make babies. Or stay inside and make babies. Either way. The important thing is that we make babies. Or, at least practice. And then the Christians got a hold of it and turned 'way to not die' into 'way to not stay dead.' Jesus lives! Here, have some chocolate.

Mother's Day- M: is for the money I won't be paying you back. Oh, alright, Moms are pretty cool. This is a good one.

Memorial Day- No jokes here. Nothing funny about dead soldiers. Here's one worth celebrating.

Father's Day- Dads of the world, show what great fathers you are by doing whatever your family wants to do on a day we will all pretend is for you. Oh, and here's a tie.

Independence Day- We are free! We have established our own laws and we are a civilized, free people! Let's relive those horrendous explosions and bright flashes of light that so thoroughly dismembered our foes that they finally left us alone. Coincidentally, the only way to do it any justice is to become criminals by purchasing illegal fireworks- risking life, limb and freedom. Dichotomies are fun.

Labor Day- You've been working hard, kid. Take a break. Yeah, alright.

Columbus Day- A day set aside to celebrate dumb luck. After all, he could have been lost and landed in Siberia.

Halloween- If I dress up scary, can I come over to your house tonight and demand candy? How come when I did that yesterday you threatened to call the cops? And what have you got against pumpkins?

Veteran's Day- Vets did all the work, but we get the day off. Shouldn't only veterans get this one?

Thanksgiving- A day to be thankful that the Pilgrims didn't occupy a land filled with people like the Pilgrims.

Christmas- The Mother of all holidays. It's a world-wide birthday party for Jesus. Or the deity of your choice. Doesn't matter. What matters is the books. And we balanced them. Thanks. Oh, and happy platitude of phony heartwarming sentiment. Come again!

That's the tip of the iceberg. Point is, our holidays are 75% crap and; 5% bull.

Of all of the holidays we celebrate, few are truly worthy of our time. They may be worthy endeavors, but not truly worthy of national recognition. I don't need a bow-packin' terrorist fairy to tell me love is good. That's easily deduced. If I ever need reminding, I've got John Lennon.

But we need people like Martin Luther King. We need to celebrate men and women like that every day. They are not only worthy of such praise, they are worthy to be seated at the big kids' table- with the Vets- living, fallen, past and present.

Martin Luther King's life was a war. He fought for what was right. He didn't sign up for a scholarship and then by a stroke of bad luck get shipped overseas. He didn't sign up to stay out of jail. He didn't sign up to see the world, or with fingers crossed that his services wouldn't really be needed. He was one of the bravest of the brave; The kind of person who sees a battle being lost and signs up knowing they will be fighting for the underdog. Not because it's fun. Not for the pension. But, because it's right.

As we observe MLK Day, let's actually take a moment to consider what he fought for: Humanity. And let's consider what his fight cost him. If you roll your eyes at this one, have them checked. Along with your head. If, for the life of you, you can't figure out why it's on the calendar, it's quite likely you can't process abstract thoughts or formulas. Or crossword puzzles. Or letters grouped together in clumps on paper. Life itself is just a blissfully ignorant mystery. Good luck with that.

I plan to observe it with respect for the man and his works, which changed the lives of all of us. For the better. Thank you, Dr. King.

I encourage you all to observe it in whatever manner means something important to you. Personally, I think a few minutes of silence is appropriate. And chocolate, of course.

Nicely done, Mike. Kudos.

I like it.

Definately cause for a pause. Those numb nuts to whom you referred in the first paragraph won't get it, but then, they never will.

Well done.

I get the idea. But I don't do anything special that day. Just as I don't on February 12th. And not belittling what MLK did and died for but some could argue/debated that if A.L. hadn't done what he did (and was assassinated for) your guy wouldn't have stood a chance to do what he wanted to do.

Again, I get the idea but not the practice. A.L. doesn't get a separate national holiday, why should MLK? And someone arguing that A.L. is celibrated and honored on Presidents day is a cop out. He shares the day. And he shares it with a group AND some of those I won't honor even though they rose to Presidency.

I'm not trying to piss in your cheerios, honestly. You put a lot of thought into it and it's very well written. This is just my view of it.

Ranking on others doesn't make your point.

http://mlkday.gov/

Lincoln doesn't "share" a day. What some states refer to as "President's Day" is still known federally as Washington's Birthday.

MLK Day is a good thing. Nothing "special" needs to be done. I don't do anything special on President's Day, either.

But, many do. And that's a good thing.

Thanks everyone. Just hoped to give pause for thought and discussion, and to put MLK Day in perspective with other traditional holidays.

5th- my Cheerios are fine, thanks. I agree, Lincoln's work made MLK's work possible. The solution isn't to ignore MLK until Lincoln gets his due. It's to lobby for Lincoln to get his due, too.

http://dor.wa.gov/content/contactus/localoffices/con_hldy.aspx

Washington State is one of the President's Day states.

I will raise a toast to you both that day.