Happy Loyalty Day!

Today the White House issued a Presidential
Proclamation announcing “Loyalty Day.”

From the
proclamation:

On Loyalty Day, we renew our conviction to the principles of
liberty, equality, and justice under the law. We accept our
responsibilities to one another. And we remember that our
differences pale in comparison to the strength of the bonds that
hold together the most diverse Nation on earth.

In order to recognize the American spirit of loyalty and the
sacrifices that so many have made for our Nation, the Congress, by
Public Law 85-529 as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as
“Loyalty Day.” On this day, let us reaffirm our allegiance to the
United States of America and pay tribute to the heritage of
American freedom.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2014, as Loyalty Day. This
Loyalty Day, I call upon all the people of the United States to
join in support of this national observance, whether by displaying
the flag of the United States or pledging allegiance to the
Republic for which it stands.

Well, that’s not creepy at all, is it?

This is not something President Barack Obama has come up with.
Loyalty Day was first recognized in 1921 as a
way to counter May Day, the day when lefties celebrate
International Workers’ Day (which Cato’s Ilya Somin has sensibly
suggested be renamed “Victims
of Communism Day“). However, it was first officially recognized
under the
Eisenhower administration in 1958. Interestingly, it doesn’t
look like President Nixon ever signed a Loyalty Day
proclamation.

The sort of suggested displays of patriotism mentioned in
today’s proclamation weren’t justified during the Red Scares and
they certainly are not justified now. I am still trying to get over
the fact that it is considered normal in the U.S. for school
children to pledge allegiance to the flag every day and for every
sporting event to be preceded by the singing of the national
anthem. Can’t we assume everyone is a patriot until there is
evidence to the contrary?