Veterans Day

Bluegrass Policy Blog reports that Owensboro schools are scheduling activities to honor veterans on veterans day. Don't get me wrong, I am a supporter of veterans as much as anyone, and their service to the nation and fight for freedom should be honored. But coming from the Austrian school, I have a couple of problems with doing this in public school, and I'm quite surprised that a "free-market" or "libertarian" think-tank would support such activities.

First, schools should not be forcing students to celebrate any holiday. If they would like to give the students the day off to do what they (or their parents) please, that would be fine, they are not. If students or their parents wished to attend local Veterans Day celebrations, they could. Having schools put on events and likely forcing students to attend or even participate in presentations is not acceptable.

We can't force anyone to love this country or appreciate veterans. In addition, such activities usually (and I am not too far removed from being forced to participate in such "festivities" myself) involve the glorification of imperialist aspirations of politicians, not the sacrifice many have made for freedom. Most celebrations take on a joyous mood and lack the sobering reminder that war is something that should never be excitedly entered into and should be avoided at all costs. Forcing students to do this is not in line with libertarian or Austrian beliefs.