A letter making the viral rounds on social media has touched off a controversial debate with racial overtones.
The letter – seen below – is from an apparent parent or guardian of a child who was absent from school on Monday, November 11th, Veteran’s Day. The parent or guardian tells school officials that the child was absent from school on Veterans Day even though the child was required to attend. The letter goes on to say that the child will come back to school on future Veterans Days when the school requires kids to attend on Martin Luther King Day.
Among the discussion left around the internet on the letter, some have said the letter is racist, while one man said “If it weren’t for vets. There would be no Martin Luther king day.” Another person said “Why is the letter writer singling out MLK Day?”
Leave your thoughts below.
105 thoughts on “Letter says kid will go to school on Veterans Day when kids have to go on MLK Day”
These comments amaze me. What a silly thing to argue over. I think everyone could agree MLK was an amazing and strong man and I honestly don’t think the letter had a thing to do with race. I think the point was veterans are every bit as important as MLK. It’s funny how every one is arguing about this. Fighting over days off while or country is going to crap? I don’t know if you guys have noticed but the vicious circle is starting again. History repeats itself. Are freedoms are slowly getting striped from us. But any way I do believe veterans day should be an off day. We as a country owe so much to our veterans.
I am amazed that the writer of this letter has not sued the media for releasing his phone number!
And they shall beat their swords into plow shears and there will be war no more. It is time that we not only celebrate those who served but move beyond and dedicate ourselves to peace making.
peace is something we all long for but since you are using the bible,the bible also says in the end days there will be wars and rumors of wars. Peace is something of the past that will not happen until our Lord returns.
And do you honestly think your “Lord” is going to want you to spray somebody’s brains all over the place with a machine gun? Have you ever really thought about what you profess to believe in and follow? I mean logically for a change?
spoken out of true ignorance
Amen my brother. Peace be with you.
War is a culture. A bad precedent. The worst of human behavior. Why taint another crop of kids?
Let the kids go to school and bring in the military ceremonies to the school gym and open it to the public. Dedicate the day to the kids learning about sacrifices and duty to country with guest speakers. If they have the day off, the kids will get up at 11am and play Xbox all day and not give the Veterans a second thought.
the town that I live in- in SD the public school don ‘t let out for Veterans day–but they let out for Native American day! That day is formally Columbus day–(but SD changed it several years ago because the Indians wanted it changed!) that really makes me angry–I think it is very disrespectful toward the veterans!
I completely and totally agree. It is not being racist, it’s being rational. While I think MLK did many great things, I think that those men and woman out there who have served our country and fought so that we may have freedom, deserve to have one day of honor
As long as our government feeds the anti military sentiment that will never happen as long as obama is in office.
Why didn’t it happen during the Bushes terms? That is beside the point. Veteran’s Day is for veterans. They have a day.
You know, it doesn’t matter how long ago the Vietnam war was or even Pearl Harbor.
War is war and the men and women of the US Military are STILL Veterans~!!!!!!
If your one of those crazy people that doesn’t honor them for YOUR freedom.
Get the hell out….of Our America~!!!
That goes for anyone else that feels that way~!
I agree with the Sgt. Kids should be off for Veterans Day. Simply
Because we should show our Respect and Honor for the Veterans who have fought for our freedom.
I Do Not believe it should be (as some people say) a racist issue.
MLK had done a lot of good things for the American people.
However….the Military has fought many, many years for the American people. And has done more than MLK…or anyone else.
With all the media these days talking about the Military personnel and taking care of them, such as the “wounded warrior” project.
We, should also Honor them with a special day of remembrance.
And have this Veterans Day to do so.
Not just day on the calendar.
As we do for Memorial Day.
@Diane-Great Comment.
This “letter” has become an urban legend that has been around the block over and over again for the last few years. Thought provoking but of highly questionable origin and purpose.
I view the letter to have racial overtones. You, as a parent, can have your child observe any day or holiday you choose. To only mention Veterans day vs MLK day one has to ask why? The only logical answer lies in a racial bias since veterans come in all races.
why is everybody always seeing race as an issue?
@David-Like I said the other day. It is the only tool they have in the shed. The real racist are the ones who call other people racist. Isn’t it funny the whole thing started because people called blacks racist and now they only call whites racist. Anything they don’t like they call racist.
peter must be really bored posting in my name.
@David-I am not sure it is Peter Eater. I think it might be that Anonymous Creep that keeps getting banned and sneaks back under a different name. He post under “Larry” too. I also think he is the one deleting a lot of our posts.
Whoever he is, he needs a life.
LVS, you’re correct.
You can never, and I mean never, trust anyone named Larry.
You obviously missed the awful horrible comment he made on the story about Trout retiring. It was deleted, thank goodness. Mr. I hate America needs to have an ass whooping for the comments he makes about people who have served our military.
I had a meeting with trout once and i wasn’t impressed, imagine my surprise to find out he is an officer.
My point is David, is that you wouldn’t go onto a story about him serving our country and say something horrible. Or say something bad about anyone serving our country in the armed forces. Just goes to show the mentality of Lagios.
That is true, my experience with him was on a business level. Judging someone because they are in the military is nothing but spite of their good sense.
David:My oridional post was deleted. Below is my responce to your question.–“How long have you been posting on here larry because i have never seen you here.”
David-My family has been subscribing to NIT for just under two years, I mostly just enjoy reading the articles and comments from time to time and do not post comments as often as others in my family. I have commented more lately though as I have been calling LVS out on his behavior of constantly calling posters names and his lack of the ability to debate his point, he seems to just attack anyone who disagrees with his opinion and for no good reason. I think I might have lumped you into one of those comments and I apologize for that as you seem to keep your cool most of the time even when a bit of mud slinging is warranted. I do enjoy reading NIT though and wish I had time to read and post more often. Funny thing is I often agree with some of what LVS posts just could do without all is antics.
@Larry-I replied to your comment this morning and it is deleted too. I am sorry I thought you were that Anonymous Troll who I suspect is deleting my posts because he is to cowardly to answer them in his own name. I also stated if you had been on here awhile you would see that I only attack when someone attacks me first. It is called retaliation and I will continue to do so. Now, lets see how long this last.
LVS- sorry but you are incorrect. I have never been banned from the site and I do not delete people’s comments. I do not post under anonymous only under Larry.I just call it like I see it and for some reason you cannot handle that. Now go ahead and start calling me names as it’s the only thing you know how to do. GoTrump!
How long have you been posting on here larry because i have never seen you here.
David-My orgional post was deleted:Below is my responce to yor question.
David-My family has been subscribing to NIT for just under two years, I mostly just enjoy reading the articles and comments from time to time and do not post comments as often as others in my family. I have commented more lately though as I have been calling LVS out on his behavior of constantly calling posters names and his lack of the ability to debate his point, he seems to just attack anyone who disagrees with his opinion and for no good reason. I think I might have lumped you into one of those comments and I apologize for that as you seem to keep your cool most of the time even when a bit of mud slinging is warranted. I do enjoy reading NIT though and wish I had time to read and post more often. Funny thing is I often agree with some of what LVS posts just could do without all is antics.
If you haven’t been banned you should be for your unsolisited attacks which are against the rules of NIT. If you were half as smart as you think you are you would see I never attack unless attacked first and then I will retaliate.
“I never attack unless attacked first”-LVS
You know, you have repeated that lie so many times that you probably actually believe it.
All anyone has to do is peruse articles past or present & they will find numerous examples of you initiating confrontation.
Not to downplay Martin Luther King but our veterans are why we are a country and should be celebrated as so. Without them there isn’t a Martin Luther King day. Although MLK did a lot for this country men and women of all ethnic backgrounds have done far more and deserve recognition including time with their children and grandchildren to remember those who didn’t come home.
Bottom line…regardless of how you feel about veterans or MLK….time off is a GOOD THING.
We should embrace any good reason to take time off and breathe. As a culture, we tend to be very pissy and us-against-them…and it’s frankly, retarded.
Both seem like very legitimate days of national remembrance. ANY time off is wonderful. I’d happily take one, the other and preferably BOTH off.
This young SGT obviously has a lot of pride in his profession, the military and a great love for his country. This has nothing to do with race. I echoe the SGTs sentiments as I also believe the government should give all schools the Holiday off in recognition and honor of the sacrifice given! MSG Stucko (retired)
I live in NY and my kids do NOT go to school on Veterans Day as they are respectfully closed. I do not believe this is a decision that should be left up to school officials. This should be mandated by the government across the board. These people die, get injured in various ways, suffer mental issues and simply put their lives on this line for this country, OUR country. They deserve a day to be honored. Period.
Rae–kids do attend school on veteran’s day.
Kids still do not attend school on Veteran’s Day so this letter is pointless.
Sorry, the kids in Ft. Worth, Tx are required to attend school on Veterans Day.
So the letter does have a point.
Know your fact in other states before spouting off that comment.
Kids in Mason City went to school today, so yes kids do go to school on veterans day.
I’m sorry but it’s pretty obvious that the writer didn’t like Martin Luther King or he wouldn’t have picked that holiday. Yes this is about racism.
MLK helped raise our consciousness rather we’re black or white and gave his life for the cause. The changes that have occurred over the last 50 years in race relations are incredible and probably wouldn’t have happened without MLK. Why didn’t the writer use Columbus Day as an example? No one really believes that Columbus “discovered”…
It’s not about singling out MLK Day. It’s about honoring your vets. If we can take a day off to celebrate one man’s accomplishments in the US, why can we not do it for the veterans? I’m a veteran myself. My kids will not attend school on veterans day either. If it would not be for veterans MLK would not even have been around to do what he did.
How about to make up for that day in the school calendar, we ditch Columbus Day? No one should be celebrating what that despicable man did.
I’m a vet. Veterans did something for everyone, Martin Luther King did it for one race. I understand that it needed to be done. But they should have NO SCHOOL on both. If they have to go to school on one then they should be made to go on the other!
In a way the letters does come off racist, the schools close for Memorial Day, and how about the Jewish holidays, the Jews get there day just like the blacks cause they were fight for their freedom, veterans have Memorial Day, I’m Hispanic people get over all this racial bs, cause in the begining u come out of one hole just to be put in another
“The Jews get there day”…btw its spelled Their. And they don’t get a day, they get their holidays just like Christians do. This is a different story entirely.
Everyone is bantering back and forth about MLK versus Veteran’s Day. IMHO, here’s the issue: Over the last 50 to 100 years the government has slowly eroded the curriculum taught in our schools. In some schools in the Midwest the 2nd Amendment is removed from the curriculum, yet it called teaching the Constitution. In the west (I’m sure I’m going to get blasted for this one) they have Harvey Milk. A Homosexual, elected official and like all abnormal things in California, he, his life…
Coming soon, NAMBLA day.
Nothing here is racist. I respect Martin Luther King for everything he has done for our country, but I also respect the vetrens that risked their lives to keep our freedoms. For the ones that keep saying veterans day is a day every school has off you are morons and go educate yourselves please. There are many schools out there that do not celebrate that day. The biggest issue here is the fact just because a certain day was used to contrast veterans day does not make it racist. Get over yourselves people and join the real world.
MLK does deserve recognition for his crusade for equality but he does NOT deserve a national holiday.
Honestly a lot of you are really ignorant! Racism isn’t just against black people. How many white colleges are there?? White lawyer groups, we cant even have a tv channel any more or we are racist!! Screw that I’m racist towards everyone. My daughter WILL NOT be attending on veteran’s day and we will ‘ve there on mlk day looking like fools. But that’s okay these men and woman of our country didn’t care what they looked like.
Martin Luther King was an amazing civil rights leader and should be recognized So let me start off by saying that before everyone attacks me for being racist.. Now with that said I totally agree with the father in that wrote this letter.. BUT Why are we being called racist because we are curious why MLK day is celebrated at schools but not Veterans day and at a lot of school districts Memorial day is not recognized either?? It’s not that we are being racist its we are being Americans.. Why should we not honor the men/women that have fought/died for our country?? The America we are living in is not the same America our parents/grandparents or even us (depending on age) grew up in.. Whats even more crazy to me is the fact my kid has to go to school on Presidents Day.. So now basically we are losing all the American Patriotic holidays and only recognizing the civil rights holidays.. Yep that sounds about right because if schools didn’t celebrate MLK day they’d probably be considered racist.. After all only white people can be racist.. Just like we have February – Black History Month and September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month but if we had a White History Month we’d be racist..
Amen!! I couldn’t have said it better.. I’m so sick of “Black history month,” and now to hear about a month long fiesta for the Latinos.. Good grief… Why don’t white/Caucasian people get a month to celebrate our heritage?!? Oh wait, I forgot, everyday is a “White mans/woman day!” Haha.. Someone literally said to me and a group of friends at a Halloween party this year. When is the racist s#*+ going to stop?? Seriously, enough! People that constantly complain could take that energy and use it for something good… Anyways, loved your comment. Thank you.. 🙂
The “bonehead” who wrote the note was later informed by his daughter, Danielle, that she has been home-
schooled for the past 8 years!
ALL schools in all 50 states have 11/11 off!
Your a moron Tom. Students DO NOT get veterens day off in all 50 states. Probably not many if any. It is not a national holiday.
Um Yes it is a national holiday. MLK is the celebrations of one human being, who yes did much for the civil rights movement, but Veterans Day is a day to celebrate the MANY men and woman, of ALL Cultures who have served our country. Know your Holidays, and to the other guy that said all 50 states no kids attend on 11/11… wrong. Check your States out, on the east coast, your Southern states pick and choose that day, and our district is the ONLY district in SC that chooses not to acknowledge it even on their calender.This is a Racist state against both white and black.
Wrong, Marcus check the national holiday list:
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Day
President’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
January 1
third Monday in January
third Monday in February
last Monday in May
July 4
first Monday in September
second Monday in October
November 11
fourth Thursday in November
December 25
You’re
You are WRONG!!! My kids do not get Veterans Day off! Look up Newport News public school district calendar and see for yourself!!i don’t know if its all of Virginia but the city I am in does not give Veterans Day off.
Um in both OHIO and VERMONT my daughter has had school on veterans day.
Will someone tell me where Veterans day isn’t a public holiday?
Out here in the People’s Republic of Portland, OR Veterans day is a day off. Likewise Washington State and California. Maybe your states just don’t love America the way we do out here on the coast.
How is this letter racist in anyway? I didnt see any race mentioned in this letter. There are veterans of every race. It was a man, not race mentioned. Stop trying to find somthing to argue about or use against someone else.
How is this letter racist in anyway, there a veterans of all races, i didnt see any race singled out or even mentioned in this letter . It was a man, not race. Stop trying to find somthing to argue about or use against someone else.
Sure, where does it mention race, the guy probably just hates non-violent protest
Kids go to school in Mason City Schools on MLK Day (Jan 20). The teachers get Friday the 17th off due to the end of semester. I would have to say another great parenting call that someone pulls their kid out of school due to not reading the calendar right. Both days are important and it would be nice to have teachers educate our children on both days which I am guessing happens in most classrooms. BTW – I also served our country.
Martin Luther King. He was a man that taught peace, not war. Most businesses have a holiday for Christmas too. I believe Christmas is about a man that preached peace. Are two holidays honoring men of peace too much?
Wow, there is a lot of controversy going on regarding this letter. Of course I have a couple of questions…. First; Why is every statement or opinion have to be slung into the “Racist” category? Second; We honor our Vets on Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Armed Forces Day, therefore I do not understand how many days of HONOR does the Veteran want????? I mean….honor our Vets daily, but really he kept his kid out of school when they didn’t have to go to school for Memorial Day…?
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, “Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. While those who died are also remembered, Veterans Day (Nov. 11) is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military — in wartime or peacetime.”
Armed Forces Day, however, is celebrated on the third Saturday in May and it honors active-duty personnel.
Good for that parent!! American Vets deserve as much if not more honoring than M.L.K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
REALLY? Those who choose to blindly do what their government tells them deserve more honoring then a man who lost his life defending and demanding the civil rights of a nation? Martin Luther King, jr. was the figure head for an entire MOVEMENT in this country, one that was needed. Those who say that this letter isn’t racist need only look at the argument you just used.
@Pam-there you go. You can’t even have your own opinion without someone calling you a racist. Just consider the source and forget it.
At least if they are in school they are learning about Veterans Day.
If they are home, they are sleeping and playing X-Box.
You are implying that kids learn anything in school.
@disGRUNTled…I take it YOU didn’t learn anything in school…too bad, it shows.
I don’t want to upset you but kids learn crap in schools. Crap they rarely use once they leave. Some teachers even admit, its to teach kids how to think, but that’s an epic failure as well. Check some of the research that has been done on the public school systems in the past several years and what our children are supposedly learning and common core is merely the recent fiasco.
There should be no school, but a homework assignment about what function they attended to honor these brave members that served our country.
You’re right, forced nationalism is a great way to teach kids to be critically thinking, independent members of society.
I don’t feel my child has to celebrate one man for one day, when she is not being allowed to celebrate many who made many more movements to forge this nation before MLK was even a thought. Secondly, when my child is home because of the movement of one man, should that not be enough? Why is my child required to spend 30 days learning about black history, 30 days learning about Spanish heritage, and not being respected for her own culture. She is white and german. So where is 30 days of German heritage, no you won’t see it because we do not set aside days for white people that made great strides either. Where is Betsy Ross day?? wow. Just in saying MLK was the major leader of the most greatest movement is ignorant. Who actually freed the slaves? hmmmmm, I would say he is the greatest man of the first ever GREATEST movement, that even allowed MLK the rights to the movements he made. Maybe that sounds racist, that is not my intent. My point being, no one man is any more important than the many that have fought for this Country, to make it what it is, what it should still be.Period!!
@cari-good post.
Living in America, every day is a celebration of white Heritage. And why should Betsy Ross have a day? Because her grandson claimed, 100 years after the fact, that she designed the American Flag, even though Historians know that it was actually derived from the flag of the East India Trading Company, meaning that either Betsy Ross was the first american plagiarist or her grandson was full of shit.
MLK earned his day by risking his life to speak out against an oppressive and racist government that treated him and his people as second class citizens without rights. His people were openly being beaten and murdered in the streets for what he did. He stood up in the face of all of that and did so peacefully, unarmed, and defiant in the face of the government, many times against the very people you say deserve to be honored by kids having a day off from school.
Personally, I don’t think we should have days any of those days off. Holidays that don’t coincide with or define a vacation should just be ignored unless there’s good reason otherwise (like Parades on Memorial Day, a day that honors men who have died serving their country).
I think it’s funny how Joey Diaz couldn’t into college in the 80’s. He was told to use the name Jose instead and all the doors magically opened up. Loans, grants, scholarships you name it. When I went to UNI the U president said the number one priority was enrolling “colored” students.
Joey was funny, he said he’d use a fake accent even it mean’t free money.
The sad thing is, as much as this offends me, when I read these comments it makes me understand why this unfairness is warranted. Iowa rednecks make it necessary.
Maybe the could switch the day for one of the 15 or so teacher in service days the union gets them of while waiting for their 3 month summer vacation.
You’re an idiot.
You don’t know much about teachers and teaching do you! Teachers get paid for the days they work. Since they don’t work in the summer…THEY DON’T GET PAID! Those “in service” days actually help teachers become better teachers. PS…I taught for 25 years, so I know!
I thought I was the only one disappointed that kids had to go to school Monday. A couple of years ago Manly didn’t didn’t have school and mason city did. I took my Grandboys to the VFW and to Roosevelt where they had vets talk. Very disappointed that they could not be a part of it this year.
Many schools had Veteran’s Day programs at the schools. By making it a national holiday, those schools would be closed and the children wouldn’t have received any info on Veteran’s Day. If they are in school, then each school should figure out some way to make the sacrifices our Veterans worthwhile. As someone else on here said if we had no school, the majority of the kids would be sleeping, playing video games, or something else that has nothing to do with the day.
I understand what you are saying. I just know how much they enjoyed it when they went. I love the look on vets faces when the boys shake hands with them and tell them thanks for serving. Here is a cute story. I was wanting my boys to understand how important a job the vets had while they were serving. I told them that if it wasn’t for them protecting us and what we believe in you may not have the x box you like to play on. My oldest grand son went up to a vet not long after that, shook his hand thanked him for serving and for his x box. I just stood and smiled. P.S. I don’t personally own an x box. I am old fashion we play table games at grandmas house.
Take a look at how an Iowa school honoring the veterans in their area.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2d0b3yllvp78x2x/KWWL%20News%20at%20Six.m4v
Yes if it weren’t for our Vet’s some of us might not be here today so Vet’s day should be a Holiday.
If it wasn’t for your mother and father, and your grandfather and grandmother, you wouldn’t be here today either. So, let’s make Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and Grandparent’s Day national holidays also.
It’s NOT about RACE… The Blacks have served this country equally as well as the whites and are veterans to be honored the same!
Exactly. There is nothing racist about the letter. It’s the people that read it that makes it racist. No matter what is talked about, written, etc, if African American or any other descriptive is mentioned, it’s racist in someones mind.
You may not think that there are racial overtones but there are… How come Martin Luther King Day was singled out? You know a day that not even every state celebrates? How about Columbus Day? Labor Day? And before you come back with some racist or anti-Veteran trope I will respond with the fact that my mother was a 22-year veteran and my father was an 18-year veteran and therefore I agree with the sentiment. My school was closed on VD for this particular reason. Merely, I question why single out that specific holiday.
That’s a question I can’t answer. You’ll have to contact the person who wrote the letter and ask her/him why MLK day was singled out. It’s all in the mind of the reader.
You may have contradicted, as well as answered your own question. There are four holidays that honor specific groups and/or people (MLK day, Presidents Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day). Out of these four, I think Labor Day is almost universally recognized by schools across the country. My wife is a teacher. They do not get Veteran’s Day, or President’s Day off. They do get MLK off. So his point may have had nothing to do with race, but with the symbolism of honoring one man as a hero while neglecting another group of people that are also heroes. As a society we need to stop being so quick to judge something “racist”. For all we know, it could be a black man that wrote this. And as another poster wrote, Veteran’s Day honors all those that served, regardless of race, religion, gender, etc.
And what did you do, exactly?
I agree with the letter, who has done more for our freedoms then veterans. They have always fought for all of us, not just certain ones. I am proud to say that I am a 20 year, German American, veteran.
I have a dream!!!…of getting a paid day off in February.
Um, sorry to burst your bubble, but Martin Luther King, Jr day is in JANUARY! President’s Day, however, IS in February. And to share some of your sentiment, I doubt that George Washington or Abraham Lincoln or any other president ever envisioned having their lives celebrated with a day off from work and copious retail sales events betting and pleading for people to engage in acts of conspicuous consumption.
I agree with this letter too let’s honor the vets I think we can use one more holiday
It’s about time we make VETERANS Day a holiday! AGREE ENTIRELY