January
Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In 1983, the U.S. Congress created a federal holiday marking the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The holiday is observed on the third Monday in January each year. Dr. King was a pivotal figure in the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1960s, protesting discrimination against, and promoting voting rights for, African-Americans. Despite extensive provocation, Dr. King consistently advocated for peaceful (or “nonviolent”) protest. In 1994, Congress designated the holiday as a national day of service.
Rather than just take an extra day off, the government encourages people to volunteer their time to a worthy national or local cause, as a way to improve their community and pay tribute to Dr. King. While there are no official numbers for this specific day, it is estimated that over 60 million Americans volunteer in some way each year.
In 1963, Dr. King and others organized the March for Jobs and Freedom, bringing 250,000 protesters to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It was at this event, standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, that he gave his famous “I Have a Dream Speech” calling for racial equality and an end to discrimination. With this and other events, public pressure was building, and in 1964, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, banning discrimination in employment, public accommodations, education and transportation. This was followed in 1965 by the Voting Rights Act, outlawing discriminatory voting practices towards African Americans.
On April 4, 1968, Dr. King was shot and killed at a motel in Memphis, TN. Two months later, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy – President John F Kennedy’s younger brother and a leading voice for civil rights, was also assassinated. These and other events combined to make 1968, and the 1960s as a whole, one of the most turbulent periods in U.S. history.
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Primaries and Caucuses: Choosing U.S. Presidential Candidates
If you watch the news this month, you will hear lots of talk about the Republican presidential candidates. In the U.S., unlike many countries, the president is elected independently of the legislature.
The Republican Party, also known as the G.O.P. (Grand Old Party) is currently trying to choose who they will nominate to run against President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
The Republicans will hold votes, known as primaries and caucuses, in each of the 50 states. The Democrats could in theory do the same, but it is extremely rare for the party to select other nominees beyond the incumbent president. Not since 1968 has a sitting president not been nominated by his party for a second (and final) term in office.
There are complicated rules for counting the primary and caucus results, but in August the Republicans will hold a national convention and confirm their candidate to run against President Obama. The 2012 presidential election will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, along with many other national, state, and local elections. Incidentally, there are other political parties in the U.S., but national elections are overwhelmingly dominated by Republicans and Democrats.
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The State of the Union Address
January brings another key political event, the President’s State of the Union address. This year the expected address will be held on January 24th. The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the President to the U.S. Congress reporting on the condition of the nation, including topics such as the economy, defense, education, and more. Since the advent of television, the address is broadcast live in the evening, and is used by presidents to outline their major policy plans for the coming year.
The address is held on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, and is attended by members of Congress, the President’s Cabinet, the U.S. Supreme Court, and others. During the Cold War, it became traditional for the president to select a Cabinet member to be absent from the address as the “designated survivor”, a tradition that has more recently been copied by Congress. This is to ensure that the government can continue in the event of a catastrophic event during the address.
It may also surprise you to learn that the President’s choice of tie tends to be of particular interest!
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National Park of the Month
This month, we’re taking a look at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Many CIEE Work & Travel USA participants enjoy working at Colorado ski resorts in the wintertime. Colorado boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the United States and has four national parks. Although parts of Rocky Mountain National Park are closed during the winter months, the snow makes the terrain here even more remarkable.
At an elevation above 7,500 feet and 416 square miles, there are many things to do throughout the park. During winter months, families come for sledding, toboggan rides and building snowmen. For more adventurous visitors, the park is one of the few that allow camping during the winter months, and is also one of the few that permits snowmobiling. Summer months are great for other outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, or scenic drives.
For more information on visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park, visit their website.