My Vote for “Best in Show”…and Welcome to Our Newest Holiday!

animal behavior, civil rights, dogs, History, Human/Animal Bond, humor, JUNETEENTH 1 Minute

A funny little Pekinese named Wasabi won “Best in Show” at the famed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this week.

You can see photos of him here:

https://www.thecut.com/2021/06/a-tiny-pekingese-named-wasabi-won-the-westminster-dog-show.html

But I can’t get past the wonderful furry friend in the video above. Wish I’d had such a companion during the years when I was doing the “Downward Facing Dog” on my yoga mat.

Though the video has been around for a while, there are never too many views of it for me.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

______________________

On a more serious note:

I couldn’t publish this post without including an appreciation for the signing into law of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, creating a new federal holiday.

To be sure, it’s ceremonial, but it’s an important recognition of a piece of our history that many Americans don’t know about (despite formal recognition in Washington, DC, and every state except South Dakota): on June 19th, 1865, enslaved people in Texas first learned–from a declaration by General Gordon Granger–that they were free.

This was more than two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, formally ending slavery, on January 1, 1863. Thus, “Juneteenth” marked the actual end of slavery in the United States.

The effort to make Juneteenth a federal holiday has been decades-long. May its new national status truly mark another bend in the arc toward justice.

Annie

Published by annieasksyou

I've been a nonfiction writer for many years, exploring diverse topics that pique my curiosity, as noted in my first blog posting (Greetings!). I'm seeking dialogue with others committed to joining me in this exploration, sharing my conviction that different views can be exchanged in a respectful, civil discourse where we can learn from one another and be agreeable, even when we disagree. These postings depend for their enrichment on your participation: your ideas, insights, knowledge, opinions, and personal stories.

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12 thoughts on “My Vote for “Best in Show”…and Welcome to Our Newest Holiday!”

  1. Juneteenth is a much more deserving holiday than Columbus Day. And June has long been a month in need of a holiday. Any August possibilities?

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  2. Happy Juneteenth, Annie! This should have been enacted as a holiday so long ago and now it is! Miss Opal Lee is a true heroine!

    And also, what a wonderful video. I’ve never seen it before. Talk about teaching a dog new tricks! Amazing. Mona

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  5. I thoroughly enjoyed that dog yoga video! It really made me laugh and smile 😊 I’m so happy that Juneteenth is now a federal holiday. Even though we’re not American, my family still takes note of Juneteenth, so I’m very happy that it’s getting more recognition. Thank you so much for sharing and brightening my day ❤

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