Holiday for Horses?

We were lucky to have Rory and Emma decorate our concrete on a recent visit. Here is Emma's homage to today's big Melbourne Cup!

I've always been disturbed that we should build a horse race into an event worth celebrating a public holiday over. Many will look to tradition or perhaps place emphasis on the larconic national character as reasons to support such a holiday. I keep asking myself ... who does it say we are?

Five better ideas for a public holiday ...

1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Day

2. Another Language Day - a celebration of culture and diversity. Signs could be changed to incorporate local emphasies. Greetings and general conversation starters could be promoted through local councils.

3. Absolute Silence Day - a day where noise will be expelled from our lives. Sue points out that it might be better to have this on a school day.

4. National Origami Day - surely a lot more good then harm can come out of origami! Politicians folding paper cranes seems a lot more friendly then them passing laws on 'security' or industrial relations (perhaps more appropriately renamed 'industrial non-relations')

5. Fasting Day - to refocus our excessive lifestyles

Any other suggestions?