https://editorials.voa.gov/z/4217 Editorials reflecting American ideals and institutions. https://editorials.voa.gov/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US-POLICY/img/logo.png https://editorials.voa.gov/z/4217 en 2026 - VOA 60 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:42:49 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA February16 is being celebrated as Presidents’ Day in the United States. It is a day to honor all of America’s presidents -- beginning with George Washington, the first president. Along with Abraham Lincoln, another great president, Washington was born in the month of February. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/presidents-day-2026/8113359.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/presidents-day-2026/8113359.html Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500 Ideals and Institutions “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Those are the words of Martin Luther King, Junior, the late American civil rights leader. Today [January 19th], Americans observe a national holiday in his honor. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/martin-luther-king-day-2026/8103423.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/martin-luther-king-day-2026/8103423.html Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500 Ideals and Institutions voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) Two-thousand years ago, in a world riven by strife, poverty, and hatred, Jesus of Nazareth, known to millions of Christians as "the Christ," or "anointed one" was born in a stable in Bethlehem. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/christmas-2025/8095308.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/christmas-2025/8095308.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 15:00:00 -0500 Ideals and Institutions voadigital@voanews.com (VOA Policy) November 27 is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It is a time when Americans give thanks for freedom and other blessings. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/thanksgiving-2025/8086047.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/thanksgiving-2025/8086047.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 23:00:00 -0500 Ideals and Institutions voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) September 1st is Labor Day in the United States, a time set aside each year to honor the part played by American workers in the building of a free and prosperous society. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/labor-day-2025/8061264.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/labor-day-2025/8061264.html Sun, 31 Aug 2025 12:00:00 -0400 Ideals and Institutions voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) On July 4th, 1776, delegates from thirteen of Britain's North American colonies adopted a resolution "that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states. . ." In time, these thirteen independent states would become one nation -- the United States of America. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/fourth-of-july-2025/8041417.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/fourth-of-july-2025/8041417.html Thu, 03 Jul 2025 20:00:00 -0400 Ideals and Institutions voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) June 19 is a U.S. national holiday known as Juneteenth. It combines the words June and Nineteenth, the day in 1865 on which the last enslaved African Americans in the United States were freed. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/juneteenth-2025/8039913.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/juneteenth-2025/8039913.html Wed, 18 Jun 2025 22:00:00 -0400 Ideals and Institutions voadigital@voanews.com (VOA Policy) Today is Memorial Day -- a time when Americans honor those of their countrymen who, since 1775, have paid freedom’s highest price. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/memorial-day-2025/8031247.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/memorial-day-2025/8031247.html Sun, 25 May 2025 12:00:29 -0400 Ideals and Institutions voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) The third Monday in February is Presidents Day in the United States. Originally meant to celebrate George Washington, the country’s first President, today it serves as a recognition of all of the nation’s Presidents. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/presidents-day-2025/7972447.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/presidents-day-2025/7972447.html Mon, 17 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500 AmericasIdeals and Institutions On the third Monday of each January, Americans honor the memory of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., a leader in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, who advocated for social change through non-violent means. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/martin-luther-king-day-2025/7940135.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/martin-luther-king-day-2025/7940135.html Mon, 20 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0500 AmericasIdeals and Institutions "My wish for you and for the nation, now and always, is [that] we continue to seek the light of liberty and love, kindness and compassion, dignity and decency," said President Biden. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/christmas-2024/7908730.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/christmas-2024/7908730.html Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0500 AmericasIdeals and Institutions “Throughout our country’s history, this season of reflection and giving thanks comes in good times and tough ones,” said President Joe Biden. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/thanksgiving-2024/7880392.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/thanksgiving-2024/7880392.html Thu, 28 Nov 2024 12:03:37 -0500 Ideals and InstitutionsAmericas “In memory of those who fought here, died here, literally saved the world here, let us be worthy of their sacrifice,” said President Biden. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/veterans-day-2024/7854067.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/veterans-day-2024/7854067.html Mon, 11 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0500 Ideals and InstitutionsAmericasEurope "The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made. I’ve said many times you can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your neighbor only when you agree," said President Biden. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/after-the-u-s-election-another-peaceful-transfer-of-power-on-the-horizon/7857229.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/after-the-u-s-election-another-peaceful-transfer-of-power-on-the-horizon/7857229.html Fri, 08 Nov 2024 12:37:10 -0500 AmericasDemocracyIdeals and Institutions On this day, President Joe Biden annually issues two proclamations: one for Columbus Day, and a second for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/columbus-day-2024/7817751.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/columbus-day-2024/7817751.html Mon, 14 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0400 Ideals and Institutions “On Labor Day, we stand in solidarity with all the workers who lift our Nation to new heights and all the labor unions who give all workers power and voice,” said President Biden in a statement. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/labor-day-2024/7762548.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/labor-day-2024/7762548.html Mon, 02 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0400 Ideals and Institutions "Politics ought to be an arena for peaceful debate, to pursue justice, to make decisions guided by the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution," said President Biden. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/elections-are-a-time-for-peaceful-debate/7699004.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/elections-are-a-time-for-peaceful-debate/7699004.html Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:39:03 -0400 AmericasAfricaAsiaDemocracyEuropeHuman RightsMiddle EastSecurityIdeals and Institutions "America is the only nation in history founded on an idea," said President Biden, "that all people are ... endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights — among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  https://editorials.voa.gov/a/independence-day-2024/7680765.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/independence-day-2024/7680765.html Thu, 04 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0400 Ideals and Institutions Juneteenth, as a federal holiday, is meant to breathe new life into the very essence of America, to make sure all Americans feel the power of this day and the progress we can make as a country, said President Biden. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/juneteenth-2024/7656338.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/juneteenth-2024/7656338.html Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0400 Ideals and Institutions “Every year, as a nation, we undertake this rite of remembrance, for we must never forget the price that was paid to protect our democracy,” said President Joe Biden. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/memorial-day-2024/7622653.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/memorial-day-2024/7622653.html Mon, 27 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400 Ideals and Institutions