Official Petition · National Coalition for Adversarial Perspective Recognition
A 501(c)(3) Organization Headquartered at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Pending Completion of the Incorporation Process, Which Is Under Review
National Celebrate Our Enemies Day
Observed Annually · July 3rd · Federal Holiday
Preamble
We, the undersigned, petition Congress to establish a federal holiday to be observed annually on July 3rd and known as National Celebrate Our Enemies Day. July 3rd was chosen because July 4th was taken.
This petition arises from a principle first established at Harvard University in connection with a proposed memorial to the perpetrators of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. The memorial was proposed as an act of empathy and contextual understanding. Community members raised concerns. No further action was warranted. A movement was born.
Congressional Findings
Every conflict has two sides. The United States has historically privileged its own, which reflects a troubling lack of viewpoint diversity at the national level.
Harvard University’s conduct policies establish, by precedent, that calling for the genocide of a group of people may or may not violate community standards depending on context. The drafters consider this precedent directly applicable to federal holiday law.
July 4th celebrates the founding of the United States. July 3rd is therefore the appropriate moment to reflect on the perspectives of those who would prefer it had not been founded, or who are actively working to reverse the situation.
Qualifying Enemies
Al-Qaeda
Founding inspiration. The Lockerbie bombing of 1988 established the principle from which this petition flows.
Approved
Hamas
The catalyst for the modern phase of the movement. Memorial infrastructure already established at several leading universities.
Approved, with Distinction
Iran
241 Marines killed in Beirut, 1983. 52 American hostages held for 444 days. Ongoing proxy operations across multiple theaters. The Committee awarded Iran the inaugural Distinguished Sustained Adversary citation.
Approved · Distinguished Sustained Adversary Citation
The Taliban
The Committee notes that the Taliban’s perspectives on governance, education, and the role of women in public life represent a viewpoint diversity opportunity that American universities have only partially embraced.
Approved
Russia
The Salisbury poisonings, 2018. Ongoing operations in Ukraine. The Committee described Russia’s body of work as “sustained and geographically diverse.”
Approved
Sudan
Ongoing atrocities of considerable scope and duration. The Committee noted that Sudan operates without regard to race, ethnicity, or national origin in the selection of its adversarial targets. The Committee considers this a form of equal opportunity.
Approved
China
Fentanyl supply chain: estimated 70,000 to 80,000 American deaths annually, the highest per-annum casualty rate of any qualifying adversary. Distinguished Enemy citation awarded on the basis of throughput alone.
Approved · Distinguished Enemy Citation
Venezuela
Narco-trafficking, American hostages, hemispheric destabilization. The Committee noted that Venezuela has sustained its adversarial posture through multiple economic collapses, which it considers a form of institutional commitment it recognizes and respects.
Approved
Rejected Applicants
North Korea
Returned without prejudice. Insufficient American casualties at this time. North Korea is invited to reapply. The Committee wishes North Korea well in its future endeavors.
Rejected · Invited to Reapply
The British Crown, 1776
Rejected on statute of limitations grounds. Three Faculty of Arts and Sciences members filed a dissent arguing the offense remains unresolved. The rejection stands.
Rejected · Dissent Noted
The Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Determined to be a domestic irritant rather than a foreign adversary. Referred to a subcommittee. The subcommittee has not met.
Rejected · Referred to Subcommittee
The Holiday
National Celebrate Our Enemies Day shall be observed on July 3rd of each year. Federal employees shall have the day off. Banks shall close. The Post Office shall remain open, as someone has to deliver the correspondence.
Celebratory activities shall include marches, rallies, and perspective-centering workshops. A talking point kit is appended as Exhibit A.
Institutional Endorsement
Harvard University: Endorsement pending completion of committee review of the definition of “enemy.” The University notes that it does not take positions on contested matters. Whether “enemy” is a contested term is itself contested. A subcommittee has been formed.