Juneteenth

     Today is Juneteenth, the day the last group of enslaved Americans of African descent learned they were slaves no more.

     Our country fought a bloody war over a matter that most major countries had already ended through legislation.  The UK ran well ahead of us in this effort, and while many people celebrate this day -- and it should indeed be celebrated -- it's also a good day to remember that doing the right thing is not always easy, quick or painless, and we're not always in the lead.  History is not a perfect, smooth upward curve.