On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, despite opposition within his cabinet, and then issued the final official document on New Year’s Day, 1863! This was one of the greatest moments in American history, promoting the human rights of African Americans!
Here we are, 148 years later, and we need the “emancipation” of two groups, both denied their human rights, because of opposition with the party of Lincoln, a reality that the 16th President would be embarrassed by! He would be angry with those who refuse to carry on the open minded, reform beliefs of the original Republican party! 🙁
Those groups are gay Americans in the military, and the children of undocumented immigrants who came to this country, remember nowhere else, and now are denied the same opportunities for a future as young adults that others are given! 🙁
The adoption of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the military, and the passage of the DREAM Act, giving young immigrants children the chance for citizenship if they have stayed out of trouble, graduated high school, gone to college, and in some cases, served in the military, should not be challenged!
Why should those who are willing to serve their country in the military be treated as second class citizens, regarding their sexuality? Why should these immigrant children be treated so shabbily when they had no control over being brought by their parents to America, and now in many cases, face deportation to a country they have no memory of or connection to? 🙁
Why is that the GOP has no compassion for the violation of human rights of these two groups? Why is it that they have no conscience as they ignore the traditions represented by Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, plus the many moderate Republicans in Congress over the 156 year history of the Republican party? 🙁