Don’t Tell”

The Need For A New “Emancipation Proclamation” For Gay Americans And Undocumented Immigrant Children!

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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? 🙁

Disgraceful Refusal of US Senate To End “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” And Approve DREAM Act! :(

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The US Senate had the opportunity today to do what was right: finally pass the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in the military, which the top military leaders support; and approve the DREAM Act, giving children of illegal immigrants who have become adults, to move toward citizenship by finishing high school and either going to college for two years or joining the military! The purpose is to give these young people the opportunity to serve their country, and be treated as equals, since the fact that their parents may be illegal should not be used to discriminate against them and their future!

But the motion failed 56-43, with not one single Republican–not Olympia Snowe nor Susan Collins of Maine, George Voinovich of Ohio, Richard Lugar of Indiana, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. or any others who are not totally right wing extremists–including John McCain of Arizona–willing to be fair and reasoned on these issues, but instead playing politics and continuing the total refusal of Republicans to do what is right! 🙁

There is now the possibility that neither of these significant reforms will make it through Congress this year, although they might at the “lame duck” session after the midterm elections in November!

But assuming major GOP gains, it might NOT happen, and might have a gloomy future on both counts in the next Congress!

What a sad day this is for America–further evidence of no sense of righteousness and fair justice! 🙁

Gays In The Military: Why Is Pentagon Asking Opinions On Subject? :(

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When President Harry Truman decided on integration of the military in 1948, troops were not asked for their views on the subject! It is certain that many would have been opposed to blacks and whites working and living together, but it was done!

When women were integrated into the military academies in 1976, those at West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, New London, and Kings Point were not asked to fill out a survey! Again, many might have been opposed, but who cared?

So why now does the Pentagon feel the need to ask people in the military how they feel about showering with gays and lesbians, or sharing living quarters and a commissary with them on the bases?

And also asked is the effect that having gays and lesbians serving openly would have on retention, unit cohesion, military family life, and privacy!

Why is this such a big issue when so many European countries and Israel have long had openly gay service members, and have found no complications that developed?

Are we to let some people’s prejudices and biases to determine who can serve, when we are already having trouble with recruitment and retention?

The Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, usually right on most issues, is absolutely wrong on this issue, and it is time that progress be made on the final end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, and that human dignity become part of military culture!

And if there are people in the military who cannot accept the changes that are coming, the answer is to say: “Goodbye, and good riddance!” 🙁

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Coming Closer To An End!

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Yesterday, a step was taken that should soon bring the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the US military!

Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania, an Iraq War veteran, introduced an amendment to the military appropriations bill, which is also cosponsored by Independent Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee!

It calls upon Congress to pass repeal, but the amendment provides a delay in implementation until December, after a full study has been completed by the military, headed by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff head, Admiral Mike Mullen.

It seems as if the only barrier now to passage is two fold: Some Democrats seem unwilling to endorse the idea, including Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Evan Bayh of Indiana, and Jim Webb of Virginia. Also, there is a search for a few Republicans to sign on, including Scott Brown, who so far seems resistant, even though his state (Massachusetts) allows gay marriage and is highly in favor of the end of the military ban on gays.

Additionally, House Republicans and many Senate Republicans seem willing to vote down the military appropriations bill if the amendment proposed by Murphy, Lieberman, and Levin is included in it!

It is absolutely amazing how most Republicans will constantly vote against anything that favors minorities or gays! How can they call themselves representative of the American people when they demonstrate so much bias, and willingness to discriminate? 🙁

The hope is that the ban on gays in the military is, indeed, nearing, its end!