Positive Obama thread

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  • ijl
    ijl Member Posts: 897
    edited December 2008

    LAPhoenix,

    I am supporting Obama because he wants unity and for sides to come together. And if you look at proposition 8 in CA it was 50/50 split. So by having Waren there Obama represents all the population

  • traceyz
    traceyz Member Posts: 745
    edited December 2008

    Okay,

    Yes this is a positive Obama thread! But we should be able to voice our opinions on other issues and people as well! Like BUSH. No I did not think it was good that he got shoes thrown at him. He could have been hurt and i dont want to see anyone, not even Bush get hurt. But it is what it is! Bush did suck as president! And I am not the only one who feels this way. Just take a look at his approval rating, it's one of the LOWEST of ALL presidents!! We have a right to freedom of speech so, some may frown on Bush bashing, but that is our American right. He was simply not an effective president. He made MANY bad decisions that caused the rest of the world (including members of NATO) to frown on us. He also caused many Americans to quite frankly not be as proud to be associated with the president. I could name many reasons why he wasnt a good president but most of us here know the facts. Listen, we can go back and forth about what should and should not be said but it is our right on this POSITIVE OBAMA THREAD to express how we feel, and if that offends the other side, well........sorry. Best wishes to ALL.

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CHANGE HAS ARRIVED AND I THANK GOD FOR THIS MOMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Tracey

  • LAphoenix
    LAphoenix Member Posts: 452
    edited December 2008

    Tracey, my sentiments exactly.  I wouldn't want to see any president attacked.  But as long as Bush is still signing executive orders and making speeches and rewriting history, I'm going to criticize him.  Thank God it will soon be over, though! 

    ijl: The Warren thing is troublesome to many gays who supported and worked for Obama's election, because they feel that Warren's position on gay marriage is just discriminatory.  If you feel your legal rights are being denied by a certain group of people, even if it's a large group of people, you're going to resent their place of prominence at such an important event.  My concern was that Warren is a larger-than-life figure whose views are more generally known than an elderly unknown pastor.  So, if people see Obama with Warren, they might assume Obama is endorsing his views.  I'm conflicted about it, and from what I've read, some gays are furious and feel betrayed by Obama. 

    But here are the Obama team's "talking points" on Warren's inclusion:  

    Pastor Rick Warren has a long history of activism on behalf of the disadvantaged and the downtrodden. He's devoted his life to performing good works for the poor and leads the evangelical movement in addressing the global HIV/AIDS crisis. In fact, the President-elect recently addressed Rick Warren's Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health to salute Warren's leadership in the struggle against HIV/AIDS and pledge his support to the effort in the years ahead.

    • The President-elect disagrees with Pastor Warren on issues that affect the LGBT community. They disagree on other issues as well. But what's important is that they agree on many issues vital to the pursuit of social justice, including poverty relief and moving toward a sustainable planet; and they share a commitment to renewing America's promise by expanding opportunity at home and restoring our moral leadership abroad.
    • As he's said again and again, the President-elect is committed to bringing together all sides of the faith discussion in search of common ground. That's the only way we'll be able to unite this country with the resolve and common purpose necessary to solve the challenges we face.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2008

    LAphoenix wrote:

    Excerpts from the "Respectfully Republican" thread: 

    From Shirley:

    About the birth certificate..just show the darned thing!  Open your records about your health.  Release your transcripts from college.  I thought this was going to be a "transparent" way of governing.  It sure is not starting off that way.  When first asked about Blago...no comment.  Obama chooses his words very carefully...very, very carefully.  He had to think about his comment before giving one.  He probably knows his Chicago Buds knew about all of this mess...and Obama certainly could not have known about the workings of the Chicago machine.  Geez!  How stupid does he think we are.  Oh, I forgot...meany people are stupid because the didn't ask questions..NO NEGATIVITY!...and the MSM should be ashamed of themselves!  If we can't get truthful news who the heck is going to buy or read their crap.  That's why I like Fox News.

    Why did you bring me into this?  I believe I've stayed away from posting on this thread lately.  Perhaps I forgot that I've posted somewhere on here recently...you know...the ole chemo brain.

    One thing I'd like you women to acknowledge...President Bush has been very supportive of combating HIV/AIDS.  So, at least give him credit for that.  And, I don't understand....."The President-elect disagrees with Pastor Warren on issues that affect the LGBT community."

    The President-elect said on Pastor Warren's forum that marriage was between a man and a woman. 

    I'm way to tired for an argument and the "ignorant troll...drama queen" couldn't care less about this nonsense.  Both threads are guilty of bashing both sides.  So, let's grow up.  Wink

    http://www.drfayshow.com/llsdf139.html

  • traceyz
    traceyz Member Posts: 745
    edited December 2008

    Shirley,

    Bashing has NOTHING to do with not being grown up. We VENT on a thread where we all (except for a few) agree on most issues. Although you are free to post here, I do not believe you will get far with us. We support Obama, bottom line, end of story. We are all smart, strong women who know the important issues. Your words have no weight here. And just for the record Bush does get credit for the hiv/aids help in Africa, but he has left this country in such a HORRIBLE state that giving him credit for that still leaves him in a VERY unfavorable place with me and the majority of this country. I expect more from a president who has had 8 years to move this country in a positive direction. Instead the world sees us in a negative way (including NATO), we are in a miserable never ending ILL planned war, or should I say NO planned war, and let's not even start with the economy. We are smart women here. We know the facts, and we have spoken. America has spoken, we called for change and it has indeed arrived!! Regaurds

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YES WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Tracey

    BTW Before you go knocking Obama you should give him the same chance that we gave Bush for 8 LONG miserable yrs!Wink

  • traceyz
    traceyz Member Posts: 745
    edited December 2008

    Shirley,

    I almost forgot. When I think about a solid plan to end the war, save the economy and restructure health care, suddenly transcripts and certificates dont seem so desperately important.Wink Think about it.

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CHANGE HAS ARRIVED!!!!!!!

    Tracey

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2008

    Tracey, never mind.  I don't care about his birth certificate.  Or his stupid college transcripts.  Or him not releasing his health care records.  Does seem strange, though.

    traceyz wrote:

    We are all smart, strong women who know the important issues. Your words have no weight here.

    I love you too, Tracey (bc sister). 

    I just came over here and asked why I was brought into this discussion.  And you come blasting me. 

    Adios!

    Shirley

  • junie
    junie Member Posts: 1,216
    edited December 2008

    ...have been sitting on my hands, literally, to not jump back into the fray...but, the devil made me do it!!!

    Not going to repeat old posts, but I was the world's greatest "fence sitter" up 'til near the end.   I am excited that Obama won.  I am most impressed that he has named a cabinet prior to taking office--that is totally awesome!   (I say that as a retired federal manager who several times had to work through a change of administration and wait 1 or 2 years until the Cabinet head was cleared and got his people in position--NOT fun!)...

    There has been much bashing of Georege W.--and, mostly rightfully so, in our opinions.  But, who's to say 50--75--whenever years down the road, the history books might portray him as one of the greatest presidents we ever had????  damn--wish I would be around THAT long to know how it all turns out!!

    Tks--off soap box--tucking hands back under butt!!!   Love you all--"dims" and "repugs"--

    HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

  • traceyz
    traceyz Member Posts: 745
    edited December 2008

    Happy Holidays to all, even you Shirley and I sincerely mean that. We should always be able to agree to disagree. Best wishes and good health to all you FABULOUS ladies!

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OBAMAAAAAAAAA!!!Cool

    Tracey

  • badboob67
    badboob67 Member Posts: 2,780
    edited December 2008

    I ask this not to stir up trouble; I honestly want to know if I imagined it.  I thought, during the campaign, that Barack Obama himself stated more than once that he believed a marriage was between one man and one woman.  I remember thinking that the statement surely must not be sitting well with his gay and lesbian supporters.

    That being said, I think it would be hard for anybody to pick a speaker that isn't going to offend someone.  Warren is popular and well liked by many, so I suppose that had to play a part in Obama's choosing him.  I do wonder, though, about those who are uncomfortable with religion being injected into politics. Does it bother you that so many of the official appearances and events include a benediction or prayer or religious leader?

    Like I said, I am not trying to stir up trouble, so please don't skewer me. I honestly want to know the answer to these questions and how you all feel about these two issues that seem to have come together in the choice of Rick Warren's appearance at the innauguration.

    BTW--did any of you read the Obama's might not even be able to find a hotel room in DC to stay at when the girls go back to school (but before the house is ready)?  That sure sounds like a complicated problem for some hotel manager and whoever might be asked to give up their reservations for the festivities!

    Diane

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2008

    Tracey, the gist of my original post was:  the people (not quite) "protecting" him are the same people "protecting" the PEBO.  They are obviously not doing an adequate job since the guy was able to lob a second shoe before he was tackled.  I stand by my contention that if you had posted that, you would not have been attacked the way I was.  I am sorry if you felt that my post was in any way directed at you.  It was not meant as an attack against anyone, it was meant as a question of where is the security, and will they do any better a job protecting Obama than they are of protecting Bush?

    LAphoenix, Those posts you quoted were all on the Respectfully Republican thread, not here.  I have tried to keep my comments on this thread to things that are supportive of Obama.  While I hope he does a good job, and have liked many of his appointments, I do question the 180 degree change in his attitude toward Clinton from the primary fight.  I didn't post that here, because I felt it wasn't appropriate in the "Positive Obama" thread. 

    You can support people, and hope that they do well without agreeing with every thing they do and every postition they take on issues.  Much of what Obama has said since the election recognizes that not everyone, not even everyone on his Cabinet,  will agree with him on every issue, but that looking at issues from more than one direction can lead you to a better solution.  That is why he is not packing his cabinet with a bunch of "yes men", so why do some people here who claim to support him think that this thread should only be open to a bunch of "yes women"? 

  • traceyz
    traceyz Member Posts: 745
    edited December 2008

    Patmom,

    I wasn't sure if your post was directed at me or not. But I do not support shoes being thrown at ANY president. Right is right and wrong is wrong and that was wrong. I dont want to see anyone get hurt. Happy Holidays to all!!!

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YES WE DID!!!!!!

    Tracey

  • djd
    djd Member Posts: 866
    edited December 2008

    Only 32 more days, Obama ladies!!!!

  • traceyz
    traceyz Member Posts: 745
    edited December 2008

    djd, YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! CHANGE IS ON THE WAY!! YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

    Tracey

  • djd
    djd Member Posts: 866
    edited December 2008

    Love your enthusiasm, Tracey!

    So, how does everyone feel about Obama's decision to Rick Warren give the invocation at the inauguration?

    I am not happy about it at all.  Warren thinks homosexuality can be "cured".  He is bigoted against gays.  How can people go ape$hit about Reverend Wright's sermons - Warren is just as bad, if not worse.  Look at this from his website:

    I hope Obama rethinks his decision and Warren gets replaced by someone less controversial and more tolerant of ALL of God's children!  If Warren does appear at the inauguration, I will turn my back on him to show my personal displeasure at him.  He won't see me, but I will know.  (Heck, I booed Bush at a NASCAR race in Texas a few years ago!) 

  • traceyz
    traceyz Member Posts: 745
    edited December 2008

    djd,

    I do not believe homosexuality is a choice and it is unfortunate that Warren thinks this way. Why would anyone CHOOSE to be discriminated against!?? Anyhow, Obama's choice has my eye brow raised but I guess we will have to see how this plays out. Good for you for voicing your opinion and being strong. Hey if I had been at the NASCAR race in Texas (of all places), you and I would have been 2 peas in a pod booing in harmony!Laughing

    WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Tracey

  • LAphoenix
    LAphoenix Member Posts: 452
    edited December 2008

    PatMom, although this thread wasn't created to be a debate thread--I think we "dims" are welcoming to any reasonable person who wants to engage in a dialogue about issues.  I've responded politely many times to RR regulars, like ijl and Rock, who post here with questions.  As have others.  The difference between these situations and your recent comments, and others' comments, is tone.  You sounded angry and censoring when you responded to the shoe remark.  Maybe that wasn't your intent, but that's how it sounded.  And I think that's why Felicia was ticked and asked why you guys keep posting here.       

    The point of my posting remarks from the RR thread was to show that you guys can be just as snarky, cliquish, critical and dismissive as we can be.  I'm not saying that you shouldn't be snarky or dismissive, I was just objecting to your implication that we're the only ones who do it.  But unlike you guys, we dim regulars rarely interrupt conversations on your thread to object to or "correct" remarks that irritate us.  Maybe we should (although I don't have the time), but dollars to doughnuts, if we interrupted your conversations with hit-and-run remarks often as you guys do ours, you'd be putting us on your ignore list too.                 

    All that said, I'm glad, impressed and grateful that you're open to Obama's administration.  It's going to be a huge challenge to get this country up on its feet again, and we really do need to be as united as we can.  

    Diane, you're right that Obama said during the campaign that he's opposed to same sex marriage.  He supports civil unions, and he also said he wasn't in favor of Prop 8.  His hair-splitting on the issue has always bothered me.  I think gays were giving him a pass on it, but now with the Warren thing, they're hopping mad.  Coming on the heels of Prop 8, it's just too much.  I didn't realize that Warren actually denies gays membership in his church--I thought he was just opposed to gay marriage.  Given that, I don't see how Obama can justify giving him such a place of distinction at the inauguration.  A pro-gay rights minister is doing the benediction, but I think that's a less conspicuous position.  If Obama wants to meet with Warren at some point as a gesture of openness, that's OK, but having him do the invocation is a real slap in the face to the gay community.  

    djd: Some of Warren's followers are very upset that he's appearing with Obama.  So maybe between the 2 unhappy groups, an excuse to rescind the invitation can be found!

    Tracey, as always, thanks for the positive thinking!  And you make a great point--why would anyone choose to be gay and discriminated against??  I think Jon Stewart came up with a great retort to Huckabee the other night when he said that people don't choose their sexual orientation, but they do choose their religious beliefs. 

  • traceyz
    traceyz Member Posts: 745
    edited December 2008

    Laphoenix,

    Well said! You know it's funny La but I think there is a little saltiness in the air from the repubs due to the fact that Obama actually won, fair and square! Wink Oh well.......sorry.

    WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, some day I will calm down, but for now DAMN it feels good!!!! CHANGE IS HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Tracey

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2008

    Ah, Warren will get maybe 3 mins of fame.  This guy may get more:

    Williams

    Gay man backed for Navy secretary
    Foes cite 'Don't ask, don't tell'
    Stephen Dinan (Contact)
    Thursday, December 18, 2008

    Some top retired military leaders and some Democrats in Congress are backing William White, chief operating officer of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, to be the next secretary of the Navy -- a move that would put the first openly gay person at the top of one of the services.

    The secretary's job is a civilian position, so it would not run afoul of the ban on gays serving in the military, but it would renew focus on the "don't ask, don't tell" policy as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office.

    "He would be phenomenal," said retired Gen. Hugh Shelton, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1997 to 2001, pointing to Mr. White's extensive background as a fundraiser for veterans' and military causes.

    Retired members of the Joint Chiefs have contacted Mr. Obama's transition team to urge them to pick Mr. White, and members of Congress said he would be a good choice for a service secretary.

    "He's very capable," said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, New York Democrat, whose district includes the Intrepid Museum, a retired aircraft carrier berthed on the Hudson River in New York City.

    http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/dec/18/gay-man-backed-for-navy-secretary/

  • LAphoenix
    LAphoenix Member Posts: 452
    edited December 2008

    I hope Obama picks White, as an antedote to Warren, if nothing else.  (Is it me, or is that photo a little "suggestive?!")

    The newest "science" guys look good, too.

    President-elect Barack Obama's selection Saturday of a Harvard physicist and a marine biologist for science posts is a sign he plans a more aggressive response to global warming than did the Bush administration.  

    John Holdren and Jane Lubchenco are leading experts on climate change who have advocated forceful government action. Holdren will become Obama's science adviser as director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Lubchenco will lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees ocean and atmospheric studies and does much of the government's research on global warming.

    Holdren also will direct the president's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology. Joining him as co-chairs will be Nobel Prize-winning scientist Harold Varmus, a former director of the National Institutes of Health, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Eric Lander, a specialist in human genome research.

    Varmus, who was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for his research on the causes of cancer, served as NIH director during the Clinton administration. A former medical professor at the University of California, San Francisco, he helped found the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention and chairs a scientific board at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    Lander, who teaches at both MIT and Harvard, founded the Whitehead Institute-MIT Center for Genome Research in 1990, which became part of the Broad Institute in 2003. A leading researcher in the Human Genome Project, he and his colleagues are using the findings to explore the molecular mechanisms behind human disease.

    I'm also really happy about Hilda Solis at Labor.  She gets things done!  

        

  • djd
    djd Member Posts: 866
    edited December 2008
    LAphoenix wrote:

     (Is it me, or is that photo a little "suggestive?!")

    LA - I was thinking the same thing...LOL  Now I don't feel like a perv, since I'm not alone :-)

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2008

    ROFL!  At least it came to the party prepared!

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2008

    Suz ... I wouldn't take offense to the "DIMS" comment ...  I think everyone has their favorite "nickname" .. Over here, the term for republicans has often been "REPUGS"  (I guess like pug the dog or "repugnant" I am not sure which one is meant).

  • djd
    djd Member Posts: 866
    edited December 2008

    Good to see you, ladysuz!  As for the "dims" references, I say, "consider the source!"  They also have some sort of dog-whistle code with the dollar signs ($$$$$) ending many of their posts.   Whatev!!

    Rocktobermom - I have used the term "repug" in the past.  In my mind, it's a play on the shortened version of Republican - "Repub", with the g substituted for the b, to be the shortened versioned of repugnant.   But I could be wrong - I have never checked with any official source to confirm my belief.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2008

    ladysuz wrote:

    I peeked at the Republican thread and was disheartened to see that Democrats are called "dims" now. 

    And it is all just so not necessary.  These days being a republican is not that easy, nor that popular.  I think anyone who is still willing to admit to being a Bush republican is a brave soul, indeed.  It kinda reminds me of some of those support group meetings I've seen portrayed on television.

    Hello.  I'm Billy Joe Bob.  And I'm....a republican.

    Sometimes you've just gotta have a heart.

    (edited to correct name spelling...I am so sorry!)

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2008

    suz...check out the Chevy Malibu hybrid & Saturn Aura hybrid ... gas prices are going up & these cars have a great price. Great industry reviews but not high on the public radar.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited December 2008

    Suz, another possibility is to go to your Ford dealer, and look at the used cars that have been turned in from leases.  They have to be priced really well to compete with the great deals being offered on new cars, and they come with almost as much warranty coverage as a new car without all the instant depreciation. 

    If you still decide to go with the new car, go for it!

    My family likes the velour seats over the leather...warmer in winter, and cooler in the summer, and usually less expensive too!

  • DD_
    DD_ Member Posts: 14
    edited December 2008

    djd wrote:  I have used the term "repug" in the past.  In my mind, it's a play on the shortened version of Republican - "Repub", with the g substituted for the b, to be the shortened versioned of repugnant. 

    Repugnant means "incompatible, inconsistent, hostile and offensive"  so when you casually "drop" the "p" and replace it with the "g" this is what you are insinuating republicans are.

    Dimwit means "stupid or mentally slow person" So when they "drop" the "e" and sub "i" & "wit" this is what they are insinuating democrats are.

    The truth of the matter is, both sides don't like it when people disagree with them, and post their disagreements.  So both sides lash out at each other.  But at the end of the day, we are all members of the same "sorority" called "breastcancer" and while we might "beat-up" on each other, I would bet we would also be the first to defend each other if someone on the "outside" messed with one of our "sisters".  When I was young, I was MEAN to my older sister, but if anyone else was mean to her I was the first one to her defense.

    With all that said I do have a question.  I have read some posts back that many people from the "homosexual" community are claiming discrimination and how people don't know what it is like to be discriminated against like they do and how they are treated as if they are less than "human" because of their sexual orientation.  Can someone give me examples of actual discrimination -other than the marriage thing- of how they (or you as the case may be) have been treated less than human because of your sexual orientation?

    When I here of people being discriminated against and being treated less than human I think of slaves -  to  - civil rights, and Jews - to - concentration camps.  Maybe I have been out of the loop but I just havent heard of homosexuals being forced to endure anything even remotely close to true discrimination.

    My brother is a homosexual and other than marriage, he has the same rights as every body.  He has a professional career making six figure income, lives in an exclusive neighborhood, drives a really cool sports car, travels all the time, has parties and is invited to parties.  He even goes to church with his partner.

    So, maybe someone here can help me understand?

  • LAphoenix
    LAphoenix Member Posts: 452
    edited December 2008

    DD, your question is best answered by a gay person, but I will point out that gays were imprisoned and gassed in concentration camps along with Jews and gypsies.  History is full of examples of gays being fired, imprisoned and killed for their sexual orientation.  Remember the "Sodomy Laws?"  I think there was a city in the U.S. that rescinded one of those laws just last year!  Currently, gay people can't serve in the CIA, FBI, army or National Security Agency.  Then there's don't ask, don't tell.  A few years ago, several Arabic-speaking translators working in Iraq were fired for being openly gay, even though Arabic translators were desperately needed.  It still can be difficult for gays to adopt in some states.  And as you point out, they can't marry except in a couple of states, and not every state has civil unions.  Then of course, there's gay bashing, which still goes on, especially in rural areas.  

    I recommend the movie Milk if you're curious.  But as far as the purely emotional end of it, only a gay person can give a true perspective, and I'm guessing they all have different experiences and different feelings.  I assume you've had this conversation with your brother and he's assured you he's never felt discriminated against, except where marriage is concerned.  It sounds like he's had much good fortune, love and support. 

    Suz, if you get a car, let us know what you choose.  Seems like the best time to go for it.   I'm thinking about buying one too.

  • TorchSong
    TorchSong Member Posts: 348
    edited December 2008

    DD, let me tell you my story of discrimination, because it relates to BC.

    I am in a same-sex relationship. My partner is in the US military. That means she cannot let anyone know, officially, of our relationship. That's Don't Ask, Don't Tell. If a superior officer found out and decided to prosecute (which they are supposed to do, by the Uniform Code of Military Justice), she would be out, period, after 17 years of exemplary service and high ratings, with no pension, no benefits, either a "dishonorable" or basic discharge (depending on who made the determination). When I was diagnosed with BC she could not ask for compassionate leave to be with me when I had my surgery, my first onc appointments, my port, my first chemo...it came out of her annual leave, with eyebrows raised as to why she wanted so much leave on various days (i.e., not a vacation). She does not get support from her co-workers--they cannot know the real nature of our relationship.

    Now, imagine if that were your husband/spouse/significant other. Whoever is supporting you through this,try to imagine if they could not be there--wanted desperately to be with you, but could not be with you. What would it be like to be without that love and support and caring?

    If we were a different-sex couple, especially in the military culture, we would have so much support it would make your head spin (my ex-husband was also militay, so I I know this for a fact). Meals, visits, sidewalks shovelled, groceries brought, extra consideration for the husband around duties...etc. 

    But my partner and I don't have that support, because of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Because some people think gay, lesbian and bisexual people shouldn't serve in the military (tell that to the ones who have served, and the ones who are serving in many other countries). It's prejudice and intolerance.

    If you want more violent examples of discrimination besides the military, try the children taken from loving parents because the parents are same-gender or the kids beaten up and killed because they are gay or lesbian or the many lesbians who are raped to "teach them what real sex is like." 

    And you speak almost lightly of marriage--"besides marriage." But the legal state of marriage recognises a relationship, gives it standing for all kinds of things from medical visitation and decision-making to child guardianship to inheritance. All the things that are automatic for a different-gender couple when they marry have to be done by lawyers for same-gender couples, unless they live in a very few states--and even then, the federal government doesn't recognise them.

    I'm glad your brother has been able to make a good life. That does not happen for everyone. Gifted people are often denied access to the career or job they would excel in, because of their sexual orientation.We're banned from churches, from the military and other government jobs, from parenthood, from genuine equality.

     Yes, this hurts me and I'm passionate about it. I hope you can see the pain this causes, not only me (I've been touched lightly by discrimination compared with some) but so many of my gay, lesbian, and bisexual sisters and brothers.

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