"You can't always get what you want."
That is a lyric from a song by the Rolling Stones. It's also what I felt like telling members of the gay community heckling President Obama recently at a fundraiser for U. S. Sen., Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), in Los Angeles.
The April 19 protests at the Natural History Museum reportedly came from members of GetEQUAL, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group.
"Repeal 'Don't ask, don't tell," shouted one member.
"It's time for equality for all Americans," said another.
"We're going to do that," Obama responded.
"Every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their side -- whether in a sudden medical emergency or a prolonged hospital stay. Often, a widow or widower with no children is denied the support and comfort of a good friend," the president said in a statement. "Also uniquely affected are gay and lesbian Americans who are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives - unable to be there for the person they love, and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated."
When it comes to alternative lifestyles, I am not for it, but that doesn't mean same-sex couples should be penalized and not given the same rights during hospital visits that immediate family members receive.
On that same note, I am also for the president pushing to repeal the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy the military has held since the 1990s.
It's a decision Defense Secretary Robert Gates supports, as does Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was quoted saying in a Feb. 2 article from FOXNews.com that changing the policy is "the right thing to do."
"I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy that forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens," Mullen said. "For me, personally, it comes down to integrity -- theirs as individuals and ours as an institution."
Just because people are against someone else's lifestyle doesn't give one the right to pass judgment on them and say, "The life you lead is not how God wants you to live, so you are damned to Hell." How does anyone know that upon death, depending on one's religious beliefs, that one will go to Hell because he/she lived an "alternative" lifestyle frowned upon by society?
I know that getting "Don't ask, don't tell" repealed faces as much of an uphill battle as nationalized health care did but it is a step in the right direction.
I suspect even if Congress does get it repealed, the gay community still won't be happy. They will still argue that the president is not doing enough for gay rights, which goes back to the title of that Rolling Stones song.
"Let me say this -- when you've got an ally like Barbara Boxer and you've got an ally like me who are standing for the same thing, then you don't know exactly why you've got to holler because we already hear you," Obama said. "I mean, it would have made more sense to holler that at the people who oppose it."
I am not a member of the gay community, however, if I were, I wouldn't be out heckling the president at a rally. I'd just be happy that there is someone in Washington who is trying to get things passed for those who lead alternative lifestyles and hope that he/she will live up to the promises they made during their campaign.
©4/20/10
That is a lyric from a song by the Rolling Stones. It's also what I felt like telling members of the gay community heckling President Obama recently at a fundraiser for U. S. Sen., Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), in Los Angeles.
The April 19 protests at the Natural History Museum reportedly came from members of GetEQUAL, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group.
"Repeal 'Don't ask, don't tell," shouted one member.
"It's time for equality for all Americans," said another.
"We're going to do that," Obama responded.
I may not be for a lot of what Obama has done to the country during his time in office but believe it or not, there are a couple things I am actually for in terms of helping the gay community.The most recent decision the president passed that I am for regards same-sex couples. All hospitals must now allow patients to say who has visitation rights and who can make medical decisions, which includes gay and lesbian partners.
"Every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their side -- whether in a sudden medical emergency or a prolonged hospital stay. Often, a widow or widower with no children is denied the support and comfort of a good friend," the president said in a statement. "Also uniquely affected are gay and lesbian Americans who are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives - unable to be there for the person they love, and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated."
When it comes to alternative lifestyles, I am not for it, but that doesn't mean same-sex couples should be penalized and not given the same rights during hospital visits that immediate family members receive.
On that same note, I am also for the president pushing to repeal the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy the military has held since the 1990s.
It's a decision Defense Secretary Robert Gates supports, as does Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was quoted saying in a Feb. 2 article from FOXNews.com that changing the policy is "the right thing to do."
"I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy that forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens," Mullen said. "For me, personally, it comes down to integrity -- theirs as individuals and ours as an institution."
People should not be penalized based upon their alternative lifestyle -- banned from defending their country. There is something wrong when a person joins the Air Force with aspirations of one day flying a fighter plane and then gets kicked out of the military all because protocol was violated. What do their personal lives have to do with them wanting to serve their country?There is nothing I can't stand more than to hear some right-wing, pro-Christian, Bible-quoting advocate tell me the reason they don't want gays in the military is because they are afraid of what might happen if a gay and a straight person are in a foxhole together. They are afraid the straight person will get jumped on late at night from behind. Sad to say, I actually know people who think this. That idea is about as ridiculous as someone saying God created AIDS to punish the gay community for their immorality.
Just because people are against someone else's lifestyle doesn't give one the right to pass judgment on them and say, "The life you lead is not how God wants you to live, so you are damned to Hell." How does anyone know that upon death, depending on one's religious beliefs, that one will go to Hell because he/she lived an "alternative" lifestyle frowned upon by society?
I know that getting "Don't ask, don't tell" repealed faces as much of an uphill battle as nationalized health care did but it is a step in the right direction.
I suspect even if Congress does get it repealed, the gay community still won't be happy. They will still argue that the president is not doing enough for gay rights, which goes back to the title of that Rolling Stones song.
"Let me say this -- when you've got an ally like Barbara Boxer and you've got an ally like me who are standing for the same thing, then you don't know exactly why you've got to holler because we already hear you," Obama said. "I mean, it would have made more sense to holler that at the people who oppose it."
I am not a member of the gay community, however, if I were, I wouldn't be out heckling the president at a rally. I'd just be happy that there is someone in Washington who is trying to get things passed for those who lead alternative lifestyles and hope that he/she will live up to the promises they made during their campaign.
©4/20/10
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