Hey guys, Cheyenne here.
So today I want to talk about a topic that I've been following for months in fact even years, yet, for some reason I haven't covered it. It has often been a topic that I loose way too much sleep over.
Unfortunately the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) failed in the Senate today. The votes, as you may or may not know, were 56-43 the senate democrats fell short of the 60 vote requirement by four people. The Republican party didn't fail to show how much disdain they have for the LGBTQ community today.
The republican's filibuster makes me ever so worried about the discrimination that is far too prevalent in our society. Why is it that people think that they can tell someone that they're inferior to the rest of society, and therefor deserve lesser rights, than the rest of the population just based on something as insignificant as who that person lies next to at the end of the day?
We're all people right?
Apparently not.
In blocking this bill the senate republicans also blocked legislation that would have raised our defense spending by $726 billion that would also raise our soldiers pay....good job guys. What a way to let our soldiers know we care!
The absolute disregard for human decency doesn't fail to shock me. Instead of encouraging the men and women of out Nation to fight and serve in the military, and then bring their respective partners to annual military ball. We, as a society, are forcing these couragious and admirable people to be closeted and are in turn contributing to the harassment, and all too often the deaths, that LGBTQ men and women face in the military.
It's a sad day when you feel like the entire nation has failed to recognize the worth of an entire group of its citizens...and today was that day.
You would think that with the repeal of Proposition 8, that we would be on our way to being a more tolerant and accepting country..but as today proved the backwards notion that "all gays and lesbians are bad" is holding us back from accepting that all people are beautiful, and should be created equal.
Don't get me wrong, I know that discrimination comes in more forms than homophobia. However the notion that anyone who doesn't fit into what the hetero-normative society tells us we should be is looked down upon and stripped of their rights is disgusting.
Come on, have some decency people!
Great post, and thanks for bringing my attention to it (I've had my head in books for weeks straight now). I also don't understand how people can't be treated as human beings when they're just like any of us. We're all weird and crazy and silly and funny, but just because someone has a homosexual relationship, all of those other personality traits are thrown out the window. It makes me so sad and upset and I hope to God that I'll be one of those people one day voting and making a difference in the lives of amazing people who should be extended the same rights as heterosexuals. P.S. I guess I should start labeling my posts huh? Sorry!
ReplyDeleteOMG I had to go look up the details of the filibuster once I read your post and I cannot believe some of the terrible things that were said about it: "This is a victory for the men and women who serve our nation in uniform. At least for now they will not be used to advance a radical social agenda,” said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins.
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding me???
yeah, I read about it today when I got out of class, and got enraged so I decided to write about it..the hetero-normative notion is getting real old, but we (our generation) can and needs to make a difference in the way society views the population.
ReplyDeleteThis year my children will be spending the holidays without their father- something Cheyenne, you know plenty about. Zander will be in Afghanistan, serving our country, and I guarantee you that as long as the man or woman standing next to him has his back and does their duty, Zander couldn't care less about what that person does in the bedroom. And as long as Zander comes home safe, I certainly don't give a hoot either. For this military family, the vote was in no way a victory. I think that as long as a person is willing to serve their country, follow orders, put their life on the line for their fellow service members, they should be able to serve honorably and openly in the US military.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's why I personally got so upset...the vote was moved away from a human rights and, in my opinion a game of politics. Who can trump who. It truly is disgusting.
ReplyDeleteOh and Jess, well said. I hope everything is going well with you, Zander, and the kids. I know this must be hard on you.
Did Abraham Lincoln ask for a popular vote when he freed the slaves? No, it ws a human rights issue.
ReplyDeleteWas there a popular vote when the gave women the right to vote (remember, only men would have voted on it)? No, it was a human rights issue.
Did Harry Truman ask the soldiers if it was OK with them to desegregate the army? No, it was a human rights issue.
Did the Supreme Court ask for a popular vote when the struck down the laws against marriage between the races (in 1967, folks, only slightly more than 40 years ago!)? No, it was a human rights issue.
So why now do we have to ask all the prejudiced, ultra-conservative folks in this country if it is OK with them if we can allow all people to marry whom they want or if we can let all people who want to to serve their nation.
Sometimes even if it is not popular, it is the RIGHT thing to do.
I should probably proofread before I hit "post". Sorry, folks
ReplyDeleteAunt Mary pretty much nailed it. There are things that just shouldn't have to be voted on. Things that should be common sense to everyone. People think that them or their kids are gonna "catch the gay."
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that gets me by (that Aunt Mary also alluded to) is that we really haven't been an intelligent society for that long. Human rights is a fairly new concept, but here's hoping that in a few generations people will be much more tolerant of one another. It's gotten better but there is still a long way to go.