crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters
I'm rarely speechless when talking about some people's behavior in this so-called culture war. This is one of those times.
When watching this video, keep repeating to yourself "it's not a parody . . . it's not a parody"
And this is not the first anti-gay video made by this person.
When my online buddy Jeremy from Goodasyou posted one of these videos yesterday, I told him that I was going to steal it for my post. The reason being that this video was just too crazy NOT to spread around
It make the "Gathering Storm" commercial look like Lawrence of Arabia.
I spoke briefly with &ith Lieutenant Colonel Victor J. Fehrenbach yesterday, and the first thing I did was tell him that as a transgender Persian Gulf War Veteran with service connected disabilities, I thanked him for his service.
To compare mine and his service, my military training over my 20-year US Navy career towards working on the Mark 15 MODs 1-4 Close-In Weapon System and the Mark-92 Mod 2 Gun And Missile Fire Control System probably cost the government less than $150 thousand; Lt. Colonel Fehrenbach's pilot training cost closer to $25 million. My highest award in the Navy was a Navy Achievement Medal; while Lt. Col. Fehrenbach been decorated for valor.
I'm a war veteran; Lt. Col. Fehrenbach is a war hero.
And yet, as we read in the entry from Keori, Lt. Col. Fehrenbach is being discharged, 2-years short of retirement, under Don't Ask, Don't Tell rules. His pending discharge is absolutely insane -- it's putting discrimination before the security of America.
On ABC's This Week, General James Jones seems to be speaking for the Obama Administration when saying that he's not sure if DADT will be repealed. Pentagon Spokesperson Geoff Morrell stated in a very recent press briefing:
"I do not believe there are any plans under way in this building for some expected, but not articulated, anticipation that don't ask-don't tell will be repealed."
Lt. Colonel Fehrenbach, when I asked him what his thoughts were on what National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones and Pentagon Spokesperson Geoff Morrell, he stated:
"I stand with my Commander in Chief who supports a policy of nondiscrimination. In my military experience, you're not supposed to contradict your Commander In Chief.
And yet, the National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones and Pentagon Spokesperson Geoff Morrell did comment in a way that contradicted their Commander In Chief.
Perhaps it's time for the Pentagon to set up a working group -- a working group that's visible to the general public, as well as th President's that's visible to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, 
and transgender (LGBT) community constituents -- on exactly how to implement the President's often repeated promise to the LGBT community for repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. When I asked Lt. Col. Fehrenbach is he would want to be part of such a working group, he stated:
I want to be part of the solution.
He stated that he'd like to work for such a working group though, as an active duty servicemember. And, that's the rub, isn't it?
The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that President Obama is in no hurry to end 'don't ask, don't tell' - He made a campaign pledge to lift the ban on gays in the military, but neither he nor Congress appears ready to reopen the debate.
Well, as a military veteran myself, I'm tired of the dancing around this issue by the Obama Administration. It's time to stop with the bullsh*t statements in contrary to the Commander In Chief's stated goal of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell -- We should be hearing spokespeople stating that they are working to fulfill candidate Barack Obama's pledge to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. As President Obama has told us previously, his administration is capable of multitasking.
So, this LGBT veteran is calling on the Obama Administration to immediately, and very publicly direct the Pentagon to form a working group for implementing the Commander In Chief's stated goal of repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
And, if The President wants to employ active duty military personnel to be part of this working group, Second Lieutenant Sandy Tsao, First Lieutenant Dan Choi, and Lt. Col. Fehrenbach would probably all be helpful to the group.
Mr. President, I'm tired of being fed sh*t by your administration, and having your people try to sell us on the idea that sh*t is chocolate. To quote modify a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. from the I Have A Dream speech:
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her lesbian, gay, and bisexual citizens are concerned. Instead of honoring the sacred obligation of equality under the law, America has given lesbian, gay, and bisexual citizens -- especially lesbian, gay, and bisexual servicemembers -- a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insu fficient funds."We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.
The now thing on repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy is kind of a Dallas Principle kind of thing. Mr. President: multitask.
~~~~~
Further Readineading:
* EdgeBoston: White House Sends Mixed Signals About Ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell
~~~~~
Related:
* The Advocate: no sign that the White House has a plan to lift DADT
~~~~~
H/t: SLDN's Kevin Nix
It's entitled "Everyone Matters: Dignity and Safety for Transgender People" and it addresses employment and hate crimes issues for transgender persons. A fabulous piece...
Share this, send to legislators, send to everyone and every group you can.
Well done, GLAD...
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