Why should I fight for your rights?

[theHandpuppet]

I don't have children. Why should I care if there are children in this country who lack health care, food or a decent education?

I'm past the age of reproduction (not that I ever wanted to reproduce, anyway). Why should I care about the reproduction rights of other women?

None of my progeny will inherit an earth poisoned by pollution, its species driven to extinction, its forests cleared, its seas turned into vast dead zones. I won't be here when the shit hits the fan. Why should I care?

I don't have friends or family fighting in Iraq and Baghdad is half a world away. Why should I care about war?

My partner and I own our own home and make a comfortable living. Why should I care about the poor or homeless? Why should I support unions or a raise in the minimum wage?

WHY?

Because it's the right thing to do, that's why. Because injustice against one is an injustice to us all. That's why I've been a Democrat for 36 years, because to me the Democratic Party stood for what I believed were the rights of ALL people, regardless of their color, their gender, their faith, the circumstances of their birth, the amount of money in their pocket, no matter where or whom. The party that stood tall for HUMAN RIGHTS and human decency and compassion.

I'm a gay woman in America who's been fighting for those rights, your rights, our rights, since I was a teen in high school and led a school walkout in protest over the Vietnam War. I've marched, canvassed, protested, stood with Cindy Sheehan at Camp Casey. And now, when it is MY rights as a gay person in America that hang in the balance, there are people here who will not stand for our rights. Not politically expedient, they say. Not your time, they say. Too divisive, they say. If you won't take a stand now, when will it be convenient for you?

If you won't fight for us, I have but one question for you.

WHY?

[porphyrian]

1. It's not fighting for my rights OR your rights...

...it's fighting for OUR rights. And who said I'm not fighting for them?

[greeneyedboy]

2. how many divisive threads do we need on DU per day?

i am queer too, so i happen to agree with you on this issue. i have read about 20 "go to the back of the bus" threads and about 10 "hell no!" threads today.

can we focus on GOTV now, and return to fighting with each other in 2 weeks?

[BlueEyedSon]

7. Divisive? I don't get that at all

and I'm straight with a kid

[greeneyedboy]

9. sorry, perhaps you're right. just getting tired of the same topic over and over.

[BlueJazz]

3. Because you're a Kind, Decent, Strong, Caring Human Being.

[cally]

4. Thank you. We all have to stand together or

none of us will succeed. I think we accept divisions and allowing other's civil rights to be lost, then we all are more likely to lose our rights. We have to stand together.

[theHandpuppet]

5. Yep. Standing together can be our greatest strength!

We shouldn't be willing to sacrifice the rights of anyone on the altar of political expedience. Those who would scapegoat/isolate groups of people within the party actually weaken all our goals. UNITE!!

[AnnieBW]

10. Live Together, Die Alone

It's not a zero-sum game. We are all interconnected on this planet - just look at something like the Kevin Bacon game. What is good for one group is good for all. I'm a white, 40-year-old, childless, hetero, married woman. But I'm also a Wiccan. The people that want to take away my rights as a Wiccan and a woman are the same ones who are against equal rights for gays, Moslems, Blacks, Hispanics, etc. The women's suffrage movement grew out of the abolitionist movement.

[proudlibal]

6. I will

I am not a gay women, but I love you none the less. I have never ever understood exactly how gay marriages, threaten my own. I have never understood the amount of hate the "christian right" throws your way. I cannot comprehend why this issue is sooooo divisive. So all that I can say is I will continue to support gay rights. I have gone to the gay pride parade in Seattle for 5 years, and I will keep going, When people get hateful and mean about gay rights, I will not take it. Thank you so much for all that you have done in your life. Thank you for standing up for my rights.:)

[Donald Ian Rankin]

8. Anyone care to take any bets

about how far this thread will go before someone quotes Martin Niemoller, and whether or not they'll get it right?

[NMMNG]

11. rAmen

I'm a single, Caucasian, childless, atheist, lesbian. However I'll still fight for better schools, an end to child hunger, freedom of (as well as from) religion, reproductive rights, universal health care, and everything else--because I'm a Democrat.