It's not easy being me. It's just not. Dozens of things go wrong in my life every single week.

[cherokeeprogressive]

If there's money being sent to me in the mail? It gets lost, redirected, or stolen. I once got a paycheck for a ONE MONTH pay period ending the day before Thanksgiving that was for $0.00 (my school district spent $0.32 to send that worthless check to me!) while I had my whole family at my house for the holiday. When I called the Payroll Dept., they were gone for the holiday, and would not be returning until the following Monday. The Navy told me after I moved my family from Jacksonville to Seattle that my pay record got fucked up and that I'd be getting 1/4 of my regular pay for FOUR MONTHS, when I had all the expenses of supporting a wife and young child after my arrival in WA. I once had my luggage on a Greyhound Bus wind up in Denver instead of Tucson. On a fucking bus. I turned down a ride from William Bonin, AKA the "Freeway Killer" during my one and only attempt at hitch-hiking. Yeah so what, here I am.

I actually live the life of Charlie Brown, and have been told on more than one occasion that I resemble him.

All in all though, I think I have it better than an unimaginable number of people, for any number of reasons. My problem is that being the father of a gay teenager, I worry that HER life is going to be MUCH FUCKING HARDER than the one I have lived and that's the point of my whole post...

Allison is not afforded EVERY human right that I am. My own daughter is in no way being treated like EVERY STRAIGHT AMERICAN. How can I support the politicians who say they share my ideology and who SAY they support my beliefs, when they're not spending their political capital in an attempt to guarantee that EVERY American has equal protection under the law? If you can't see that the promises made in that respect were simply made in order to get my vote and have been traded like so many shiny coins, I feel sorry for you.

EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW... Shouldn't THAT be the first plank in ANY agenda? Shouldn't "Equal Protection Under the Law" be the "Law of the Land", and if it's not, then what significant purpose does The Constitution of the United States of America serve? Does the Constitution discriminate? Or is it US who discriminates? I think the answer to that is obvious. The Constitution enumerates and LIMITS the power that the government should have over us. Nowhere does it say that certain groups are afforded more rights than others.

Please, start understanding that EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERY AMERICAN IN EVERY WAY AND EVERY FORM is the only way that we'll move forward with this debate, and stop defending ANY action that hinders or delays that outcome for even A SINGLE DAY, even if Barack Obama himself demands it. As much as I support Barack Obama, I have a Gay Daughter to think of as well, and at this moment in time, it doesn't seem like he has HER best interests at heart, even though she's an American Citizen, and thus entitled to every right and privilege I am.

No One Loves You Guys Like I Do, and I hope no one takes offense at this post. It's my normal rant.

I think that's all I had to say.

Edited to add:

Okay, that's not all I had to say. I would add that I'm voting for Dems from the top to the bottom of my ballot. While it might not be a step forward in the context of my Gay Daughter's rights, it's better than two steps backward.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear cherokeeprogressive...

I love your rants! They are well-written and you state your POV very clearly and logically.

I'm with you one equal rights for every American. NOW. Or better yet, yesterday.

I don't understand either how he can be against this. Or how he cannot work to make it happen. It's unbelievable to me.

NO offense to me. What offends me is how he's treating so many of our citizens.

Recommended.

:hug:

[cherokeeprogressive]

4. My three favorite words? "My dear cherokeeprogressive"

I still believe in Barack Obama. It pains me to call him out for what I think might be his failings, because I understand that the alternative to one step forward with BO is two steps back with THEM. What would be nice though, in the face of that reality, is three steps forward. I'm not seeing that kind of effort being expended, and now I see it through a magnifying glass because lo and behold, I have skin in the game. She's "out". That puts me in a very awkward position; Do I support my President, or my Daughter? I can tell you this though because the decision was actually a no-brainer... in every case, every situation, and under every circumstance, my support goes to my wonderful Daughter first, and only then to politicians who SAY they support her, and only then because every other choice is unacceptable.

It was so much easier when Lucy merely pulled the football out from in front of me when I tried to kick it. She promised she wouldn't, and I believed her every time. Suddenly, I find myself becoming a little more cynical.

[aquart]

6. You have a fortunate daughter no matter the president's decisions.

And wouldn't you be getting awfully nervous if Obama was absolutely PERFECT? As is, he's kinda like old time technology, the sort you had to know exactly where to thump it to make it work.

[laughingliberal]

2. K & R nt

[madmax]

K&R

[madmax]

3. dupe

[ConsAreLiars]

5. Same concerns, a similar boat.

2nd kid was outstanding by every measure. Got top honors in HS and free money to attend Swarthmore and then UCB while (because) she/then she was going along various paths fighting for equal rights for all. Fought and defeated Dworkin in organizing he first LGBTQI multi-racial Pride March In Philadelphia.

The short form is that this kid. although having a harder path, has become far more confident, competent, accomplished. caring, admired and socially valuable than I ever imagined for myself.

Your kid is a true treasure.

Mine went through many experiences, don't we all, Fell in love with another. and then another very admirable human. Well two, both very worth admiring for many reasons. Paired up finally with the second. Kid did the TG chemistry and they became legally husband and wife with two kids now.