Pres. Truman’s grandson: End the gay ban

[William769]

May 7, 2010

President Barack H. Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Tomorrow, my family and I will mark the 126th anniversary of my grandfather President Harry Truman’s birthday. There are many reasons we celebrate his life and contributions to our nation, but in particular we are proud of his decision to desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces in July 1948, which paved the way for future civil rights advancements.

It was not easy. He faced fierce opposition from inside and outside the military. Many, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Omar Bradley, argued that mixing black and white soldiers would destroy the Army.



My grandfather, however, was appalled that African-American service members had been beaten and lynched upon their return home from fighting in World War II. They had risked their lives to defend our nation, but were denied the full rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. Implementation of his order to desegregate wasn’t easy, but it made our military stronger and our nation a brighter beacon of democracy.

There are strong parallels between the desegregation of the military and the debate over “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the law that mandates the firing of a service member based solely on his or her sexual orientation. Opponents argue that allowing openly gay and lesbian service members to serve alongside their heterosexual comrades will endanger discipline and morale.


Read the rest of the letter here.
http://www.365gay.com/news/pres-trumans-grandson-end-the-gay-ban/

[VMI Dem]

1. Two possible reasons this has not happened: politics or bigotry.

Maybe a little of both?

[William769]

2. I wouldn't say bigotry, but definitely politics

I will say this though, when it comes to a persons civil rights, politics be damned! There is only one outcome civil rights prevail all else.

EDIT: spelling

[VMI Dem]

3. I think religion MAY be involved.

That is bigotry.

[greencharlie]

4. the reason?

It's the secret BIGOTS of the left.

Hate to say it... but it was all illustrated in Cali with prop H8.

A LARGE percentage of otherwise democratic voting people are closet bigots. There they are in their Lexus SUV's with their HOPE/CHANGE bumper stickers, their SPCA bumperstickers, their GreenPeace emblem... and their prop H8 sticker right next to them...

fact.

[Hekate]

9. Have not seen even ONE of such bumper displays as you allege

[bigwillq]

5. K and R (nt)

[boppers]

6. A timeline of the slog:

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/desegregation/large/index.php?action=chronology

K&R

[Faygo Kid]

7. Beautiful letter. Be sure to read it.

This is kicked and highly recommended.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. Harry was a very strong man. He had a mother in law from hell.

According to the PBS series on Truman, Bess' mother would sit in the White House and say, "Well you think you're really somethin' don't you, because you're the president of the United States, but you ain't nothing, you are nothing to me".

(Paraphrased).

That's cold.