And now for the bad news...

[derby378]

GLBT military personnel still have to wait until September 20, 2011 for Don't Ask, Don't Tell to be repealed. That means two months for them to be targeted for harassment before the Secretary of Defense officially proclaims, "Oopsie! You actually have Constitutional rights after all."

Can someone explain to me how this is in any way a victory?

[Saokymo]

1. Because there's an actual date set

Instead of just "when we get around to it; be patient."

[derby378]

2. That's exactly how it sounds

When the Civil Rights Act was signed into law, were blacks told to "be patient" and "wait their turn" just to be able to vote?

If not, why should gays and lesbians in uniform?

And if so, why on Earth do we want to repeat the mistakes of the past?

[Taverner]

3. At least there is a date

As in, if they still practice DADT after that date, we can ream them for it

Of course, I could see everyone getting in their last "report a gay" licks before that date...

[Zen Democrat]

4. Well, they had to wait until the next election to vote.

And this is a 60-day wait mandated by the wishes of Sen. Byrd and was contingent on his vote. A small price, my friend. It's like waiting 60 days for your birthday. It's coming.

[patrice]

5. That, as I understand it from Rachel M., is Senator Robert Byrd's legacy to the effort.

Sorry!

Byrd was a great Constitutional defender, but a known bigot, who, for reasons of his own, did not leave the Democratic Party, along with Strom Thurmond and some others when the Civil Rights movement in the South made them uncomfortable.

[Saokymo]

6. The last desperate grasp of bigots and hatemongers

Who cares that we just overcame centuries of systematic oppression? It's been delayed for 60 days, so clearly all our efforts have been for naught. :sarcasm:

[derby378]

7. It's simple - either you have rights, or you don't

I thought the time for equivocation was over.

I'm just speaking in terms of the Constitution being the supreme law of the land and all that.

[Saokymo]

9. Yes, it is shameful that it can't be enacted overnight

Because the bigots can't let it go without one last parting shot.

Unfortunately, that is the current political environment that we must work with. Posting meaningless grudgewank online does nothing to change that situation. Don't like it? Get out the vote for progressive candidates so this sort of thing doesn't have to happen in the future.

[polmaven]

10. "been delayed"

is not exactly true. The 60 day wait was written into the bill when it was passed in December. It is not something new that just came up now.

[patrice]

12. No, really it IS kind of like someone crapping on your porch, because they can get away with it.

[derby378]

8. I hear you

It's just shameful that our government has been reduced to this. At least there is a date, though.

[patrice]

11. I completely agree. I, for one, cannot believe we are debating LGBT CIVIL RIGHTS! I'm astounded.

Either I have been quite wrong about this country for a long time, or it has changed significantly rather recently. I always though I sort of paid good attention and that I'm a responsible independent voter, but . . . ?

Hell! I don't know what's going on anymore! :wtf:

Really, that waiting period seems such a very small, petty, and vindictive thing to do, like someone pissing on your tires.

It's embarrassing.

[patrice]

13. Sorry about the scatalogical references, all! They seem appropriate to this kind of behavior. nt

[Saokymo]

14. Nothing wrong about calling a turd a turd

Even one attached to one of the most important civil rights issues of our day

[patrice]

15. The petty things really can be quite painful, especially when they're part of something so

personally significant.

I've been there, when I was younger, over other stuff, but I remember.