Repeal of DADT: Is it ironic, or is it me?

[PhillySane]

That gay marriage is still not recognized by the federal government, but now you'll be allowed to openly die for your country if you are gay. If you recall, during Viet-Nam we had the 26th Amendment which lowered the minimum voting age to 18 (since everyone being drafted to fight this war back then was 18-20). Should this not pave the way for another amendment guaranteeing equal rights across the board for gay people? Thoughts?

[cali]

1. you can die for your country and not be able to legally purchase alcohol

Look, I strongly support marriage equality, but I don't see this spurring an amendment to the Constitution.

[glowing]

17. I really don't think you can equate the legal drinking age with civil rights of our citizens.

Its really just not the same at all. And the only reason the states go along with the 21 age limit is because of the federal funding for transit (road building). And many who are under age do actually drink even though the legal age is 21 (I know I certainly had more than a few drinks before reaching the actual legal age), however, its not exactly like gay people can marry and enjoy the full benefits of married heterosexual persons on a federal level; no matter what individual states have passed on their own accord.

On a side note: In the United States we enjoy a separation of church and state. The state and federal govt only recognize the contract that two adults have entered into together. The contract allows them certain rights for married persons; protections of assets, tax assessments, and legal protections for their minor children. In religion, it is the union that is recognized a holy agreement before a god or gods to be as one and to be a family. The two are completely separate, but use the same title "marriage". Perhaps the govt should change its documentation to reflect a legally binding commitment of two persons to join assets and legal protections... and leave "marriage" to the church. When you separate the two ideas, more people accept the idea of equality of "marriage" for hetero/ homosexuals. Its only when the fundies and the RepubliCONS are running for election that they slur and blur the lines between church and state. They lie. And they cause mob mentality confusion. If we were to actually address our corporate media, large corporations, the wealthy 2%, education, and corrupt politicians... we would have been the leaders on GLBT serving in our military, GLBT marriage, and a whole host of other issues that the "freest nation on earth" should be leading the pathway as an example for the rest of the world. As far as I can tell, we are knuckle-dragging ourselves through the history books. Our children and grandchildren will be embarrassed for us much like we are of our forefathers who owned slaves or turned hoses on small children peacefully marching for equality.

[PhillySane]

20. Lets not also forget that women have struggled

for their equality as well. And continue to.

[dkf]

2. Its coming...

[SharonAnn]

3. It's a first step. But it's a HUGE first step.

[GoCubsGo]

16. Yep. The military was integrated before the rest of the country.

I suspect this will work out the same way.

[Tx4obama]

4. My thought is that today is a day to celebrate our win. n/t

[emulatorloo]

5. How many ways can DU think of to minimize the repeal of DADT?

This has been a top priority for DU for a long time now. I'd like to be given a moment or two to feel good that it is about to happen.

Marriage Equality is coming.

[PhillySane]

6. I'm hoping to maximize it

[leftstreet]

7. Why ANY citizen should be cannon fodder for the Capitalists is beyond me

Does that 'minimize' the repeal of DADT?

Hardly

Apples, oranges

[emulatorloo]

14. So now it is Obama's secret plot to lure gays into the military?

LOL

(although I do get your point)

[NorthCarolina]

8. The connection you made is the precise reason fundies were so against a DADT repeal. nt

[Swede]

9. Progress is the root word of Progressive.

prog·ress (prgrs, -rs, prgrs)
n.
1. Movement, as toward a goal; advance.
2. Development or growth: students who show progress.
3. Steady improvement, as of a society or civilization: a believer in human progress. See Synonyms at development.

[bigmonkey]

10. You could leave a little space for "Hooray"

But, since complaining is the driver of human progress, it must go on.

[PhillySane]

12. Not complaining

Just striving for equality

[MineralMan]

11. Step-by-step. This was an important step.

Please don't minimize it by pointing at steps that still need taking right now. Wait a day or two, then you can resume your campaign.

[MrScorpio]

13. One victory at a time

As confident as I was of DADT's demise, I and equally confident that full marriage equality will eventually become law of the land.

Your valid argument is one of the ways that is can be achieved.

[davidwparker]

15. You can only eat the elephant one bite at a time. n/t

[Ozymanithrax]

18. Take one battle at a time.

I would say it is sad that both have not been changed one rather than ironic.

An irony is used to convey the opposite of its literal meaning.

[PhillySane]

19. What I mean is

You have the right to die in unjust wars, but not to get married. Or before that, not to vote. Or before that, not to ride at the front of the bus. It's always the first right you get in this country.

[quaker bill]

21. As you describe it

it sounds less ironic and more "normal".

[PhillySane]

23. So

no one finds that ironic? Your first right is the right to die? Everything else comes later?
I'm beginning to find this discussion ironic.

[Codeine]

22. Good, then the first step has been taken.

The haters grow older every day.

[TheKentuckian]

24. It will lead there. Now that gay troops aren't forced to pretend they are something

they aren't more pressure on the fulcrum can be applied.

Now it can be out in the open that these fine citizens are putting their lives on the line for a country who denies their rights and the pressure to grant full status will grow by the year.

The opposition made this the hill to die on because they know good and well that it will undo their fucked up bigotry as policy.