Friday, October 22, 2010
President Obama: It Gets Better
Let’s get this straight: NEVER before has a President of the United States stood up for GLBT youth. Whatever some may think of this president and what he has or has not done for gay people, let us not lose sight of the fact that this is the first president in American history who has dared to tell GLBT youth that they’re a part of America and that, in fact, it gets better.
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6 comments:
He demanded a stay on lifting DADT because, as far as I can tell, he didn't want the Log Cabin Republicans getting it done before he could.
It was an asshole move, and I feel was a way to cover his butt... which he had been dragging on the issue.
This doesn't make up for that. At least to me. It's about as impressive/helpful as Bill Clinton mentioning gays. I'll be more impressed when he actually does what he says he would do... and doesn't stand in the way of it.
I don't necessarily disagree with you. But I still say that to some vulnerable kid in Podunk, USA, who has no idea what DADT is, THIS could be a big deal. I can fight him on the other stuff another day, any day, but today I just want to save a young GLBT life.
See, the problem with Obama (and Clinton, BTW) is that as President, they're all nuance. I DO get what he's trying to do. He DOES oppose DADT, has said so several times, and his administration's legal defense of it is a stall tactic until that report from DoD that will (I hope) say that there's no problem allowing gays in the military, so the decision comes FROM the military.
I suppose what a lot of people would have preferred - and I suppose I'm among them - is what Truman did in racially integrating the military, DESPITE the resistance of the military. He's the Commander-in-Chief, dammit; the military is SUPPOSED to ber in civilian control and not kowtowing to the military brass. He seems wimpy by comparison. And a LGBT youth seeing what appears to be the President speaking from both sides of the issue MIGHT be pretty confusing.
A part of me agrees that it's awesome he did a PSA.
A larger part of me says "This man has the power to actually Make It Better... but he's dicking around"
For what it's worth, one of the easiest ways to get out of Podunk USA and make your life (and teeth, and body, and mind) better is to join a branch of the US Military. And the gay folks who did just that most likely got to figure out what DADT was in the worst way possible.
Arthur - It's not unlike what you said about male/female fiscal equality.
Congrats on the video, Mr. President; now do BETTER!
epilonious: I agree with you about DADT. I think the appeal is appalling, and the administration made a mistake.
The symbolism of the PSA, however, is another matter entirely, and that's really what I was saying.
Roger: Yes, that's it exactly. I'll always give folks credit when they do the right thing (even conservatives, as I've already done), but that never absolves them from responsibility to always do better.
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