For haruka3_2000, who is appearing in court tomorrow

[swag]

following her April 25 arrest for protesting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" at West Point.

Many thanks to haruka for standing up to this retrograde and bigoted policy which damages our national security at every turn.

Here's a Portland wave to you from Pride Parade Grand Marshal, Colonel Grethe Cammermeyer:



Col. Cammermeyer, a bronze star winner, made history in 1991 when she challenged the US military due to her expulsion because she was a lesbian. Her story, Serving in Silence, was one of the first television movies to center around a gay character.

As a military nurse and immigrant from Norway, Grethe has faced many challenges in her life. She joined the United States Army to serve the country that she loved so dearly, the country that turned her away once it found out that she was a dyke.

During a routine interview for a top-secret military clearance on April 28, 1989, Cammermeyer was asked a question about homosexuality. As a Vietnam veteran, recipient of the Bronze Star and V.A. Nurse of the Year, Cammermeyer believed that her unblemished career could save her.

Describing the experience in her book, "Serving In Silence," she stated, "Curiously, I don't remember the exact wording, though the question would change my life. I really had no idea that day in 1989 what the consequences of my honesty could possibly be." Feeling as if she had no control over the situation, she did the only thing she thought she could. She told the truth.

According to Cammermeyer, she believed that the Constitution that she had sworn to defend as a soldier and a nurse would protect her in return, because she had served it for 23 years with all the heart and dedication she had in her.

[ThomCat]

1. I hope it goes well.

Fingers crossed, and all the superstitious nonsense. :)

[swag]

2. How is it going for you this week?

Less pain, I certainly do hope.

[ThomCat]

3. Last week was good.

This week, not so good. I fell on Sunday so I've been dealing with that for a few days. :(

I missed the pride march. x(

[swag]

6. Ah, shit.

I hope you feel better soon, man.

[ThomCat]

7. You're awesome.

:hug:

[swimboy]

14. I'm sorry to hear that.

I wish much better for you. :hug:

[ThomCat]

21. Thank you.

:hug:

I'm more upset about missing the march than I am about the fall. I was looking forward to leering at Hotties. :P

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

9. Thanks. I'm sure it will turn out fine.

Soulforce will pay any fines and it's unlikely the judge will actually sentence us to the jail time. Anyway, we have a good lawyer. I think it's the same one Martin Sheen used.

[ThomCat]

12. Good! But tell us how it goes anyway

so that we don't sit around worrying. (waves finger in your direction like my Jewish Grandmother.) :)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

18. You can't guilt me. My mom's neurotic and CATHOLIC (all-caps).

I'm immune to finger waving. Anyway, I'll let you guys know. I may actually not have much internet for a few days, but if it doesn't look like I'm getting online, I'll give you a call and let you know what happens.

[swimboy]

13. Best of luck! and sincere thanks!

:thumbsup:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

19. Thank you! Don't worry about it man, anytime.

:thumbsup:

[ghostsofgiants]

4. Hopefully it goes well...

It's a really shitty circumstance for her to be in, just for protesting a really shitty policy.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

11. Thank you.

I'll be there with 21 other arrestees. We have a very good lawyer and the organization is paying any fines I'm given. I find the whole thing rather exciting, but I've never been one to worry about authority. Hell, I had my HS principal living in fear of me...I basically spent half of my HS career waging psychological warfare on him. Poor thing didn't have a chance. He retired a year after I left.

[LaraMN]

5. Hugs to you, honey.

You kick ass!:hug:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

15. Thank you! And yes, I do kick ass.

:hug:

Here's an old picture of me with the other higher black belts in my dojo (except for the guy on my left...he's a crazy ex-Marine karate master) I'm not a fan of the picture, because I'm "fat" in it, but it is indeed an ass-kicker shot.

[asthmaticeog]

8. Best of luck to you, haruka3_2000.

I hope you can navigate the system to your favor.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

17. Thanks! Don't worry, I'm a master at navigating the system solo.

Now I actually have a hot shot lawyer and a whole organization to help me. My fines will be taken care of and it's unlikely we'll be given jail time.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

10. Thanks Swag!

I'm not too worried about it. I find it kind of exciting. It's my first arrest for a good thing.

I'm still annoyed though that in my only mug shot (not from this arrest), I had hat hair. I'm not sure if I'll ever get over that. The cop also didn't find it funny when I asked if I could get a copy of my mug shot. Apparently, that's a weird question.

[swag]

16. I keep looking for your mugshot on thesmokinggun.com

I feel ripped off every time I click and it's not there.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

20. Well, I don't think I've done anything smokinggun.com worthy.

At least nothing that I've been caught for.

[swag]

22. Well, keep workin' on it then.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

23. I probably have a secret government file though.

[SteppingRazor]

24. Good luck, Haruka3_2000. The worst is already over...

The court appearance ain't nuthin' compared to the whole getting arrested bit -- at least, in my experience.

To quote some guy we both know "Don't take any guff from those swine!"

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

25. Actually, the MPs were quite nice to us.

It was a lot easier than getting cuffed & searched for two unpaid parking tickets.

[Reverend_Smitty]

26. Good luck tomorrow...

:applause: for civil disobedience!

[El Fuego]

27. Good luck!

Thanks for being so brave. Hope it doesn't stress you out.

:hi:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

29. Thanks! I don't stress about stuff like this.

I don't have *ahem* the cleanest record...

[El Fuego]

34. Well, I guess that's GOOD thing then!

;)

[HEyHEY]

28. Should you need to flee the country

Let me know, we can set you up here. :)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

30. Can I just flee there anyway?

[HEyHEY]

31. Well, it is a Liberal paradise

But really, fleeing is no fun when the law ain't after ya.

[BlueIris]

32. Good luck!

[ismnotwasm]

33. Much luck to you dear.

I hope all goes well.
And thank you from the bottom of my heart.