....

[madfloridian]

...

[madfloridian]

1. His military superiors would not allow him to wear his uniform today..

in spite of what Politico wrote.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0609/Gay_Lt_Col_to_be_in_uniform_at_WH_ceremony_today.html

"A reader writes in ahead of today's White House event commemorating Stonewall:

One of latest DADT discharges, Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, will be attending the reception today at 3:30 at WH. President and Mrs. Obama scheduled to attend. Victor will be in uniform (with his eight medals, one for heroism). He's been in 18 yrs, about to lose retirement and career under "don't ask, don't tell." Wonder what President would say re DADT if they meet this afternoon. Surely Obama would meet the (likely) only uniform person in the room."

He talked with the president, but could not be in uniform.

[Clio the Leo]

2. Gracious he was........

..... perhaps even more gracious than I would have been. Had i been in his position, I might have not even gone (esp. after the BS over not being allowed to wear his uniform.)

You do realize that before the Civil Rights bills were passed, folks went to prison? Some weren't even that lucky.

And yet they kept singing. That always amazed me.

Battles fought and won are rarely clean and tidy. And they're never easy.

Something to consider.

[madfloridian]

4. ....

...

[Hutzpa]

7. It's the Microwave crowd

right here, right now...... 60secs and its cooked.

[DURHAM D]

3. And to add to the story I would like to post a link to the NY Times article about the meeting...

One problem - I can't find that they covered it.

They have a lot of other stories from today up on online but this one they did not bother with.

Thanks for your comments and you are right to ask "Why the applause?"

[madfloridian]

5. Well, it is easy to see the lay of the land in this GDP forum tonight.

I guess I should have read all the glowing reports about the meeting first before I bothered to post my feelings.

This man and others are losing their jobs. They applauded the man who had promised to help them and isn't.

[OhioBlue]

6. I felt sad for him too.

You know, your post made me really reflect on some things.

Your post made me think about the struggles through time to make our Country a more perfect Union. The countless members of the military that answered their call to service, the suffragists who were jailed and beaten, the civil rights movement and MLK saying "I might not get there with you..." and all the civil rights activists who risked jail and death to protest, to register voters, to exercise their rights, etc., the laborers who fought with their lives for the right to unionize, etc.

Through time, groups have fought for what is right, risking their livelihoods and even their lives, knowing that they might never see the fruits of their efforts. They did it for us, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren (not necessarily in the literal sense) so that we might enjoy a more perfect Union, a more perfect World.

I admire the Lt. Col. He said he believes the President, and agrees that there are generational issues. He said the enlisted men under him don't have a problem - it is a non-issue for them; the problem is more with the higher-ups. I will write a letter to my Congressman about DADT. I wish tho that the younger generation that is in the military that doesn't see one's sexual orientation as an issue could organize a protest. I know is isn't gonna happen in a military setting... I'm just thinking that a letter from me won't matter. Pressure from enlisted men and women to repeal a stupid policy might matter tho.

Also - when I think about the generations of sacrafice... I think about how freakin' silly it is that the Right Wing is trying to scare Americans with higher electricity bills in an effort to thwart climate change legislation. For crying out loud... my grandfather fought in WWII, my great-grandfather was killed by an anti-union nut. I'm cool with the price of electricity going up for the sake of saving our planet for our children. I'm not cool with higher energy costs just for the sake of giving shareholders a bigger return. But trying to make a better world for my children and grandchildren.. it is a small price to pay considering.

[masuki bance]

8. tl/dr

nt

[roguevalley]

9. no excuse not to help. none.