I have to share this-Homosexual views about going to war

[Strathos]

I read a local forum here in Nashville, TN and am constantly arguing with rethugnicans. One brought up the idea of going to war for your country and I said I would not give my life for this country. I said I would gladly give my life for someone I loved or even someone that I was trying to save, but not for a "country". Well, I was attacked and told I should live in this country. Here's my response, that I'm pretty proud of. The guys I'm addressing are the ones who told me to leave America.




Bryant and Slate,

I don't enjoy the same rights that most of you do, I can't legally unite with my partner. I can be fired in some states just for being gay, I get told constantly, and most of the time by you and others who are SO proud to be "American", that I am not equal and I am wrong and that I am less than you because you are heterosexual.

Do you really think I'd want to fight for that?

Inclusion is a road with many lanes and if you think for one second I'm going to be thought of as a lesser human being because of who I love and then turn around and suddenly be filled with pride for this America that doesn't take care for it's own before going off to other countries to take care of them, you are SADLY mistaken!

If you want to put your life on the line for this country, why aren't you over in Iraq fighting?

Being American is being able to disagree with any and everything you want to disagree with and THAT'S why I love this country and I do love it, but from the posts people like you leave on these forums you say this country doesn't love me, you say that a majority doesn't want me to be happy, that a "majority" thinks I choose to be gay and they'd rather have me in a closet somewhere than out in the open.

Yeah, I want to fight for that.

Give me something to fight for. Make me proud to be in America and accepted by Americans.

It's not my fault I don't want to fight for this country, it's yours!

[orwell]

1. Well Said...

...and unassailably accurate. Good job.

[Ian David]

2. The real reason they don't want gays in the military...

is because they don't want gay people knowing how to arm and defend themselves.




Pink Pistols
We are dedicated to the legal, safe, and responsible use of firearms for self-defense of the sexual-minority community. We no longer believe it is the right of those who hate and fear gay, lesbian, bi, trans, or polyamorous persons to use us as targets for their rage. Self-defense is our RIGHT.
http://www.pinkpistols.org




See also:

Groups arming the left-wing:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2326260#2326379

[Strathos]

3. Thank you both

AND, I am now a member of "Pink Pistols". That's a cool idea.

[im10ashus]

4. I'm gay.

AND I served in the Army. My only regret NOW is I didn't come out sooner. Like, in the middle of my service. I am also an expert marksman now. :-) Let 'em fuck with me.

[RagingInMiami]

5. The Ft. Lauderdale Police Department

is actively seeking gay police recruits. I'm not gay but I believe that is definitely a sign of progress.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-cp18gaycopdec18,0,983393.story?track=mostemailedlink

Even more progressive is the fact that nobody down here cares. Nobody has an issue about it. No protests. No letters to the editor.

Imagine the reaction you would get in other communities.

[im10ashus]

8. WOW!

That's GREAT! Other communities would hold public lynchings. I know major cities it wouldn't be a problem.

[RagingInMiami]

9. Of course, the cynical side of me knows

That the reasons are purely economical. Fort Lauderdale is home to thousands of gays and lesbians and they actively promote this in their tourism guides. They know gay people have money to spend.

[im10ashus]

11. They're not fools.

It's amazing how we can be so marginalized when we would be an economic boon to any community. Most of us have no children, are educated and have exclusive taste in a lot of things cultural. I think Ford is a recent example. They weren't going to advertise in gay publications and then they were.

[RagingInMiami]

12. That was stupid

It's not the Christian families who are buying Jaguars. It's the people with disposable income. But in all honestly, I don't know who would buy from Ford anyway.

I'm a Honda man, myself.

Down here in Miami, where I was born and raised, we had Anita Bryant in the seventies with her anti-gay rhetoric. But then city officials got smart and realized the economic potential.

South Beach became an international success because they welcomed the gay community.

[im10ashus]

13. You'd think the fundies would have learned from the Bryant thing

She was so perverse in her persecution of gays that it totally backfired. Now she's doing "shows" in Branson, Missouri. Serves her right.

[RagingInMiami]

14. Good riddance

I've always wondered what had happened to her. I was just a kid when all that was going on but I remember my parents disagreeing with her. And that's the fact that my dad was a republican.

[ismnotwasm]

6. My daughter says

There are plenty of gays in the military. (She's army) She's see's more gay women than men, probably because of some that ol' generalized homophobia men (You know how it is--If you're a straight man, why, that MUST make you automatically desirable to a gay man) have, and the unspoken attitude that if a woman is tough and strong and assertive,etc, why, then she MUST be a lesbian.

It's all bullshit. I just want to live to see the day when sexual orientation isn't a barrier to ANYTHING that straight folks take for granted. The whole thing pisses me off.

In Kandahar, where she was stationed, she said there were many men who dressed as women, and practiced homosexual sex. They didn't consider themselves homosexual, American style, it was "Women are for children and Men are for pleasure" (These men were one of the targets of the Taliban. I have no idea how they managed to survive) Always wondered how some of those homophobic good ol' boys in the armed forces handled THAT on the little trips to town.

And by the way, thank you for your service.

[im10ashus]

7. You are most welcome.

It was an honor.

I don't understand the blatant homophobia in or out of the military. To me, they (homophobics) are just not secure enough in their heterosexuality to deal with a gay man, because they might "cave" to their primal instincts. I was comfortable enough in my "homo-sensuality" to not feel threatened by them, why can't they give me the same respect? :-)

Most of the men I met there I wouldn't even want as a sexual partner anyway. It's an issue that's more prevalent in our own country than elsewhere. My European and South American straight male friends wouldn't think twice about serving next to me or even kissing my on the cheek when we greet.

I hope your daughter is doing well. I have a nephew in Iraq for his second tour there, and I know my sister loses a lot of sleep these days. I was fortunate in that I never had to see combat. I salute those that are there now.

:hug:

[donheld]

10. Very good

Thanks for posting that rant.