Political Punch

Now this is just sad....I guess "Don't Ask Don't Tell" has been extended to soldiers even after death. He was a hero...and he was gay. I think it should be OK to say it right out loud.

The truth is that gays do not have the civil rights of any other minority. And doors are closing rather than opening. I hope our next president is brave. Too long we have accepted the regressive laws and limits on our sons and daughters....

If people within the military accepted his service and sacrifice, then they should be able to accept him as a whole person.

I don't like the idea that being gay means he or his loved ones who are mourning him are pushing an agenda. Accept the man. Accept the sacrifice. Accept who the man was as he was.

I don't like the don't ask, don't tell policy especially if it pushed more service people out of the military because they wanted to serve and be who they are.

Why don't we follow Israel's example on this issue?

One of the reasons that gays are so adamant about marriage or civil unions with the same rights as marriage bestows, is that too often families ignore the wishes of their gay son/daughter -- often ignoring the existence of the partner or the right of that person to participate in funeral services and decisions such as how the deceased is recognized.

It is unfortunate that family acts this way, but this is certainly not the only issue that causes family division. A clear reason to have a will or other documents clearly stating how you want things done upon your death!!!

America's homophobia is a disgrace to a Western democracy that cares about equality and human rights.

Many of the greatest figures in the history of Western civilization were gay, I only mention Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and William Shakespeare.

So what is still the problem with being gay?

Or, Geevil, about as reliable as a Clinton recounting of her years as "First Lady"!!!

Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!!

Geevil

It is not what his family wanted that people are arguing about...the man was an officer on a political organization for gay soldiers to serve outwardly...

what do you think he would have wanted?

that is the discussion. The problem is family doesn't have to be forced through the coming out process...so many times it is hard for them to understand what it is to accept being gay as a piece of the puzzle...
Being gay is a big part of what made him who he was...that struggle in anyone's definition is something that is a big piece of his ...who he is... not the bring gay part...but the people who have gone through that struggle should be honored as such.

It is the families choice... but more times than not the family does not understand how that piece made him a double hero...and not something to be viewed so negative that that is ALL he'll be viewed as. It's like a young woman soldier dying and they don't mention she is a woman.

I think there are people who have similarities to an experience that may understand that experience better than even the people who loved him who didn't see it from the inside of the struggle...and are trying to protect their loved one from ...the actions of others who are in all actuality the actions that they themselves are taking.

It is not always "their" agenda in saying "why remove a fact from his bio?" They feel like they might know something (and they do) about his experience because it is similar to their own. It is saying there is nothing wrong with any piece of him.

dl, you don't know what that man wanted on his obit. If his family wanted his orientation in there they would of put it there.

Geevil enough...this isn't even about the election...

..and you don't need to trash wikipedia that is again not the issue...

the issue is about whether truth should be truth...and what this soldier's life meant...

...and to be honest I think it is the "fight" that takes away from his memory... and the covering up of part of him that makes his life more about being gay...
but it is all out of fear by his own family and friends I think...understandably but he was who he was and changing that or covering a piece of that just draws more importance to that one piece...

in my measly opinion.

his Wikipedia entry?

Do you know what Wikipedia is? It is about as reliable as an Obama promise.