by Howard J. Ross, Chief Learning Officer
There are times when history takes simple acts of decency and pragmatism and, because of the context in which they happen, frames them as courageous and momentous. Such was the case when slavery was finally outlawed. Such was the case when civil rights were finally legally granted in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is times like before those events that we often look back at from the future and say, “What, on Earth, were we thinking?” This afternoon we passed another such moment when the United States Congress finally passed a bill repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
The rationale for overturning this disastrous policy is obvious. Aside from the clear moral inconsistency of asking men and women to fight and die for our country but not be able to be honest about whom they are, and of asking them to overtly lie while also taking an oath of honesty and integrity, the policy has been terribly unpractical.
As a result of it, the military has lost more than 14,000 soldiers, pilots, medics, translators, engineers, scientists, etc. at a time when we desperately need qualified, committed people in the military. Repealing this law was just logical. And freedom and equality, despite John McCain’s demagoguery, is not a “liberal issue.” But, of course, this law never had anything to do with logic. It was about fear and hate. That’s what inspires people to ignore data, ignore military leaders’ recommendations, and to lead a filibuster against the entire military funding bill rather than to grant basic rights to “those people.”
And, lest we rest too easily, we were reminded of that same kind of thinking when, on the same afternoon, the Senate refused to pass the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (the DREAM Act) which would have provided the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency to some deportable students who arrived in the U.S. without documentation as minors but have been in the country continuously and are of “good moral character,” if they complete two years in the military or two years at a four year institution of higher learning.
In other words, because this bill was filibustered, a baby brought here by his or her parents, who has grown up here, went to school, pledged allegiance to the flag every day, has been a good citizen, a good student, and a good neighbor, can still be deported, even though he or she has never known another home.
We still have a long way to go. The DADT law still needs to be signed by the President and enforced throughout the military. Remember, it took years before the Brown vs. The Topeka Board of Education ruling actually became operable throughout the United States.
But for tonight let’s celebrate one more step in the right direction. Let’s lift a glass in appreciation and gratitude to the legislators who refused to quit, and, to activists like my friends at the Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG and others who have relentlessly pursued the American Dream for ALL people.
Most of all, let's salute all of the soldiers who have been so deeply patriotic and committed to their country and our safety and freedom that they have continued to serve in the face of overt, legalized bigotry. And then tomorrow, how about a conversation about Marriage Equality?
