Two important events in Barack Obama's presidency this weekend underline the urgent need to walk the talk about equality for all. First was the surprise award of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for President Obama's transformational vision of a world free of nuclear weapons where all are called to address global challenges. Second was the president's eloquent speech to the Human Rights Campaign where he extolled equality for all regardless of sexual orientation. The key word in both discussions is ALL -- the universality of the humanity we all share, the challenges we all face, the commitment we all have to each other, and the call to action we all hear to live up to our ideals. In that spirit, I believe President Obama should accept his 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of ALL America's Military Families -- including our LBGT patriots -- and seize the moment to allow all Americans to serve as peacekeepers.
In President Obama's powerful speech to the Human Rights Campaign about equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, he said, "I am working with the Pentagon, its leadership and members of the House and Senate to end this policy. I will end Don't Ask Don't Tell. That is my commitment to you." Excellent. Now how about a timeline? As we continue to fight two wars, do we have so many active duty troops, intelligence officials, interpreters, engineers, and other military personnel that we can afford to lose the skills and service of gay Americans? I think not. With only 3% of Americans on active duty fighting two wars and engaged in peacekeeping efforts across the globe, we should be motivating more military service -- not less. If LBGT patriots are ready, willing, and able to help defend America, fight al Qaeda, and promote peace,why not let them do so?
As the Center for American Progress points out "Congress, in the Authority of the President to Suspend Certain Laws Relating to Promotion, Retirement, and Separation—10 U.S.C. § 12305—grants the president authority to suspend the separation of military members during any period of national emergency in which members of a reserve component are serving involuntarily on active duty." Thus, by early December, President Obama will have ample time to review troop needs for America's commitments around the globe, reflect on Pentagon recommendations, and rescind further military separations based upon Don't Ask Don't Tell.
Just as President Truman transformed military policy with a stroke of a pen in July 1948 by ordering the desegregation of the U.S. armed forces, President Obama can advance American security and equality in December 2009 by signing an executive order rescinding further military separations based upon Don't Ask, Don't Tell and working with Congress to complete the repeal. There is no time like the present, and no better occasion than Oslo, to show the world that all Americans join in our responsibility to peace and freedom.
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also, americans, why don't you show some RESPECT for your senior wealthier betters in norway and copenhagen? the boorishness with which the rio olympic decision was greeted in america was a new low in ungraciousness. after the groaning and refusal to even begrudgingly congratulate rio, i was delighted chicago got shut out. the american sour grapes completely validated the decision.
now right wing militarists in both parties want to insinuate the army into the nobel proceedings. this would complete the insult to the norwegian parliament begun by the bad grace with which americans received the peace prize news. americans who cannot accept a new relationship with europe lest the army be neglected don't really have any clear sense of peace as a value- let alone the peace prize.
Please think for a second how accepting the peace prize on behalf of our military would sound to the world. I'm not saying that the military makes no contribution to global stability, but one of the wars we are fighting was an unprovoked illegal war to force "democracy" on another nation. Powerful nations, including the US, have often invaded for the sake of "peace." The attitude that we can manipulate world politics through military force is exactly what people around the world have hated us for. They granted this award to Obama VERY EXPLICITLY for his shift from the emphasis on using our military to solve the world's problems, to using diplomacy. Your suggestion, no matter how nuanced the speech, would be seen as an insult to the Nobel committee, an aggressive gesture to the wold, and would undo all the goodwill Obama has earned.
I want DADT repealed, too, but it has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the Nobel prize.
For Obama to suspend Military Separations, a state of National Emergency must exist. This begs the question of who has the authority to declare such an emergency? President Truman ended segregation in the military by an executive order that changed a military policy, not a law! DADT is a law enacted by Congress and can only be changed by an act of Congress and this process would be directed by Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid.
The only way we can show the world that all Americans join in our responsibility to peace and freedom would be to withdraw from Iraq, declare a cease-fire in Afghanistan and negotiate a withdrawl.
Obama can't solve all the problems himself. This one is on congress.
Personally I think it is about time for everyone to just stop trying to force their private agenda's on President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize and just allow the man to accept for the accomplishments that merited the award in the eye's of the Nobel Committee...
Who really cares how it gets down when you are the one living in fear of losing your military job? Your civilian job? or, being denied access to health care or tax credits? I feel horrible for those Gay Americans who live everyday of an already stress filled American life with these added inequities, fears and concerns.
I think this speech would be a good time for Obama to announce a change of policy in DADT. It sounds wacky, but if he explains that while this restriction has been always been US policy, that as the country has evolved, and in keeping with the equality we are always telling others that we strive to defend, the policy will change. Before, it seemed like the only logical policy to those in charge. But after listening to the views of many different factions, and not just the long-time leaders, it was decided to CHANGE.
The world is not seeking to overpower countries that find themselves at odds with the world majority. Rather, the world seeks to understand, to discuss, and find solutions that will satisfy the people of such countries, and their leaders while lessening the tensions felt by other nations. Not because one country is wrong and another is not, but that solutions, not confrontation has to always be the ultimate goal.
Obama has signaled that the US wants to negotiate and collaborate with the rest of the world on issues that affect us all (and really, which issues don't affect the entire world, from economic policy to why we keep sending junk up into the heavens). But while we seek peace, we realize that there is an element of force that must be available to convince countries that won't get with the program that the world cannot tolerate governmental actions that threaten us all.
Even in the world's warning of sanctions against Iran, or Israel, or even us, there must be logic and evidence why this action is contemplated, and what alternatives are available to the country at odds with the global community to extracate themselves from the problem situation.