Bravery

“0 hours”, the translation read. “Tomorrow it happens.” Such is the rough translation of an Arab transcript that was received on September 10, 2001. It was not, however, translated until September 12, 2001. Why? Because the U.S. government simply does not have enough Arab translators. Could this little snippet of information have made a difference if it had been translated earlier? 

 

I learned this little piece of important trivia yesterday evening while attending a lecture given by Lt. Dan Choi. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this name, Lt. Choi is in the center of a huge military controversy involving the current policy of “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell.” A native of Orange County and a graduate of West Point, Lt. Choi is an outstanding soldier with over a decade of combat related experience. He has been stationed in the “triangle of death” just south of Bagdad. His specialty – Arabic language translation. The controversy? Why, he’s gay, of course. And instead of bowing to the pressure of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” he decided to speak up. And in a time of war, and in a time when the army simply does not have enough expertise, the U.S. military – OUR military, is working towards discharging Lt. Choi – a man whose expertise and contribution is desperately DESPERATELY needed.

 

Gay, straight, or anywhere else on the Kinsey scale, DOESN’T THIS JUST MAKE YOU FURIOUS?!!!!! People are dying. Communication and understanding is critical in a time of conflict. And yet, our military is following an out-of-date policy that places sexual orientation above what is best for the COUNTRY. The man is a brilliant linguist, and is fluent in several languages. Who cares what his orientation, religion, race, color, creed, let the man do his job! I cried several times through his lecture. Lt. Choi has put his life on the line, quite literally, several times. And for what? For a country that doesn’t support his right to freedom and equality. Is this fair? Is this right? IT JUST MAKES ME SO DAMNED MAD!!!!!

 

Gay Rights are the newest civil rights movement. And in so many places in the country, people are not willing to even consider such things. No more waiting. Not next year – not next week – not even tomorrow. I want equality for all people – TODAY! Across the country, people should all have the same freedom to marry the one that they love – PERIOD. In the military, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” needs to be struck down - TODAY. And unlike the marriage issue, President Obama DOES have the power to strike down don’t ask, don’t tell. He had SAID before he took office that he would do it. We’re waiting, Mr. President. We’re waiting……………… 

 

Why are we still waiting?

 

As a beautiful aside to the very powerful and moving lecture, I learned of Lt. Choi’s interesting tie to another local gay-rights controversy. Recently, a high school in San Clemente decided to put on a theatrical production of the play, “Rent”. Whether you like the play, hate it, or stand somewhere in between, a high school theater troop worked to put on a production of a broadway play. What’s the big deal?! Ignorant idiots decided to turn it into a big deal. Because the play has gay characters and addresses the outbreak of HIV in New York in the 80’s, some deem it unacceptable. The cast and department received criticism and complaints, with little to no support from the school system itself. And eventually, even that fuktard Fred Phelps and his cult-members-of-hatred flew out from Kansas to protest the production. Lt. Dan Choi, who happened to be here in Orange County while awaiting the processing of his discharge, went to the school to support the cast and crew. Standing up for what he believes in got him into this situation. And bravely, he went to support the brave students who received taunts and threats if they went on with the production, which they did.

 

In a return of the favor, the cast came to his lecture yesterday to surprise him with a performance of one of the songs from the play. It had to have been one of the most moving expressions of gratitude I have seen in ages. The head of the drama department of the school then read a letter. Through tears, he read the letter addressed to President Obama, calling for him to enact a stop-loss measure to revoke don’t-ask-don’t-tell, which will allow Lt. Choi to continue to serve his country, using his expertise to help save lives. Signed by the entire cast, I can only hope the letter makes a difference.

 

It is time for me to start writing such letters as well. Lots of them. How about you?