Lt Choi and Jim Pietrangelo arrested at White House- Page 2

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 12:05am

Why would Roscoe have anything but respect for Choi? Does Choi call himself a "fierce advocate" for gay rights and then prove to be ineffectual (at best) or downright indifferent to gay causes? Does Dan Choi not support your right to love?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 12:11am

Very interesting to read the comments following the article that state that since he was in a military uniform, chances are he's being held by the military.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 11:52am

Well wasn't he discharged? I was thinking about that as I watched it yesterday and was wondering if he would be in trouble for wearing his uniform to do this after being discharged.

Also, isn't DADT being worked on? Why did they do this? I may be out of the loop.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 12:05pm

DADT is being worked on but it is going to be a long, grueling process.

Choi is in the NY National Guard and had been allowed to drill his unit for training purposes despite the DADT issue. He has NOT been discharged, he is facing a discharge. He has been recommended discharge under the draconian guidelines of DADT but at this point he is just facing discharge.
Updated On: 3/19/10 at 12:05 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 1:14pm

Thanks for the clarification. I thought he had already been discharged.

I may get flack for this but, DADT is being worked on. What more does he want? As strummer pointed out, and I am sure we all realize, it is going to take a while. Of course I am all for getting rid of DADT but I am also a bit over the gay community's "we want it now" attitude. JMO

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 2:24pm

I am also a bit over the gay community's "we want it now" attitude. JMO

Fine by me, because we've been WAY over your attitude for a long, long time.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 2:43pm

Be nice. uncageg is one of the good ones.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 2:49pm

Latest updates:

"Dan Choi brought into court room with shackles around legs and hands"

"Dan Choi and Pietrangelo plead not guilty, released and will be back for trial 4/26"

"Pietrangelo pleaded not guilty and is opting for a trial over a fine of $100."

"Choi pleaded 'not guilty, not ashamed, and not finished' and wants a trial over a fine."

Updated On: 3/19/10 at 02:49 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 3:12pm

Well wow. It was just my opinion. I am a member of the gay community and stand by my comment. I love how Pal is able to speak for everyone. And I really don't care if my opinion is fine by you or not.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 3:38pm

I think there is concern among some (perhaps many) that the initial steps being taken to dismantle this policy (Thanks, President Clinton!!) would cause activism to abate and let the administration and Congress off the hook for actually keeping their promise.

I, for one, am grateful that there are organizations and individuals that are keeping constant vocal pressure on the politicians to work toward repeal.

And did ANYONE see that general yesterday who said some batsh*t crazy stuff about the Dutch army being weakened because they let gays sever openly. Levin read his ass.

This revolution can and must be televised.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 3:49pm

sonof, I did see that yesterday. I only caught part of it. Weren't the people killed gay or wasn't that part of the reason they were killed?

And I agree, there should be organizations to keep some pressure on. My thought is that now that it is being addressed, stop pushing for it to happen faster than we know it will. Wait and see what is happening. If things start to look bad, then apply more pressure at that time but give them a chance to at least work on it. (Does that make sense?)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 4:27pm

There are many people who doubt the sincerity of the manner in which it is being addressed by the president and the Democrats in Congress.

There are many people who see the present as the only time in which to make this happen. If the Democrats lose a substantial number of seats in November, they are certain to lose a substantial amount of resolve.

There are many who see the willingness to overturn DADT among military brass and younger service members and think that this year-to-investigate/year-to-implement is a ridiculous caution being taken by a president and Congress who ultimately have no problem with things they way they are now.

There are many who wonder, if not now, when?

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 4:59pm

And I am one of those people who have though If nor now, then when? But I also think that if things are pushed to hard, it could backfire. That happened here in Denver with Ted Haggerty. Mike Jones (Who I knew in the past and who lived, until recently, right around the corner from me) said that he brought this out to help the gay community. We had something on the ballot for gay rights that we were sure would probably go thorugh. At that time there seemed to be scandals abound with political figures. The Haggerty thing seemed to break the camel's back, so to speak, and we lost on the gay rights ballot. I was rumored that Jones was asked not to reveal all of this at the time but he insisted, looking to be some hero in the gay community here. Well that backfired and the gay community was furious with him. It became clear that he was the reason we lost on that vote. I don't know how much information got out nationally but he was constantly on our news and was constantly putting his foot in his mouth. We all knew what he did for a living but all of the details came out in the interviews and local investigative reports on him. So, after all that (!) I say, give it a bit of time. They say they are working on it so see what they do. If things don't look like they will go in the right direction, then by all means, apply more pressure. JMO

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 5:48pm

Mike Jones and Dan Choi should not compared. One is a soldier, the other is a crystal-pushing whore.

Now I have nothing against crystal-pushing whores--some of my best friends are crystal-pushing whores--but Mike Jones and Dan Choi should not compared.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 6:06pm

Dan Choi's credibility on this issue is beyond reproach, I've never said otherwise, nor would I.

Has Meghan McCain chimed in on these events yet?

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 6:37pm

I am not comparing them as people. I was commenting on what happened when Jones did what he did when he did it and how it hurt instead of helped the gay community.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 6:40pm

Well, until America's Pre-Eminent Gay Rights Spokesperson Meghan McCain talks about this on THE VIEW, it can't be said to be of any real importance whatever.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 6:45pm

I suspect she will be co-hosting The View again soon. Maybe she will comment then. :)

[Roscoe]

Posted: 3/19/10 at 6:51pm

Yeah, she's about due.

Dan Choi and Jim Pietrangelo just need to be a little more patient. Obama's so busy, he's got so much on his plate. If they go to prison for chaining themselves to the White House gates, they might miss the miracle, and that'd be a shame, it really would.