9 Comments
Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Published Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 | 4:49 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 | 4:49 p.m.
It took a long time, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid kept his promise.
The ban on gays serving openly in the military has been lifted.
And that means Lt. Dan Choi, an Iraq war veteran and leading activist for military gay rights, gets his West Point ring back.
Choi, who last summer was honorably discharged from the Army National Guard because he is gay, gave the ring to Reid in July during an emotional meeting at The Rio.
Choi had first met Reid a year earlier, and Reid promised then to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by the end of the year. It didn't happen.
So when they met again, Choi gave his ring to Reid to remind the senator of his promise.
"No one can do it any more than he can. He's the most powerful senator," Choi said at the time.
Reid promised to return the ring when the ban was lifted, and today he delivered. Reid handed the blue-stoned graduation ring back to its rightful owner.
"You ever think you'd get it back?," Reid asked Choi during a meeting in Washington, D.C.
"I didn't know," Choi replied.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was in effect for 17 years. President Barack Obama today signed legislation eradicating the policy and thanked Reid for pushing the repeal through.
Choi also praised Reid for his tenacity in getting the legislation passed.
"You ask any gay advocate or gay American, they would have never thought that this would happen," Choi said. "Today, history was not only made but lives were saved...There are many who are continuing to stay in the closet, and most people don't understand how traumatic it is to hide an essential part of your identity and your family. Today was a repudiation of that shame, and it was a refusal to acquiesce to second class citizenship."
Thanks Harry.....Okay back to the highest priority...how many times do we have to remind you Harry...damn it......Jobs....where are the jobs.....yes I'm working....and paying for the 124 months of unemployment to 10% of the population...13% in Nevada.....The States are going to Crash....you know it...Your not doing your job.....the unions are going to have your ass
How sweet, Harry gave the man a ring....Does this mean that Senators can come out too now?
:-)
This is a travesty to the millions of veterans who have served the country, and a travesty to the millions who are serving and will serve. The military is not a public function. It's special.
Reid is still the most powerful man in the Senate, but he is crippled now. Since the GOP will be in control of the House in the 112th Congress, Sierra Harry won't be able to push his outrageous agenda upon us any longer. That will be a good Christmas gift to taxpayers. Reid knew he had to jamb this despicable legislation through while his fellow outlaws still had complete control of DC.
Harry- tell that to all the out of work homeless Nevadans- look where your priorities are- but I am sure when youre eating a big Cristmas dinner in your warm home youll be thinking about us-
Yawn. People who still object to the historic legislation Senator Reid helped champion are clinging to the last vestiges of arsenic-laced hysteria. Those "outlaws" were elected by citizens of the Land Of The Free in a Democratic process. But look at it this way - we survived Bush; you'll survive Obama.
Richard Hopkins whines about Senator Reid's "...outrageous agenda...". This reveals more about the shallowness of Richard's thought process than anything about moderate changes to our society.
Something for the Harry Haters: Harry was reelected to a six year term. He will have to deal with this next congress for the next two years. And GUESS WHAT? He'll have ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. If the Republicans take the White House, he'll still have FOUR MORE YEARS. I was going to quote from Kathy Griffin's Emmy acceptance speech or from Vice President Cheney's own advice, but they were a bit coarse for this erudite discourse.