Friday, May 28, 2010

I guess there are many things you shouldn't ask, shouldn't tell

"This legislation" = repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell; "he" = Obama:
“This legislation will help make our armed forces even stronger and more inclusive by allowing gay and lesbian soldiers to serve honestly and with integrity,” he said.
OK, two things. First, it will make our military even more inclusive? Even more inclusive than what? Second, how the fuck strong does our military have to be???

6 comments:

Jack Crow said...

"More inclusive" = more people who should be standing against the murderous Death state because they come from oppressed populations, but now won't be because they're drawing a wage for pointing hand cannons at those who've yet to compromise with power?

JRB said...

Of course I would be remiss if I didn't complete our little love triangle on this question by reading "more inclusive" to mean not excluding people on the basis that they aren't people, which is really a different issue than what purpose a particular institution is intended to serve.

We have a long way to go in changing institutions, but this is a standard that should be applied regardless, since there was never any justification for it in the first place.

JRB said...

Actually, nevermind that. What I want to say is very simple: People have a right to be people, regardless of their relationships to institutions.

It follows, then, that people have the right to live just as much as they have a right to be themselves. In fact, this is really just a restatement of the same principle.

If an institution manages to violate both, as in the case of killing poor people abroad and discriminating against minorities at home, we shouldn't pose the rights of people in different situations as being in conflict, but pursue a consistent justice across the board.

Ethan said...

Am I allowed to say you're both right, and you're both smarter than me, and leave it at that? Because I can't think of anything else to say.

JRB said...

You're not allowed to say anybody is smarter than you. Did you see your last post? It was genius.

Ethan said...

Well, thanks for saying so.