Just Saying
The lead of my December 10 Wall Street Journal column:
As President Obama and his speechwriters prepare for his upcoming State of the Union address, here's a modest suggestion:
When you take the victory lap you are entitled to for ending the prohibition on gays serving openly in the military, follow up with a call to end the remaining discrimination faced by members of our military—the second-class status of Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadets on some of our leading college campuses.
President Obama's State of the Union last night:
Our troops come from every corner of this country -– they’re black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American. They are Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And, yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love. (Applause.) And with that change, I call on all our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and ROTC. It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past. It is time to move forward as one nation. (Applause.)
- Comment (6)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
Comments :
Jun '10
Re: Just Saying
Obama got this exactly right. Obviously he must have read your column. I give him credit for finally taking advice from someone smart.
Edited on Jan 26, 2011 at 9:04amRe: Just Saying
I take no credit for the rest of the speech, especially the use of the word "investment" to describe government spending.
Oct '10
Re: Just Saying
On gays in the military... correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the UCMJ forbid fornication among the troops. My understanding is that not only adultery, defined as fornication by one who is married, but any sexual congress between military persons is also punishable, and often punished, by the chain of command?
If I am correct, then it appears that a person who professes to be gay is in the same position (no pun intended) as one who professes to be heterosexual. Either is free to his profession of sexuality, but apart from within marriage, at the moment only available to heterosexuals, any acting out of your sexual preference is forbidden.
Now, off base I assume anything goes that doesn't result in a public display resulting in bringing shame upon the military.
Am I correct???
Re: Just Saying
Bill McGurn: I take no credit for the rest of the speech, especially the use of the word "investment" to describe government spending. · Jan 26 at 9:06am
Listening to Obama use "investment" in this way made me feel like the unemployed schlub whose delusional wife explains why her $400 stilettos are an "investment." I just wanted to shout "Take it back! We don't have any money! Don't you understand? Take it back!"
Dec '10
Re: Just Saying
Bill, if President Obama is reading the Wall Street Journal and actually absorbing some of the ideas therein, there may yet be hope for the Republic.
Re: Just Saying
I think next time I'm going to suggest that the President read "Free to Choose" by Milton Friedman and take his ideas from that before the next SOTU.