“If you can fight for your country, you can do anything” - Barney Frank

President Obama on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 signed the repeal for the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, allowing gays and lesbians to openly serve in the military. (http://nyti.ms/hCICIj) This was a historic day in our country, and in the lives of millions across the world. “No longer will tens of thousands of Americans in uniform be asked to live a lie or look over their shoulder,” President Obama said during the signing. No man or woman should have to keep their sexual preferences a secret especially if they are working to preserve our freedoms and the greater good of our country. “Our people sacrifice a lot for their country, including their lives. None of them should have to sacrifice their integrity as well.” President Obama concluded. He is exactly right. I have no idea why this policy was put into place, during the Clinton-era, in the first place, although that it is understood that it the policy could of prevented people from getting hurt; some gays and lesbians were killed in the holocaust because they were gay.

Unfortunately this repeal doesn’t put an immediate stop to the Don’t Ask Don’t tell policy. While there is still significant resistance in the military to this repeal, Representative Barney Frank – the openly gay Democrat from Massachusetts – thinks that this integration of open gays into the military will be a lot smoother than racial or gender integration. “Reality will very soon make it clear that there is nothing to worry about,” Mr. Frank said. There really is nothing to worry about; no bad can really come of this situation. Anyone who further discriminates against these groups of people is now discriminating against the President and the government itself. He called the signing of the repeal the biggest civil rights movement in the nation since the signing of legislation voting rights in the 1960s.

“If you can fight for your country, you can do anything,” Frank said.

Since Wednesday, the 22^nd of December, Colleges have been reconsidering the ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) program after the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Forty years ago, ROTC units disappeared from Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford and other elite Ivy League universities. Now, as a result of the repeal, colleges are reconsidering returning the program back to the universities. Schools across the country dissolved many of the ROTC programs because of the inherent discrimination with the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy.  It appears that universities are more welcoming to the repeal that the United states Military.  Universities should value the positive impact that veterans would bring to their campuses through the ROTC Program. (http://bit.ly/h4QStq)

Here is a link to the Support Plan for Implementation: Report of the Comprehensive Review of the Issues Associated with a Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

(http://whiteplains.patch.com/articles/dont-ask-dont-tell-repealed#pdf-4146095)

On the other hand, some maintained opposing views of the repeal: While people are entitled to their opinions, it is not just for people to believe that an openly gay person cannot effectively serve in the military.  At the same time, it is unfair and discriminatory to require that person to conceal their sexual identity. 

The Holidays are Here and Everyone Should Have a Cheer!

The holidays are a time of giving: giving to our loved ones, giving to our friends, and giving to the ones who don't have as much as we do. Things like discrimination, and the disallowing of rights have brought people to be a little less fortunate than ones who were never treated poorly. In today’s day and age there is a widening gap between the rich and the poor. Around the time of year like it is now, with the holidays, we should ignore the fact that people are different. We should just make the best out of these wonderful times and help people who don’t always have the best time during this wonderful time because of their social and economic status.

Michelle Singletary considers what would happen if we gave to the poor rather than buy meaningless holiday stuff. “How about suggesting that people put charitable giving at the top of their budget?” (http://wapo.st/fx6U2i) This is probably one of the smartest, most simple and easy suggestions I have heard in a while. If you think about it, the poor get by, by eating cheap unhealthy food, and living wherever they can afford even if it is a street corner. The rich get by, by buying their way to whatever they need and not doing anything to help others beside themselves. This isn’t really a stereotype unless you are very wealthy because of the hard work you put into building success as a career, which is how a lot of people function these days, but on the other hand there is also the people who are handed the money because they were next in line in the family to take over the business or kids had rich parents.

I know there are so many charities out there to help the homeless and help the poor and the less fortunate, but hearing this author of this article talk about the simple things she does to donate and give to charity makes me really happy. It isn’t just going to happen over night, closing the gap between the rich and the poor, but by each person that does something to help, the closer we get to achieving the goal of more economic equality.

From history, some people have been put at a disadvantage before they were even born. African Americans, especially, and women were denied certain rights in the work force, which led them to being at a disadvantage in the future. It is proven that there are more men who have jobs then women who have jobs, and that there are more white people rather than black people who have jobs in the US’s work force today and since discrimination in the past. Although, not having a job doesn’t necessarily make you considered poor, when our economy is in debt and the world is struggling to stay on it’s two feet, in my opinion having a job makes you wealthier than a person who doesn’t have one.

The holidays are a time of joy and happiness and a time where no one should feel like they're a lone. Whether it is someone who doesn’t have a job that cannot pay for presents for his or her kids, someone who was put at a disadvantage and cannot find their way back because of it, or just a homeless person on the side of the street, everyone in this world should feel happiness during the holidays. It just starts with one person making a difference and then many more catching on and following that person’s footsteps. I wonder what our world would be if there weren’t any of these people who help the less fortunate.

             

Discrimination

Discrimination: a treatment in consideration, where one in in favor or against a person or a thing based on a group, class, or category.
    
Throughout history, various groups have been discriminated against to the degree where they have been killed, harassed, their rights denied etc. to where there almost isn't such thing as equality anymore. Equality is where everything is fair, everyone has equal rights, and no one is discriminated against because they are different.


Women, and gays, and blacks have been the groups primarily discriminated against in the past, present and will be in the future. Various acts taking a stand against this intolerance have occurred but has it been enough?

This chart shows that regardless of the parents income, blacks will end up being in the bottom fifth to the middle fifth of the country in the amount of income they make. Barely any blacks are in the top 20% of income in society, and barely white kids end up poor. This might not show how blacks have been discriminated against in the past, but it shows how blacks have been and will continue to be at a disadvantage in life. In the past, blacks have been discriminated against, whether going into public places or having to sit in the back of the bus, they have been discriminated against. This has led to them not being taken as seriously as white people are, because they received less opportunities in the past and less opportunities to prove themselves as capable workers. Why is Obama our first black president ever? Why was it such a big deal when he became president in the first place? It marked a change in society that we have progressed and are more readily accepting people for their talent rather than their skin tone.

  

Although it seems second nature to us now that women are equal to men, well into the twentieth century, women were significantly discriminated against. Women were denied jobs because according to men they were supposed to do work around the house, and they were confined to motherly professions like nursing and education rather than jobs in government. It took them to the turn of the 19th century for women to find their voice and fight for their natural rights. Even when these rights were obtained by law in the 1920s, they were still withheld by many peers and by males. In today's culture we have significantly progressed. Seen by the chart of the rate of Labor Participation by sex, women's role in the labor race has increased greatly over time, however, the fight for their rights is never truly over as discrimination can be found in the most traditional of towns and places. 

Gays are the third group that has been discriminated against over time. In the holocaust, gays were considered as "bad" to be as Jews were, and were murdered just as harshly because they liked the same sex. When did love get a label on it? I don't think it ever did, and people who decide who should love who, shouldn't be loved. In today's day and age, people who are gay (who has had a sexual relationship with another guy) aren't allowed to give blood at a blood drive. The Don't Ask Don't Tell policy put into affect a little while ago, prohibited gays who were "out" from serving in the army/military/etc. for our country; if a gay person didn't publicly announce that he was gay, he is allowed to serve for the country. Like all the other groups people in the past have discriminated against, over time, gays have become more accepted. The chart shows that over time, the percent that has considered homosexuals acceptable has increased from 34% in 1982 to 54% in 2006, that may not be a huge increase, but it is a start and overtime will continue to get better.

     
Discrimination is a serious deal. It is unfair, and people should be treated to have their own rights and have none of them be denied. Yes, throughout history all of this discrimination has lessened, and yes, this discrimination will never fully go away, but the more tolerance we give to these groups of people, the more peace our world will have in the end. 

Framed for Murder? - The Legal System

This article illustrates that our legal system is flawed and has not been right in years.  It is highly unlikely that these issues will not resolve themselves for years to come.

     
Throughout history, the government has made choices and has created laws to rectify situations and problems that have existed, some of which helped, and some of which have hurt our country as a whole. Some of these examples occurred during the Civil Rights Movement when blacks and whites were segregated as a result of the law. The Jim Crow Laws were enacted between 1876 and 1965, having a "separate but equal" policy in various public places. This law placed extreme limitations for the Afro-American community.

The article by Nicholas Kristof states, "California may be about to execute an innocent man." What does this say about our legal system that we are about to execute a man that may not be guilty of murder? Although, this case has been tried by various federal circuits judges and distinguished jurists, the onus is now on the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to decide Kevin Cooper is to be executed.   While discriminating against age, the article discusses how Josh- the families’ 8-year old son who survived the attack, first told investigators that it was 3 Caucasian people who murdered his family.  He then retracted his statements during trial claiming it to be one person who was black with an Afro. His statements however, do not sound plausible. The police claim Cooper is guilty, saying so because he committed a burglary not long before this particular incident. It seems unfair and unjust to judge someone because of their past record. This unfortunately has happened throughout the course of history and will continue to repeat itself unless the government takes action against discrimination.

     
The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects against the abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. In this case, Kevin Cooper is being tried time and time again for a crime, which he may not have committed, and may be executed because the government "thinks" he committed the crime. This is not an acceptable reason to sentence someone to death, and also highlights the flaws in our legal system and society. 

     
Kristof raises the question in the article, "How can we be about to execute a man when even some of America's leading judges believe he has been framed?" How can we do this? Without specific evidence that exists beyond a reasonable doubt, that Kevin Cooper is guilty of murder, there is no reason to execute him. This case is flawed and somewhat corrupt, and leads us to believe that our legal system also has tremendous shortcomings.

     
Kristof concludes the article, "That's a disgrace that threatens not only the life of one man, but the honor of our judicial system. Governor Schwarzenegger, are you listening?" It is a sad state of affairs that someone who is not part of the judicial system or personally involved with this case (Kristof) needs to voice their opinions and advocate with the Governor of California in hopes for a pardon for Kevin Cooper. It is apparent from the evidence in this case that Kevin Cooper is an innocent man.  Unfortunately, years of racial inequality and discrimination have cast a shadow over this particular case. Had Kevin Cooper been born white, in all likelihood this proceeding would have a different outcome.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/opinion/09kristof.html

Obama 'Praying' for Holbrooke's Recovery

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/obama-praving-richard-holbrookes-recovery/story?id=12378136&page=2


Change is to make a difference. Richard Holbrooke is described by Obama as "a towering figure in American foreign policy, a critical member of my Afghanistan and Pakistan team, and a tireless public servant who has won the admiration of the American people and people around the world." Over time, the government and the people in it have made a difference, have evolved, and has changed, nonetheless, some of these people don't get recognized.


This has been the first time I have really read about someone in the government being recognized for all their efforts, and Obama, our president, is doing the recognition, which I find kind of strange. Holbrooke was President Clinton's top aide for the region. He became sick on Friday, and since then Obama and all the people in the government have been praying for his recovery. Holbrooke is a very important person in the government. He is a former-two time assistant secretary of state, a key player in the Dayton peace accords, and the ambassador to Germany.
    
I did more research on Richard C. Holbrooke, and found out that he matters so much to the people in the government and in the world. In (http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Richard_C._Holbrooke)
George H. W. Bush described Holbrooke as "the most persistent advocate I've ever run into." His plentiful accomplishments are illustrated and recognized in this article, being a huge part of the Democratic Party.
     
Although, I have basically just listed one person, and how the government and the world has recognized him for his accomplishments, this is where it starts. Everyday our government is evolving. It is getting more and more involved in the issues of the world everyday. Obama is taking more action towards our economy, and people like Richard Holbrooke, are doing even small things to make a difference. All it takes is more people making a difference, and more people recognizing those people, so our country can evolve and become as strong as it is meant to be.