Pacifica's Democracy Now (the most important daily show in the U.S.) had Lt. Dan Choi on this morning.
They played from his speech at the gay rights rally:
But of all those things that are worth fighting for, love is worth fighting for. Love is worth it. Love is worth it. ... We love our country, even when our country refuses to acknowledge our love. But we continue to defend it, and we continue to protect it, because love is worth it. Love is worth it!If you believe it, say it with me. Love is worth it! Love is worth it! Love is worth it! Love is worth it!
Like so many others, I joined the military because my country beckoned me. "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country."
All told he used the word "love" 21 times in the Dem Now segment. (My friend Windy remarks that maybe it's actually who in your country you can do that's the issue.)
It's sad that the hosts of Dem Now didn't (as I should say I suggested) ask him how waging war is consistent with this "love" he is screaming about.
As such, they fail. They fail as representatives of a network founded by pacifists, as liberals dedicated in open inquiry and as journalists capable of asking real questions to their guests.
Presumably if the "left" has its way there will be no one in the military except gays -- we'll have an all-gay army.
Reminds me of an old Bill Murray bit after the Soviets invaded, of all places, Afghanistan:
President Carter has proposed the drafting of women, and everybody's all worked up about it. Personally, I don't see what they're complaining about. Women in the armed forces could be the best thing that ever happened to this country.[originally published at husseini.org on Oct. 13, 2009]Let's say we have a war with Russia and the women fight. If we win, that's OK. And if we lose, we can say to the Russians: "Wow, you beat a bunch of girls. You must be really proud of yourselves. You Russians are real tough guys, yeah." Can you imagine how embarrassed the Russians would be?