Tuesday, the Armed Services Committee met to discuss the controversial policy “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT),“which bars gays, lesbians and bisexuals from openly serving in the military. This year, Obama vowed to repeal the policy and instructed his top advisors to look into how to best implement the change.  The meeting demonstrated a marked shift from the Armed Service Committee meetings 17 years ago that instituted the policy under the Clinton administration. 

Pres. Obama meets with Admiral Mullen and Sec. Gates. Photo by Pete Souza, official White House Photo.

At the meeting both the  Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Admiral Michael Mullen and Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates endorsed the repeal. Sec. Gates stated that “I fully support the president’s decision. The question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we best prepare for it. We have received our orders from the commander in chief and we are moving out accordingly.” Admiral Mullen’s endorsement was even stronger. He stated “No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens….For me it comes down to integrity — theirs as individuals and ours as an institution.” Read more…

November 11, at 11am is the 90th anniversary of Veteran’s Day (formally known as Armistice Day). In a time of war, I hope everyone will take a moment out of their Wednesday to stop and thank the 24.9 million Veterans who weave in and out of our lives.  The Sunday ads would belie the importance of this day, with special mattress sales and slashed clothing prices. Somewhere, the importance of the day has been lost, as consumerism has usurped the day. Sift through the clutter, wipe away the ads and find a moment to say thanks.

Wednesday offers many opportunities to honor the fallen, as well as celebrate those who are still with us. Below are a few opportunities. Read more…

Torturing Democracy, the Documentary. Courtesy of www.neoflix.com

Every once in a great while, a film emerges, one that compels not only thought but action; that confronts truth, knowledge and all that it is to be human. Every once in a great while, a film emerges that challenges a writer to hold true to a semblance of journalistic form, and some writers lose the battle in order to save the message. This review will be less of a review and I may just lose points on the journalistic front as I use I a bit too much. The film, “Torturing Democracy” compels, confronts and challenges every newsflash of the past eight years.  It is a large scale throwdown to the US and the world.  It’s an indictment of Bush&Co’s ‘harsh interrogation techniques.’ And is a haunting documentary that begs of each viewer a personal response. It demands a personal response. Read more…