Comments on: Withers: Douglass and Lincoln http://www.365gay.com/blog/052009-frederick-douglass-and-abraham-lincoln/ The daily news source for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:11:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: drewski http://www.365gay.com/blog/052009-frederick-douglass-and-abraham-lincoln/comment-page-1/#comment-58238 drewski Sat, 23 May 2009 07:28:21 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7473#comment-58238 James, it's kinda like watchin' "Cooley High" and hearing the Five Stairsteps sing "Ooh Child." (It's more hopeful than "Let the Sunshine In" at the end of "Hair.") Frederick Douglass was so intense that whites accorded him respect and authority when they didn't have to. He was the Ur-hero. Seriously. You look at what this man faced in his life, and what he did with himself...his actions would be impressive enough, but his intellect still shames us today. Shames and enlightens and prods and encourages. There are times when we let others take our power. We can stop that and change that. James, it’s kinda like watchin’ “Cooley High” and hearing the Five Stairsteps sing “Ooh Child.” (It’s more hopeful than “Let the Sunshine In” at the end of “Hair.”)

Frederick Douglass was so intense that whites accorded him respect and authority when they didn’t have to. He was the Ur-hero. Seriously. You look at what this man faced in his life, and what he did with himself…his actions would be impressive enough, but his intellect still shames us today. Shames and enlightens and prods and encourages.

There are times when we let others take our power. We can stop that and change that.

]]> By: Brian http://www.365gay.com/blog/052009-frederick-douglass-and-abraham-lincoln/comment-page-1/#comment-57851 Brian Wed, 20 May 2009 23:09:09 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7473#comment-57851 Nice article. Obama should study his betters. Nice article. Obama should study his betters.

]]> By: R & R http://www.365gay.com/blog/052009-frederick-douglass-and-abraham-lincoln/comment-page-1/#comment-57848 R & R Wed, 20 May 2009 23:03:34 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7473#comment-57848 Maybe someone can do some investigating and find why Canada was able to allow gays to serve openly in their military without the country falling into the void. And while at it, look at the other countries who have done the same thing successfully. I don't recall the media announcing that these countries have left the planet or are in total chaos. Or is it being hidden by the Christian Taliban? It sounds like the "home of the free and the brave" is not so free or brave although a lot of lip service is given to both. Maybe someone can do some investigating and find why Canada was able to allow gays to serve openly in their military without the country falling into the void. And while at it, look at the other countries who have done the same thing successfully. I don’t recall the media announcing that these countries have left the planet or are in total chaos. Or is it being hidden by the Christian Taliban?

It sounds like the “home of the free and the brave” is not so free or brave although a lot of lip service is given to both.

]]> By: David in Dallas http://www.365gay.com/blog/052009-frederick-douglass-and-abraham-lincoln/comment-page-1/#comment-57818 David in Dallas Wed, 20 May 2009 20:31:49 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7473#comment-57818 DADT is stalled by a gutless President. I suggest we make July 4th Military Coming Out Day. We urge every member of the military to declare that day that they are gay - whether they are or not. That would be civil disobedience. DADT is stalled by a gutless President. I suggest we make July 4th Military Coming Out Day. We urge every member of the military to declare that day that they are gay – whether they are or not. That would be civil disobedience.

]]> By: mike http://www.365gay.com/blog/052009-frederick-douglass-and-abraham-lincoln/comment-page-1/#comment-57771 mike Wed, 20 May 2009 17:25:52 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7473#comment-57771 Frederick Douglass is one of my heroes James. I appreciate your comparison of the Civil War times with its racial issues to the present GLBT civil rights war. I agree that Obama is in a somewhat comparable situation to Lincoln. Black regiments were created to fight for the Union side. Douglass knew that racial respect depended upon blacks serving in the military. And he was right. But in these modern times it would be hard to think of what a gay regiment might look like. A regiment of gay linguists, cunning though it might be, would not translate today. Separate but equal...not. We must serve side by side. A few days ago I went to a military website and chased down blogs on gays in the military/don't ask don't tell. The blogs were dominated by anti-gay commentary. Many of these young military bloggers seem to be saying they are already massively confused about what they are doing in the war and to be challenged about their social programming and personal attractions in the midst of that mess could really push them over the edge. No, not all young folks are over the anti-gay thing. Especially those in the military. It looks to me like what the military needs is some diversity training. Probably like they did when women were integrated. Of course I agree with former Army chief Clifford Alexander but I don't think those in the service that disagree should be called lemmings or just ignorant. They need education. Maybe our GLBT organizations should be lobbying for Obama to do the educational groundwork for the eventual transition to integration. Is there a film on Gay integration in the military in other countries that have instituted it that would be an effective educational tool? Another issue of concern to the Obama military must be how will U.S. gay service people be sold to the very homophobic Iraqi's and Afgans. Yes, compare the Civil War white south being attacked by a Union black regiment for an interesting thought. Today in Iraq you don't want to be out or you'll likely be dead. These are just thoughts to throw out there for the ongoing battle for civil rights. It's more complicated than just black or white. Frederick Douglass is one of my heroes James. I appreciate your comparison of the Civil War times with its racial issues to the present GLBT civil rights war. I agree that Obama is in a somewhat comparable situation to Lincoln. Black regiments were created to fight for the Union side. Douglass knew that racial respect depended upon blacks serving in the military. And he was right. But in these modern times it would be hard to think of what a gay regiment might look like. A regiment of gay linguists, cunning though it might be, would not translate today. Separate but equal…not. We must serve side by side.

A few days ago I went to a military website and chased down blogs on gays in the military/don’t ask don’t tell. The blogs were dominated by anti-gay commentary. Many of these young military bloggers seem to be saying they are already massively confused about what they are doing in the war and to be challenged about their social programming and personal attractions in the midst of that mess could really push them over the edge. No, not all young folks are over the anti-gay thing. Especially those in the military.

It looks to me like what the military needs is some diversity training. Probably like they did when women were integrated. Of course I agree with former Army chief Clifford Alexander but I don’t think those in the service that disagree should be called lemmings or just ignorant. They need education. Maybe our GLBT organizations should be lobbying for Obama to do the educational groundwork for the eventual transition to integration. Is there a film on Gay integration in the military in other countries that have instituted it that would be an effective educational tool?

Another issue of concern to the Obama military must be how will U.S. gay service people be sold to the very homophobic Iraqi’s and Afgans. Yes, compare the Civil War white south being attacked by a Union black regiment for an interesting thought. Today in Iraq you don’t want to be out or you’ll likely be dead.

These are just thoughts to throw out there for the ongoing battle for civil rights. It’s more complicated than just black or white.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.365gay.com/blog/052009-frederick-douglass-and-abraham-lincoln/comment-page-1/#comment-57758 Jonathan Wed, 20 May 2009 16:48:06 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7473#comment-57758 Mr. Withers - this is the best comparison anyone has made to point out the similarities between an effective leader of the past and the current President. Let's hope that President Obama is even more successful than President Lincoln was in moving us toward greater equality. Mr. Withers – this is the best comparison anyone has made to point out the similarities between an effective leader of the past and the current President. Let’s hope that President Obama is even more successful than President Lincoln was in moving us toward greater equality.

]]> By: jpg http://www.365gay.com/blog/052009-frederick-douglass-and-abraham-lincoln/comment-page-1/#comment-57756 jpg Wed, 20 May 2009 16:43:21 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=7473#comment-57756 Great point and article. Great point and article.

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