I've read lately some talk about "Oppression Olympics."
I find it offensive but who cares. It's there and I read it. So if I can't fight 'em, I'll ... do something else!
So fine, we have Oppression Olympics, whatever that is, and if that's the case, we have some of the finest competitors I've observed in a long time ... probably because of the times we are living in.
Change is here. All President Obama did was make note of it. Or whatever political argument you are pleased to put forth, no skin off my nose.
I observed a true dialogue that offended people, hurt people, advanced arguments from people, and a glimmer, just a small glimmer there of actual contact. That was spooky, but in a good kind of way.
Because the DADT issue is now impossible to avoid, this fight came about. Real opposition and bottom lines were drawn, "I'll go this far and no farther!"
And when you've given all you can and you then find you need to give more, then ... you sacrifice.
Two groups in particular involved in this coalition building had experience as participating in, as well as running, community diaries, so they were well prepared to confront each other. The dreaded "intersection" was approached, GAH! and the issue crossed lines of race, gender, political stance and even party.
I hadn't been posting here for a while, as is often the case for folks who have blogged the waves of the orange for several years. Breaks are essential and open ended, just like at any blog.
I was struck by the civil rights aspect of the DADT story, which of course is only one of the many facets that LGBT Americans experience in their lives.
But eventually the specifics became less important. I began to see that there was a level of conversation stronger than the anger, the hurt, the love, the joy, people who were no strangers to sacrifice joined in argument.
I think that was an important and educational experience and shouldn't be allowed to just scroll down the blog-o-psyche without at least making note of it.
So I have.