I Lieutenant Daniel Choi needs our help

I Lt. Dan Choi, the leader of Knights Out who has become the de facto face of the movement to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT), is asking the public for help in his trial this Tuesday, June 30th. Dan is from Orange County, California, and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an Iraq War veteran. On Tuesday, he will face a panel of colonels who will decide whether or not to fire him -- to discharge him from the military for "moral and professional dereliction" under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Click here to learn how you can help Dan. He needs your support letters no later than June 29th.

[Sheila HTS]

We were pleased to learn that the letter writing, phone calls and protests at the hands of the left-wing, homosexual agena has failed. Choi is out! The law is very clear, homosexuals are ineligible to serve in the armed services. This decision is a strong signal that the talk of lifting don't ask, don't tell is just that...talk. I just hope the discharge is dishonorable. That will send an even stronger message to the youth of this country that are thinking about choosing the homosexual lifestyle. Maybe it will encourage them to follow the right path!

[Mike]

For the first time in my life, I am embarrassed to call myself an American after reading extremely ignorant comments posted by Sheila HTS.

So this is how you pay your respects to a man who served his country bravely for ten years - who went to Iraq for two years - who put his life on the line to save your self-righteous ass - by hoping that he will have to live the rest of his life by carrying the burden of a dishonorable discharge and being remembered as the homosexual who was ejected from the military because of his sexual orientation. You absolutely disgust me. You are a major embarrassment to this great country and to all Americans.

[Sergio23]

Mike wrote:

For the first time in my life, I am embarrassed to call myself an American after reading extremely ignorant comments posted by Sheila HTS.
So this is how you pay your respects to a man who served his country bravely for ten years - who went to Iraq for two years - who put his life on the line to save your self-righteous ass - by hoping that he will have to live the rest of his life by carrying the burden of a dishonorable discharge and being remembered as the homosexual who was ejected from the military because of his sexual orientation. You absolutely disgust me. You are a major embarrassment to this great country and to all Americans.

Mike, you and others should know some things about Sheila HTS.

She has posed elsewhere many times that her own son came out to her and her husband when the son was a sophomore in college. He was rejected - "disowned" - as result and she is PROUD of this. She and her husband did offer to pay for reparative therapy; she was willing to hurt her son but not accept him.

She is one of the most hateful and bigoted people on Topix. She would rather hurt and reject her son, so of course she feels nothing about hurting and rejecting Dan Choi and thereby weaken our country and its military.

She is immune to facts and reason; a typical fundie who spits on god's gift of rationality. The fact that the US is the only NATO country besides Turkey that will not allow openly gay soldiers is of no consequence to her; she wants us to remain a backward country and if she has her way, our leaders and our country would be indistinguishable from the taliban and Afghanistan except for the book used to justify the hatred and bigotry.

[Sheila HTS]

Sergio,

I am not immune to facts of reason. When the "reason" makes sense, I'll listen. I am not sure why you continue to bring up the topic of my son like this is a big gotcha shocker since I am the one who disclosed this information in this forum.

The law is clear about Mr. Choi. His discharge is dishonorable and this will be his burden to carry. It is his choice. He is the one who decided to "tell" and violate the don't ask, don't tell policy. Nobody asked him....he told. Now, he must live with the consequences of his actions.

[gman]

Sheila HTS wrote:

Sergio,
The law is clear about Mr. Choi. His discharge is dishonorable and this will be his burden to carry.

I know that is not true because I was discharged under DADT. Lt. Choi will recieve a general seperation which will turn to honorable after 6 months.

Sheila HTS wrote:

It is his choice. He is the one who decided to "tell" and violate the don't ask, don't tell policy. Nobody asked him....he told. Now, he must live with the consequences of his actions.

Yeah, the reason he told was because it went against the priniciples he learned at West Point. He felt lying about his sexuality went against what he had learned. I have nothing but admiration for Lt. Dan Choi. He is in my eyes a true American hero.

[Sergio23]

gman wrote:

<quoted text> I know that is not true because I was discharged under DADT. Lt. Choi will recieve a general seperation which will turn to honorable after 6 months. <quoted text>Yeah, the reason he told was because it went against the priniciples he learned at West Point. He felt lying about his sexuality went against what he had learned. I have nothing but admiration for Lt. Dan Choi. He is in my eyes a true American hero.

Thanks for this post. It is important for people to know that men like Lt. Choi are principled men of honor who want to serve their country, but what to do so with integrity and authenticity.

One of my closest friends, who happens to be gay, wanted to serve and had much to offer as a highly trained scientist. But he was not willing to lie about who he is.

The real fear among the haters and bigots is that just as with integration, the military tends to lead societal change. If gays are allowed to serve openly, then they will make gains elsewhere in our country. The haters marginalize them and deny rights so that they can use the resulting second-class status as a reason to continue to do more of the same.

[Hoaah]

She is no different than Lt Choi's homophobic battalion commander, and fellow West Point grad, LtCol John Andonie, cdr of the 69th, who is the guy who charged choi with moral and professional dereliction and not with violating don't ask don't tell. Dan Choi is the FIRST gay guardsman discharged in the over 200-year history of the New York National Guard. Well done Col Andonie you go girl. Andonie is supported in his efforts to rid this patriotic "faggot scum" from the ranks of the guard by no other than General Joseph Taluto, who aspires to lead the entire nationwide Army National Guard. If he is the first Adjutant General to discharge a queer in the history of the New York Army National Guard, imagine what great impact he can have as the director of the army national guard. Gov Patterson and Pres Obama must be very proud to have nominated a man like general taluto. Just think by 2010 if he can discharge one gay from each of the states what progress can be made. Currently taluto's nomination is languishing in the Senate Armed Services Committee over inquires into the death of CPT Esposito. Prehaps President Obama would be wise to withdraw Taulto's name from nomination.

[Sheila HTS]

gman wrote:

<quoted text> I know that is not true because I was discharged under DADT. Lt. Choi will recieve a general seperation which will turn to honorable after 6 months. <quoted text>Yeah, the reason he told was because it went against the priniciples he learned at West Point. He felt lying about his sexuality went against what he had learned. I have nothing but admiration for Lt. Dan Choi. He is in my eyes a true American hero.

My sources tell me that it will be dishonorable, just to prove a point and send a message to the left-wing homosexual agenda.

[gman]

Sheila HTS wrote:

<quoted text>
My sources tell me that it will be dishonorable, just to prove a point and send a message to the left-wing homosexual agenda.

Sorry but I know that is a lie. The two reasons I konw that is a lie is 1. I was discharged under DADT and I recieved a general discharge that later turned into honorable and 2. I found this "Choi likely will receive an honorable or a general discharge and could lose some of his veteran educational benefits, Diehl said." from this source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/A... . So sorry you're not spreading your lies on this one.

[Sheila HTS]

Call Senator Byrd and Congressmen Rahall and urge them to push for a dishonorable discahrge for Choi. Both of them are in senior, powerful positions and have expressed support for our cause of family values.

[gman]

Sheila HTS wrote:

Call Senator Byrd and Congressmen Rahall and urge them to push for a dishonorable discahrge for Choi. Both of them are in senior, powerful positions and have expressed support for our cause of family values.

It's over and done with, you bitter woman. You think just because a bunch of hateful bigots like yourself bombard Byrd and Rahall's phones that they will change Lt. Choi's discharge status? You're delusional. They have much bigger issues to deal with. Leave Lt. Choi alone. It is none of your business what kind of discharge he gets.

[yes sir]

Each one of us needs to support this man. Why is this country discriminating against anyone who wants to risk their lives for the betterment of this nation.

We need to contact our legislators and urge them to repeal DADT!!

[Angie]

You are exactly correct, being homosexual is a choice. I chose to be a lesbian just as much as you chose to be a female. Lady your an idiot and if the govt. doesnt want gays to serve then let them come home now, not after the war has ended. Keep you head in the sand Sheila. I can only hope than one day you will see that gays are not the horrible people that you believe them to be.

[Paul]

Liberals are against war, fighting, and our involvement overseas, but they are so quick to defend a soldier because he is gay. I feel bad for Lt. Choi, but I will not join this cause for the very fact that liberals have not supported the conflicts we are involved in.

[Paul]

Angie wrote:

You are exactly correct, being homosexual is a choice. I chose to be a lesbian just as much as you chose to be a female. Lady your an idiot and if the govt. doesnt want gays to serve then let them come home now, not after the war has ended. Keep you head in the sand Sheila. I can only hope than one day you will see that gays are not the horrible people that you believe them to be.

I agree, but why do gays "come out." It is not like a quinceañera or a bar mitzvah. "Excuse me Captin, jsut thought you should know, I am gay, here is an invitation to my coming out party."

I don't go to my employer and say, "excuse me boss, just thought you should know, I enjoy swinging with my wife" At work or where ever, I keep my personal life personal.

[yes sir]

Well, it is more like a Mat Mitzvah. Seriously though, it is not like we invite everyone to come and have a huge speech. Coming out is just informing your loved ones that you are gay, bisexual, lesbian, or even transgendered (which is dealing with gender, not sexuality), this is done because in this time most people just assumes one is heterosexual. It is not like we are flaunting it.

I have always wondered, why is it one someone who is attracted to the same sex talk about their bf/gf they are flaunting their sexuality but when someone who I straight talking about theirs, no one says anything about it. Why is it when I am holding hands with my bf, I am flaunting my sexuality, but nothing is said if a male and female is doing the same? Even if you “don’t agree with it” you can’t have a double standard. Either talking about your loved one is flaunting your sexuality, rather they are same or opposite sex, or it is not. Either holding hands with your loved one is flaunting or it’s not. You can’t have it both ways.

Anyways, back to what this thread is really supposed to be about. I have worked a lot regarding this issue. I have emailed and wrote numerous people, and have had many people do the same. Lt. Daniel Choi enlisted in the military to serve his country, one that he takes pride in, a country that he has served honorably and now a country that is turning their back to him. Normally, a veteran or someone who is currently enlisted is given the upmost respect. If someone speaks ill of them, most will take their side and defend them, because they are risking their live for the country. Why are we not doing the same for this man? I was not, nor am I now in support of the current war. But, I do support the men and women that are enlisted, those that have lost their lives and veterans.