Hitting the Ground Running

During the transition two very important announcements have come out of our President-Elects office. The first being the proposed closing of Guantanamo Bay and the return of Habeus Corpus and then yesterday, the announcement that Don't Ask Don't Tell will be repealed and that gays and lesbians will be able to openly serve in our armed forces.

"Thadeus of Lansing, Mich., asks, 'Is the new administration going to get rid of
the "don't ask, don't tell policy?'" said Gibbs, looking into the camera.
"Thadeus, you don't hear a politician give a one-word answer much. But it's,
'Yes.'"

I can't explain properly in words how excited, happy and proud this makes me. We are finally going to listen to the supreme court ruling and uphold the constitution again while at the same time making strides toward more progressive civil rights and equality. I believed in Obama during the campaign and was a proud supporter of his, but even I didn't expect him to hit the ground running, especially on two such controversial but important issues.

Now our military will join the ranks of countries like Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada and Italy (plus many more) in allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly. We can really be proud. It took us awhile, and we may fall behind other countries in regards to equality for all, but we will get there.

Guantanamo will be a much longer process, and I certainly do not expect miracles. I will be happy if it completely closed within 2 or 3 years. As long as we work on getting trials for the detainees and do not sanction torture during the process, I think the world along with our own citizens will begin to see America in a better light. Our country always has been and always will be better than that.

5 days until Obama officially takes office. It still seems surreal.