Laurie Harris, a 34-year-old doctor from Newburyport, attended Boston University Medical School through a program that paid her tuition in exchange for service in the Air Force. But before she completed her medical training, Harris was dismissed from the Air Force and sent a bill for her tuition. Her crime? She had told her commanding officer she was a lesbian.
In the 17 years since Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell became policy, 13,000 men and women have been dismissed from the military. We shouldn’t turn away anyone who wants to serve, though we do every day.
Filipe wanted to serve in the Navy for as long as he could remember. His grandfather was in the Brazilian Navy and Filipe was inspired by his service. Filipe was brought to the United States by his mother when he was 12. Today he wants to attend the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, study engineering, and serve in the U.S. Navy. He felt “broken in half” when he found out he wasn’t allowed to serve his country. We owe Filipe better and we owe our military better.
The DREAM Act would do just what its name implies – let young people like Filipe achieve the American dream. Any child who was brought to this country illegally but has attended school, stayed out of trouble, and completes two years of college or military service will be able to earn citizenship. These children did not intentionally break the law. They are innocent victims of a broken immigration system. If they are willing to put their lives on the line to defend our country, the least we can do is honor their courage and allow them to become citizens of the country they swear to defend.
I’ll come back here with updates as we move forward; we can never give up the fight.
…bilerico, which is an site oriented to some of the folks who are most immediately affected here, and i hope you would consider posting this to that site as well.
And misses the landing!
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p>The “you” in fake’s comment is Kerry.
before the Democrats decide that it should really take only 51 votes to get something done?
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p>Or is this a silly question? It seems that doing away with the filibuster rule is only considered when Republicans have the majority.
PS How would you like a Republican Majority Senate without the ability to filibuster?
If we believe that something like federal court confirmations should get a supermajority, we should amend the Constitution to say so. At very least, I’d like to require actual debate to sustain a filibuster rather than simply holding up the works.
You’re not a Republican Senator, so far as we know. You are not part of “we” and let’s be honest, it ain’t happening, no way no how.
but “no way no how” isn’t exactly accurate.
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isn’t about having a majority, it’s the prospect of a GOP majority “changing the rules” to eliminate the filibuster.
at least this time. We (I mean we Republicans) will take back a lot of seats but getting 51 will be close to a miracle. We will take back the House for sure.
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p>Did anyone answer how they would like it if the Republicans “did” take control of the Senate (and the House) and the Democrats lost the filibuster option?
certainly not 7 weeks before an election.
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p>Intrade has a GOP majority trading at 73.3. That means that for every $100 in your pocket, your “for sure” is worth roughly $25. If you’re as “for sure” as you write, I seriously encourage you to sink a whole bunch of money on GOP takeover on Intrade. Easy money, right?
The Dems never used the filibuster so it wouldn’t make much of a difference.
…but what is clear is that there has been a SIGNIFICANT increase in its use or threat thereof in the current Congress.
Is a nice way to keep the fund-raising going. You guys could have won one of these fights, so that there would no longer be a fight not to give up.