Lt. Dan Choi is a West Point graduate, Iraq War veteran, and Arabic linguist. He is a value to our Armed Forces and represents the best of what America has to offer. But because he bravely announced that he was gay on the Rachel Maddow show, he is being fired from the military.
We know that President Obama plans to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. But he has been dragging his feet while real-life heroes like Lt. Dan Choi pay the price. So far, this issue hasn't been on the President's agenda, because of OUR SILENCE. If we spent half as much time denouncing DADT as we do ridiculing Michael Steele or Dick Cheney, Obama would have to listen and take action.
It is time for our silence to end. It is time for all of us to TAKE A STAND, here and now, and tell the White House and Congress to suspend DADT immediately and allow loyal soldiers such as Lt. Choi to continue serving.
Yesterday, Lt. Choi wrote an open letter to President Obama and Congress. It is a highly moving letter, and must inspire us to take action:
I have learned many lessons in the ten years since I first raised my right hand at the United States Military Academy at West Point and committed to fighting for my country. The lessons of courage, integrity, honesty and selfless service are some of the most important.
At West Point, I recited the Cadet Prayer every Sunday. It taught us to “choose the harder right over the easier wrong” and to “never be content with a half truth when the whole can be won.” The Cadet Honor Code demanded truthfulness and honesty. It imposed a zero-tolerance policy against deception, or hiding behind comfort.
Following the Honor Code never bowed to comfortable timing or popularity. Honor and integrity are 24-hour values. That is why I refuse to lie about my identity....
As an infantry officer, I am not accustomed to begging. But I beg you today: Do not fire me. Do not fire me because my soldiers are more than a unit or a fighting force – we are a family and we support each other. We should not learn that honesty and courage leads to punishment and insult. Their professionalism should not be rewarded with losing their leader. I understand if you must fire me, but please do not discredit and insult my soldiers for their professionalism.
When I was commissioned I was told that I serve at the pleasure of the President. I hope I have not displeased anyone by my honesty. I love my job. I want to deploy and continue to serve with the unit I respect and admire. I want to continue to serve our country because of everything it stands for.
Please do not wait to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Please do not fire me.
Read the whole letter. Just the fact that this dedicated soldier must beg to keep his job, which he losing only because he is gay and honest about it, is sickening and unfair. It is downright un-American.
Read another interview with Lt. Dan Choi here. With a bloody war still going on, and our military in dire need of Arabic linguists, firing Lt. Dan Choi is an outrage. It is time to raise the temperature on this issue, stand up for Lt. Choi and others like him, and end this policy of official discrimination.
Contact the White House.
By telephone:
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
Contact Congress.
Join this Facebook group calling for action on this issue.