Is it time that equal rights for all be a top priority for us?

[Ohio Joe]

Poll question: Is it time that equal rights for all be a top priority for us?

I vote Yes.

[City Lights]

1. Absolutely! nt

[Donnachaidh]

2. kick and Rec! n/t

[William769]

3. Please don't hate me for asking but

Was there ever a time it shouldn't have been a top priority?

[Ohio Joe]

9. In my opinion, never

But it is true that those not of the hetero persuasion have been asked to wait before.

[William769]

13. Being a mo myself, I understand that all to well.

[WonderGrunion]

15. That's disingenuous.

Because African Americans didn't have to wait decades for slavery to end or for equal voting rights.
Because Japanese Americans got to go right home when they decided internment wasn't for them.
Because millions of undocumented immigrants aren't being forced to live as a hidden slave labor force.
Because mandatory sentencing laws aren't turning drug users into an open slave labor force.

Everyone has had to wait for their rights. If passing equality was easy, it wouldn't be referred to as an equal rights struggle.

[Ohio Joe]

21. So we should put it on the back burner?

or is it time to make it a top priority?

[WonderGrunion]

4. Yes. And I'm glad it's a priority for President Obama

Considering he has done more for equal rights for the LGBTQI community than ALL other presidents combined.

[Tx4obama]

6. I agree 100%. n/t

[Ohio Joe]

8. Not be a priority, be a top priority

How long do you feel it is ok for those that do not have equl rights to wait?

[WonderGrunion]

12. How long do you realisticly expect it to take for change to happen?

As he has done more than ALL other presidents combined, I'd call it a top priority.

[Ohio Joe]

18. Irrelevant

The fact remains he has still not done enough... Not even close. That in 2011 we still do not have this issue as a top priority is sad.

How long until he stops defending DADT in court?
How long until he moves to get rid of DOMA? ENDA?
How long until he supports gay marriage?

I ask again, how long do you think it is ok for these things (and more) to go on?

[WonderGrunion]

35. What is relevant is that there is a movement towards more equal rights

under this president. More than ALL other presidents combined. By your standards, everything must be granted immediately or it's inadequate and as such President Obama has an impossible standard to make you feel whole and happy.

[Ohio Joe]

40. Non-sense, listen to what I do say

I'll say it again. Equal rights for everyone should be a top priority and the simple fact is that it is not. If President Obama has done more for equal rights then all other Presidents or not is not the issue. Equal rights is the fundamental basis of America and that a Democrat would be willing to push it off because a lot has been done is a bad situation. That a (comparative) lot has been done makes this the perfect time to make a full court press, not the time to sit back and wonder why the others can't just be happy with what they got.

[FreeState]

31. So you think he's done enough then? N/t

[WonderGrunion]

34. I didn't say that. There's much more to be done.

But it's counterproductive to spit in the face of the President that has done more to equalize your rights than ALL previous presidents combined.

[Ohio Joe]

36. No one in this thread has spit in the face of the President

And it is counterproductive to say anyone has.

[WonderGrunion]

37. Literally, no. There is no actual spittle on the president's face.

If your wiggle line is "in this thread", you may be technically accurate as well. But people participating in this thread have rhetorically spit in the face of this president in several other threads.

[Ohio Joe]

41. Then perhaps you should make your accusations against them in those threads

Instead of insinuating it is happening here.

As far as spitting in faces goes, how do you think it feels for those that do not have equal rights being told they have gotten enough already and to wait? Do you think they feel like they are getting a little spit on them?

[Ignis]

42. "spit in the face of the President"?!? Calling the hyperbole police!

:eyes:

[BOG PERSON]

5. no

the age of right is over. we live in the age of will to power!

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. now, who's going to vote no to this?

[Ohio Joe]

10. Apparently someone

I wonder if they will express why equal rights should wait.

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. now 2. :-(

[TransitJohn]

11. Hasn't it always been?

:banghead:

[gratuitous]

14. Why don't you just vote Green?

Because I have been reliably and repeatedly informed that everything is the best it can be, and malcontents can either clam up or get out, because we must go with the lesser of two evils; there is no other choice but the binary.

[Ohio Joe]

25. No thanks, I vote D - nt

[AngryOldDem]

16. Jesus.

Do we even have to ASK the question?

[Ohio Joe]

22. It appears we do

I am sorry to say.

[BOG PERSON]

17. it's time to bring history to a close

we can't do that by perpetually extending rights. let's end all oppression and exploitation through the overthrow of capitalism and the advance to communism worldwide.

[Maru Kitteh]

19. Hell. It was time a long time ago. We should ALWAYS be for equal rights. n/t

[Wait Wut]

23. If you had said "one of" our top priorities...

...I would've voted "yes". "A" top priority gives the impression that it should be "the" priority.

There are a lot of other things I'd like to see addressed. None more important than the other. Equal rights is not more important to me than providing homes for "unadoptable" children, providing a voice for neglected/abused children, fixing the broken tax system so that 1) corporations aren't getting refunds and 2) they aren't rewarded for going overseas. Creating jobs for all those unemployed that are desperate for equal rights. I'm not going to keep going here. Pretty sure you understand.

It was just the wording you used. Not trying to be disrespectful. Pinky swear. Could probably guarantee that the group you are thinking of with this poll is one that I have been fighting for for years...and years...and...

[Ohio Joe]

24. They way it was meant, "one of" and "a" could have been interchangeable

Sorry for the confusion. I would see it as in the top two or three myself and I don't see it anywhere close to that... IMHO.

[some guy]

26. "one of" "a" "the"

I'm good with any of those.

Probably :bounce: if you'd put "the" - I think if we could ever get to the point where everyone (or the vast majority) thought that everyone actually did deserve to be considered equal, it would go a long way toward easing many other problems. If others are seen as equal, it becomes impossible to split people into groups and pit one against the other. Divide and conquer is the main driver in US politics.

[Wait Wut]

28. YES!!!

People don't realize who they work with, talk with, socialize with every single day of their lives. It isn't until they're made aware of the differences that they look at the other person differently.

Just before my son joined the Marines, his best friend "came out" to him. My kid walked out and refused to talk to him. His friend was crushed and came and talked to me. I was furious with my son for being so close-minded, so when he got home from work I let him have it. He looked at me and said, basically, "WTF, Mom? I'm not pissed off because he's gay, I'm pissed off that he didn't trust me enough to tell me from the beginning."

After a short cooling-off period, my son beat him up (playfully, I promise) and they were inseparable, again.

That "difference" was in my son's friends eyes, not his own. I think a lot of what some see as apathy or indifference from some DUers is actually the same attitude my son has. We just don't see anyone as different. We just want you to accept us as much as we accept you. To see what we deem important as important to you, as well. There's too much separation on here. Rights is rights is rights. Humanity should be equal...period. We is us. :P

[Wait Wut]

27. I think it's moved up quite a bit...

...during my lifetime.

It's out there being fought out and things are getting done. I can honestly say that I've never been more aware of the political battles than I have been the past few years. The attitude of Americans is changing. They see this as a non-issue and the support for equal rights is on the rise. The opposition is coming up with more and more crazy reasons to be against it and normal folks are sick of it. Maybe if you're too close to the battle you don't see the other side of the battlefield. I know that's what made me give up on everything about 10 years ago. I didn't see anything changing. One day I came back into the whole political scene and realized...shit got done and I hadn't noticed.

I don't think we have a problem with the support for equal rights. It's gotten down to the wire and we just need to keep the message clear and logical. Damn. Found a great quote from someone last week and I forgot to bookmark it. NO!!! It was Keith Olbermann!!! It's in his book "Pitchforks and Torches"!! If I can somehow find it online when I get home I'll post it here. It brought tears to my eyes.

[Wait Wut]

30. Keith Olbermann - A Question of Love

I found the actual Countdown segment from the book.

One of my favorite parts of the segment:
"You don't have to help it, you don't have it applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. Just don't put it out. Just don't extinguish it. Because while it may at first look like that love is between two people you don't know and you don't understand and maybe you don't even want to know. It is, in fact, the ember of your love, for your fellow person just because this is the only world we have. And the other guy counts, too."

The entire segment:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27650743/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann/t/olbermann-gay-marriage-question-love/

[Autumn]

29. Yes. Past time for human rights. n /t

[terrya]

32. It's sad that you even have to ask such a question on a progressive message board

Needless to say, not only did I vote yes, but FUCK yes.

[madmax]

33. Our polls mean squat

it's like when I watch The Ed Show - I already know the poll outcome. Who else is watching Ed but, us libbruls.

[uppityperson]

38. Of course it should be a top priority. How could it not?

[gkhouston]

39. The sad thing is that "equal rights" will soon mean we all have none. n/t