Tuesday, June 28, 2011

State Department Goes Gaga While Air Force Personnel Are GoneGone

We have many pressing issues in this country, and around the world. Every time we turn on the news, there is some major crisis, from the war in Libya to the economic collapse in Greece. So you can understand why our State Department would be focused on Lady Gaga.

Yes, that Lady Gaga, she of the bizarre outfits and, um, interesting lyrics. Seems the State Department asked Gaga to be a part of Rome's Pride Parade, seeing as how she is Italian American and all. Wow. I am not making this up:
[snip]Clinton specifically pointed to a letter that David Thorne, the U.S. ambassador to Italy, sent to Lady Gaga urging her to participate in the event.

“And then there is the work that our embassy team in Rome has been doing,” Clinton said. “Two weeks ago they played an instrumental role in bringing Lady Gaga to Italy for a Euro Pride concert.

“Now as many of you know Lady Gaga is Italian American and a strong supporter of LGBT rights,” said Clinton. “And the organizers of the Euro Pride event desperately wanted her to perform and a letter to her from Ambassador Thorne was instrumental in sealing the deal.”[snip] (Click here to read the rest.)

Well, gosh, that should spark some "Fireworks," shouldn't it? And really - this is on what our State Department is focusing? Don't get me wrong, I am glad Secretary Clinton is speaking out on LGBT rights, but requesting a pop singer, on official letterhead, to go to ROME for a LGBT pride concert seems a bit of a stretch to me.

It also begs the question, if the Plight Of Partying Pride Paraders is of such importance to our State Department, how about our LGBT military right here at home? You may recall that I wrote back in December about DADT being overturned, though STILL IN EFFECT until certified otherwise. Well, that ain't happened yet, surprise surprise. What HAS happened, however, are four Air Force Personnel being separated from service as a result of DADT:
The Pentagon confirmed Monday that more service members have been discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell” pending certification of the policy’s repeal, with one individual’s discharge approved as recently as Thursday.

A total of four airmen have been discharged under the policy in the last several weeks, Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez confirmed Monday.

One of those individuals is Airman First Class Albert Pisani, who spoke to The Advocate earlier this month of his voluntary separation under “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which defense officials approved on April 29.

Air Force spokesman Maj. Joel Harper told The Advocate that the discharges of three additional service members — two female staff sergeants and one male second lieutenant— have been approved since an April 29 discharge. Harper declined to say whether Pisani was the April 29 discharge, citing confidentiality reasons. [snip] (Click here to read the rest.)

Sadly, I knew this was going to happen. It is still the law of the land, after all, though that fact was all but ignored by just about everyone. Of course, the longer it takes to certify this (blatantly political pandering by the Democrats who waited until the very last second before dealing with this issue in Congress), the more discharges we can expect to see.

But while our military personnel are being separated from service for being LGB, our State Department is willing to help the Romans have the most Gaga-licious Pride Parade Evah.

Wow. It is making my head explode.Feel free to discuss this, and whatever else is on your mind, if yours hasn't exploded yet, that is... Copyright © 2011 by Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

2 comments:

Mary Ellen said...

Hillary Clinton continues to disappoint me. She's turned into just another one of Obama's political hacks. She's so busy doing Obama's political campaign bidding that she's missing the big picture.

I don't think I would trust Hillary with the Presidency , I just don't know who that woman is anymore.

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

I hear you, ME - sadly, I think you are right. I mean, when the hell was the last time our gov't acted as an entertainer's manager, for crying out loud?? I know Lady Gaga is pro-LGBT, and I appreciate that, but she ain't the first. Why we are spending any time and resources on this at all is just absurd.

And it is especially so when there is so much going on for LGB people HERE.

I know people always talked abt Bill Clinton and Hollywood, but he sure as hell didn't have the Hollywood Elite over to the White House all the time, or allow them to go into the Situation Room and have their photos taken, much less a Thurs. night concert series while our economy is going down the drain.

Yet, that is where we are now. The State Department is asking an entertainer to go to Rome not for a State event, mind you, but to be a part of a parade.

Holy shit.