We marched, now what? (aka Go out and make 'em do it)
I was inspired last night by a tale of FDR. During his presidency he met with a group of activists from the Labor Unions who were telling him what more he needed to do for them. He listened intently for quite a long time. After they were done he told them essentially, "I agree with everything you've just said, now go out and make me do it." (a recount can be found at http://www.huffingtonpost.
The idea was that while FDR personally agreed with these activists, he needed them to work to create the support and pressure that would allow FDR to pursue this agenda.
We now have in the White House someone who shares many of our progressive goals, be they health care, international relations, or my focus of LGBT rights. Obama has told us, during the campaign, and most recently at the HRC dinner that he agrees with our demands. And yet, he hasn't taken actions we would like yet. I believe that while he didn't say it, Obama needs us to go out and make him do it.
So on Sunday we took a first step and marched from the White House to the Capitol, 200,000 strong, demanding full equality. And we were heard, and we were visible and I believe many across the country took notice. But simply demanding our rights will not pass the legislation we so dearly believe in. No, we must take action, each and every day, to go out and make Obama, and every elected official in this country do it, pass legislation protecting LGBT people and ensuring we enjoy equal rights under the law.
This means writing elected officials, calling their offices, visiting them in DC and locally. It means writing letters to the editor, talking with our friends and family, and yes, engaging in difficult conversations with people who may not yet be with us. We cannot merely march and tell the government to do something, we must act and make the government do it. We must show a groundswell of support and show our elected officials that we will support them when they do what is right and just because what is right and just is not always what is popular.
No victory of Civil Rights was ever won just because a group asked for their rights. LBJ didn't sign the Civil Rights Act simply because he knew it was the right thing to do. He did it because millions of people spoke up and said, I'm with you LBJ, now put that pen to paper. So too must we make it clear to Obama that we are with him, that we are willing to fight, and that we will support him against the critics who will say he should not do this.
We've marched, shouted, demanded, now we must write, speak, and work to make 'em do it.
The idea was that while FDR personally agreed with these activists, he needed them to work to create the support and pressure that would allow FDR to pursue this agenda.
We now have in the White House someone who shares many of our progressive goals, be they health care, international relations, or my focus of LGBT rights. Obama has told us, during the campaign, and most recently at the HRC dinner that he agrees with our demands. And yet, he hasn't taken actions we would like yet. I believe that while he didn't say it, Obama needs us to go out and make him do it.
So on Sunday we took a first step and marched from the White House to the Capitol, 200,000 strong, demanding full equality. And we were heard, and we were visible and I believe many across the country took notice. But simply demanding our rights will not pass the legislation we so dearly believe in. No, we must take action, each and every day, to go out and make Obama, and every elected official in this country do it, pass legislation protecting LGBT people and ensuring we enjoy equal rights under the law.
This means writing elected officials, calling their offices, visiting them in DC and locally. It means writing letters to the editor, talking with our friends and family, and yes, engaging in difficult conversations with people who may not yet be with us. We cannot merely march and tell the government to do something, we must act and make the government do it. We must show a groundswell of support and show our elected officials that we will support them when they do what is right and just because what is right and just is not always what is popular.
No victory of Civil Rights was ever won just because a group asked for their rights. LBJ didn't sign the Civil Rights Act simply because he knew it was the right thing to do. He did it because millions of people spoke up and said, I'm with you LBJ, now put that pen to paper. So too must we make it clear to Obama that we are with him, that we are willing to fight, and that we will support him against the critics who will say he should not do this.
We've marched, shouted, demanded, now we must write, speak, and work to make 'em do it.
