Redefining “fierce” for the rest of us.

Our fierce advocate has done very little in terms that would encourage such strong language. Sure, he has signed the hate crimes bill and met with some transexuals, but what major change has he personally enacted? It wasn’t Obama that fought for Hate crimes, it was the house and the senate. It was gracious that he signed the bill into law and it’s surely a step in the right direction, but with a history of nothing but political leaps backward, how long do we accept steps as progress? Where is his leadership on DADT, DOMA? When is the world going to be safe enough for someone in power, to take a small amount of time to address the inequalities of millions of Americans? What does the Dow have to read before I can marry my boyfriend? I am just curious, beccause it seems there is always something more important than our rights and I, for one, am tired and don’t plan on asking for them anymore.

Could Obama have made the difference in Maine? Who is to say. I am not one to jump on the bandwagon that his support of equality or even fervent denouncement of divisive politics, could have given us the victory that equality demands. As it is now, Obama is becoming more and more unpopular and is seen as a man of great pragmatism, but little courage or personal conviction. He hands out millions to bankers, sells out the public on Health Care and spends most of his time on TV, giving vague and subtle hints as to what he MIGHT do, compared to what he is going to actually do. His chief of staff is of no help in this department either as he is looking more and more like a moderate Dick Cheney. It wasn’t so long ago that Obama supported full marriage equality. Integrity is often the first virtue to vanish in the face of ultimate power.

He may or may not be a good president, but integrity the man does not have.

The Huffington Post had a great article discussing an ongoing discussion in the civil rights struggle of our age. Is Obama doing enough to fight back the stem of intolerance? Has he earned the right to be considered a fierce advocate? Some would say yes and ask that the president be given more time. He does, after all, have quite a big plate in front of him. There is no denying that the president is busy and has had little time to repair the damage of 8 years of neglect, but how long does it take to make a stand? How long would it take to send a strong worded message to America, that equality is worth fighting for and that his personal views of marriage have no bearing on the law? How long would it take to say, “Enough is enough”?

SAN FRANCISCO — Stunned and angry, national gay rights leaders Wednesday blamed scare-mongering ads – and President Barack Obama’s lack of engagement – for a bitter election setback in Maine that could alter the dynamics for both sides in the gay-marriage debate.

Gay activists were frustrated that Obama, who insists he staunchly supports their overall civil rights agenda, didn’t speak out forcefully in defense of Maine’s marriage law before Tuesday’s referendum. The law was repealed in a vote of 53 percent to 47 percent.

The president spends plenty of time on TV, but often neglects that he is running a nation overflowing with stone aged idealists and poorly educated house wives. He spends great deals of time pontificating about his many plans, but rarely answers to the outrage of the people, from either side. Everyday, while millions of Americans are pushed underfoot, he goes about his business, content that his place is in the philosophical realm, unaware of how much sway he could have on equality and the real world.

After so many lies and misgivings, it is hard to know whether he is going to change Washington or if Washington has changed him.

It is rarely popular to do the right thing and rarely is the right thing popular. If we had left the rights of slaves to the peoples votes, we would likely still be fighting for abolition and interracial marriage would be something of fairy tales.

However, all of the blame does not lie on the shoulders of our president and there is plenty of blame to go around. There always is. It is often impossible to fight a battle of virtue or honor when your opponent is knee deep in the sewer and covered in ideological mud. When the weapon of your enemy is a lie, the easily feared are quick and easy prey. The Mormon and Catholic church have broken the law and it will not stop here. With the protection of the government they have over stepped their boundaries and little is being down to counteract this breach of legislative inanity.

It is  time that we stop asking for our rights and start taking them. Either by gavel or blood, this battle will end in our victory or the ruin of us all.

Read the entire article at The Huffington Post