On Becoming a Civil Rights Movement - by David Mixner

keepCAblue

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Tue Jun-02-09 03:19 PM
Original message

On Becoming a Civil Rights Movement - by David Mixner

http://www.davidmixner.com/2009/05/on-becoming-a-civil-rights-movementby-david-mixner.html

Excerpt:

Just by writing about the need for a March on Washington, I was totally stunned by the thousands, yes thousands, of emails from organizations and individuals all over America ready to move. Most of them young and eager to be part of a great moment in their history. Only Chuck Wolfe of the Victory Fund in DC responded to their call. Most likely this March will now be organized by leadership outside Washington and by people who are willing to do it via the new technology and, thus, much cheaper. Sounds like 1963, doesn't it?

Almost all the organizations within the Beltway yesterday couldn't condemn quickly enough the court suit by the Equality Foundation which would take Proposition 8 to the Federal Courts. Does anyone really believe that someone, somewhere in California on their own would not challenge Proposition 8 to the Federal Courts? Did they really believe they could control it from Washington in these passionate times? What is amazing is that it is not some fringe challenge to the Federal Court, we are being given a top notch, star studded challenge. We should be celebrating this powerful team instead of discouraging them. We hear the lament "now is not the time" and "we can't win". If we waited until we were certain of victory most likely I would hear about it in heaven because that is how long it would be for the possible to become practical.

There is even talk in Washington DC by our national organizations about compromising on the full repeal of "DOMA". Say what? This may be the best Congress we will ever have and our leaders are the last people who should be telling our elected officials to compromise. Never, ever give away the 'kitchen sink' until it is absolutely, positively necessary. Can you imagine the reaction around the country from the tens of thousands of young people who are newly involved if they heard we are the ones that told Congress to compromise on DOMA and leave parts of it intact? I can promise you it would not be pretty. Nor should it be.

A movement is about rapidly moving forward and embracing the creativity and excitement of actions around the country and disregarding the refrains from Washington of "No", "Now is not the time" and "We know better than you". The leadership in DC has done an extraordinary job. It is their success that has created this marvelous historic civil rights movement. They should embrace it, support it and open their minds to new ideas and new ways.

These leaders, too, will catch up with the parade just like those remarkable figures of Roy Wilkins and Whitney Young did.

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RufusH

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Tue Jun-02-09 04:07 PM
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1. Yes!

Almost all the organizations within the Beltway yesterday couldn't condemn quickly enough the court suit by the Equality Foundation which would take Proposition 8 to the Federal Courts. Does anyone really believe that someone, somewhere in California on their own would not challenge Proposition 8 to the Federal Courts? Did they really believe they could control it from Washington in these passionate times? What is amazing is that it is not some fringe challenge to the Federal Court, we are being given a top notch, star studded challenge. We should be celebrating this powerful team instead of discouraging them. We hear the lament "now is not the time" and "we can't win". If we waited until we were certain of victory most likely I would hear about it in heaven because that is how long it would be for the possible to become practical.

Exactly how I felt the minute I heard that Olson and Boies were taking it to the top. We have to stop STOPPING ourselves and get it DONE.

Now IS the time.

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mitchtv

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Tue Jun-02-09 04:10 PM
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2. K&R

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Creideiki

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Tue Jun-02-09 04:44 PM
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3. It's rare that I get to be the 5th recommendation

This is something that needs a little publicity outside the GLBT forum.

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