nice one, sir!

[pauraque_bk]

Obama's speech for LGBT Pride Month

This jumped out at me:

And I know that many in this room don't believe that progress has come fast enough, and I understand that. It's not for me to tell you to be patient, any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half century ago.

Just recently I saw someone pointing out that the "be patient" line is a common tactic used against people of color. Be patient, change is slow, things will even out eventually... Martin Luther King wrote a book called Why We Can't Wait -- fifty years ago. I appreciate and agree with the sentiment that it's just as lame and false when that line is fed to the queer community. It also nicely stomps on the idea that queer rights are "different" from other civil rights.

Comments

[mark356.livejournal.com]

I don't quite understand the line. What exactly is he advising?

The line that creeps me out a little is this: We've been in office six months now. I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration. It's as if he's more concerned with looking good and appealing to this demographic than he is with action.

[pauraque]

I'm not a particular Obama fanboy, but that seems like a very selective reading considering he went on to mention more specific things like DOMA, partner rights, and don't-ask-don't-tell.

[reddwarfer.livejournal.com]

I like that he didn't bother with the condescending line of "be patient" with us. That worked for me.

[vikingcarrot.livejournal.com]

I'm in total agreeance here - much as it's always tempting to use the 'be patient' line, it's completely useless and unfair, and I'm pleased that he addressed that. I thought it was a fine speech.

I particularly enjoyed the duck ringtone. What is wrong with some people? Not just that her phone went off, but she has a duck ringtone.