"Now is the time for us to act," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and "close the door on a fundamental unfairness in our nation."

"It is up to the Senate to consign this failed and discriminatory law to the dustbin of history," Solmonese added.

It could be the land of free in so many simple ways that SHOW the true freedom of it's citizens. I would put this alongside being equally as important as ratifying a nuclear arms treaty with Russia.

What is there to protect if the people themselves are not protected and free from oppressions?

I am moved to remember some of the Gettysburg Address. The Address itself always touches me when I read it. I always find the final paragraph most poignant... But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (in recent conflicts read men as man & women)

So many have given their all. Maybe it is time for their nation to give them back their freedoms to be who they are and live as they need to?

I wish the repeal the very best of success so that the soldiers who are gay and fighting for our freedoms can live in freedom themselves.

mp