Support a fellow linguist by signing a letter of support June 29, 2009
Posted by Jill (@bonnjill) in Random musings.trackback
Did you know that the military is still discharging soldiers who are gay and want to serve their country? One of these soldiers is California’s Lt. Dan Choi — an Iraq War veteran and Arabic linguist. Lt. Choi is fighting the discharge and fighting the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and he needs your help as soon as possible. Lt. Choi goes on trial on Tuesday. I just signed a letter of support via the Courage Campaign for Lt. Choi, which he will bring with him to his trial. With just a few hours left before Lt. Choi’s trial, more than 90,000 people have also signed on to the letter. It’s important that Lt. Choi walks into the courtroom holding as many signatures of support as possible for his fight to continue serving his country, no matter who he loves. Will you join me in signing and urge your friends to do the same before Tuesday’s trial? Thanks!
Musings from an overworked translator 
Done.
I can’t understand how this can happen. Who you love has nothing to do with the way you do your work, so what is the problem?
The current administration in Washington has had more than enough time to begin change on this issue. I am shocked and appalled that they continue to kowtow to the fascist elements in US society that continue to practice abuse of outstanding fellow citizens like Lt. Choi.
Barry O. & Co.: get a spine. Like Goldwater once pointed out, men like Mr. Choi have served honorably since Roman times. Long before that I am sure. And what’s so hard about taking a position that is supported by more than 75% of Americans?! Cowards.
Dear Blogger,
you are nominated for the “Top 100 Language Blogs 2009” competition. Congratulations! After last year’s success the bab.la language portal and Lexiophiles language blog are hosting this year’s worldwide language blog competition once again. We are confident to surpass more than the 350 blogs which entered the competition in 2008.
We have made two major changes to last year:
1. Due to the amount of blogs we have created categories.
(Language Learning/Language Teaching/Language Technology/
Language Professionals)
You are in category Language Professionals
2. User voting will count 50% towards final score
Voting will start on July 8, leaving you enough time to prepare your readers for the upcoming voting. Voting will close on July 27 and the winners will be announced on July 30.
For more information on the 2009 competition and what it is all about visit [http://www.lexiophiles.com/english/top-100-language-blogs-2009-nomination-started]
So now you may ask yourself what you can do. Here are some suggestions
-Nominations are open until July 6, so feel free to share any blog you like with us
-Each blog will have a one-sentence-description for the voting. If you would like a special description to go along with your blog, just send me an email [marc@bab.la]
Kind regards,
Marc
On behalf of the bab.la and Lexiophiles team
[http://bab.la]
[www.lexiophiles.com]
Marc Lütten
bab.la GmbH | Baumwall 7 | 20459 Hamburg | Germany
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Done. I’ve seen Lt. Choi speak on the Rachel Maddow show a few times, he’s a courageous person and an eloquent spokesperson.
Daniel CHOI is dishonorable! He recently made the TV rounds essentially boasting that he “used” us taxpayers to get a free 4-year college education at West Point then he copped out on his promise to serve. That is, he purposely broke a law (Title 10 of the US Code), one that he knew would get him out. He also turned his back to his troops when he copped out and there were no bullets flying over his head. Is that honorable? He brought shame on West Point and all, repeat ALL, citizens of United States of America by essentially abandoning his post in a time of war. His was a cowardly way out. DADT is good for flushing out his kind. Same goes for that dishonorably discharged female officer, Tsao, who also decided to break the law then, she had the balls to ask President Obama to forgive her crime.
President Obama, please leave the DADT issue for the next administration eight years from now.
Hey Bob, you chose the wrong forum to spew your hate. Translators and interpreters are open-minded folks. There is also a huge percentage of translators and interpreters who are gay. Our country desperately needs Arabic linguists and kicking someone out of the military who speaks this crucial language is short-sighted. Well, at least Lt. Choi can then hopefully work as a contractor for the government and earn twice as much. BTW, all the articles I have read about this issue indicate his entire troop supports him 100%.
I totally agree with Jill Sommer.
Besides, Lt. Choi is being discharged for being gay, that is the only issue we are criticising here.
@Bob: The dishonorable ones here are the individuals on the board of colonels that opted for a dishonorable discharge. They remind me a bit of the Nazis who “only followed orders”. Gays and lesbians have a right to serve along side everyone else, and DADT is a disgusting cop-out that never should have been put in place. If the religious wackos and bigots who would like to see the likes of Lt. Choi locked back in the closet can’t deal with it, let them move to Saudi Arabia where they’ll find the social climate more in line with their philosophies.
Thanks for this post, Jill, and for highlighting this issue. Bob R. is part of a literally dying breed; the next generation will look back at attitudes like his with the same surprise and disgust with which we now look back on Jim Crow laws or time before women could vote.