I think this is a big step for the direct action group GetEqual, whose tactics didn’t receive a lot of establishment respect. The White House, while shaken by some of the protests, clearly offered the olive branch by inviting both Lt. Dan Choi and Robin McGehee to Wednesday’s White House signing ceremony.
The signing will not be held at the White House. The invite list is apparently quite long — the ceremony is being held in an auditorium.
In case you’re wondering, your blogmistress, despite being one of the thorns in the side of the WH at times, has also received an invitation.
That’s heartening, since it also means recognition of the Netroots. Via Twitter I know that John Aravosis (certainly not a WH fan), Andy Towle, and other bloggers are invited, so perhaps the White House would like to use this opportunity to start anew. Time will tell, of course.
As far as my attendance goes, it is a life filled with an abundance of hilarious bad luck, bad timing and bad health. Usually it’s a conflict with my day job when it comes to invites of this nature; this time it’s the damn hysterectomy. YES the plumbing of the damned — it’s removed and it’s still screwing with me, lolol.
Let’s put it this way – I drove a few miles today and mailed a couple of small boxes at the PO, went to one store and came home. My abdomen is now throbbing sore and definitely feels like I overdid it (like stitches pulling). Anyway, attending would be a logistical nightmare for me. I’m not physically ready for a long drive, dealing with flying/the airport or standing for long periods yet. Also, I cannot lift more than 10 lbs for quite a while, so no bag or laptop and gear for me either. Crushing fatigue can strike without warning too. Oh, and folks have to be on site by 7AM on Wednesday. LOL. The reality is (even as I hilariously, sadly bargained with Kate about how it might be possible to go) it takes months to fully recover from a hysterectomy even without complications involving my other issues (fibromyalgia, neuropathy). The smart thing is to sadly and politely decline attending the historic event.
I do hope to see, as I watch the event on the tube on Wednesday with the rest of you, that there are many members of the military attending — those who lost their jobs due to DADT, and we can, in ceremony, close this chapter and move on to full impementation of repeal.
Pam’s House Blend – Front Page
