SLDN Plaintiff Remembers Sacrifice, Looks to Future in Season of Hope
Christmas is always a very special time of year for me. It's more than just another holiday. While people are shopping and decorating their houses for this special holiday, there are men and women who don't get that opportunity because they are protecting the freedom of people like you and me. I have had the pleasure and privilege of being one of those people. As a soldier, your definition of family changes from just the normal platonic family to a family made up of just random strangers from all over the country with one mission in mind: To serve this amazing, diverse country we call the USA.As one of those people who stepped forward to defend each of us, there was more than just the pain of not being able to see your family on such a family-oriented holiday, but the fact that I would not have been able to express my love for a partner over the phone. I would have been in fear that if I said "I love you" to another man that someone would overhear me and turn me in for being gay. Not to mention while everyone is getting care packages from their wives and children, he would be unable to do the same for me. I was willing to lay my life down for a country I loved so much, but the country I loved wanted me to hide and lie about who I am. Every day the Army preached to us the core values of honor, duty, respect, personal courage, loyalty, selfless service and integrity. I was unable to live by these values, because I had to hide who I was. Then one day I was forced to live by all seven values, but the Army only wanted me to live by these values with certain stipulations.
Last week marks the five years since I was forced to admit that I was a gay solider. Since that day I have been on a rollercoaster ride that has had its good times, but definitely had its bad times. December 16, 2003, was the day that I walked into my commander's office and handed him a letter stating that I am gay and wanted to protect myself from a personal threat that could possibly take my life. That is also the day that my Army career came to an end. Ever since that day I have been fighting this unjust law.
Now, 15 years since the law has been put in place, I believe that we have the opportunity to make a difference and possibly win the fight to end discrimination against LGBT individuals who are willing to sacrifice more than most Americans are willing to. If the ban is lifted I would re-join the same day, because I am an American too, and should be able to serve openly and proudly.
12-23-08 By SLDN Plaintiff and former U.S. Army Specialist, Tommy Cook |
4 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Sherry in Alexandria on December 30, 2008 at 11.51 am
It warms my heart to see all of you so called supporters finding happiness and pride in soldiers giving up. A soldier never gives up, to often we show all of our appreciation to those who have thrown in the towel, forgetting those who won’t give up.
me in Washington Dc on December 30, 2008 at 11.46 am
One who makes such grammatical errors should not be correcting others when it comes to the English language. Let the record show the definition of integrity.
Integrity is adherence to a moral code, reflected in honesty and harmony in what one thinks, says and does.
If I am putting my life on the line for my country and serving my country as I am a threat on my life will not push me to stand aside and let you deprive my country of my service.
I am a Second Lieutenant in the Army. I feel that he should have known that simply being an American Soldier brings a death threat on his life. If all I have to do is scare a soldier for him to leave his post, then he isn’t the man for the job. I need soldiers who are willing to stand at threats, stand I terror and not back down.
Re-read your post, you will see not only have you encouraged my community to give in to the insult of a policy that “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” is by backing down and not serving their country, but you have attempted to encourage readers to give into intimidation and bulling.
It seems to me that so many in our community are saying hey they said we can’t so we won’t. I would like to remind you all that they told Mrs. Rosa Parks the same, you can’t sit here. You aren’t aloud! I ask you did she move, did she give into the bully that said you aren’t as good as us so you need to move to the back of the bus.
I stand against those telling our brave men and women from the GLBT community that they should not serve and they should do the integral thing and have themselves chaptered out. I stand and say fight for AMERICA. Show the world that you won’t give your seat up for a bully. Tell the world it will take more then a threat or ignorance for you not to stand strong when liberty is threatened.
Fight for our country, Fight for our community, Defend us against those domestic enemies who want you to back down for political propaganda. Take your rolls and lead our country through these challenging times!
We as a country do not negotiate with terrorist and I ask you brave men and women to do the same individually!
imlucki in Washington, DC on December 29, 2008 at 01.46 pm
Dear ME in Washington, DC:
I would recommend you do a little research before jumping to conclusion about this gentlemen’s character. Feel free to go to this link and look at his story http://www.sldn.org/pages/cook-thomas. Army strength includes integrity and personal courage. Tommy exemplifies these qualities.
Also, shouldn’t you be able to spell defend if you plan to defend our country? Oh yeah, they lower the standards for entrance. Now you just have to patriotic instead of educated and qualified too.
me in washington dc on December 29, 2008 at 11.04 am
I do appreciate your sacrafise for the GLBT community, but I must say. I am willing to sacrafise my life for both the GLBT community and my country in its entirety. In the future I reccomend you demonstrate ARMY STRENGTH and not budge to acts from coward terrorist. To defen our country from foriegn enemies we must stand strong, even if they should threaten death. To my soldiers currently serving, DON’T BACK DOWN. STAND PROUD AND STRONG. TAKE YOUR PLACE! DON’T WAIT FOR IT TO BE GIVEN TO YOU! TAKE YOUR PLACE!