***Updated links below***
I'm pretty sure we all have big hearts when it comes to veterans. I don't know anyone that doesn't know and love at least one veteran. Whenever I see one veteran friend who completed two tours in Iraq, I have to contain my desire to declare my undying gratitude and appreciation for what he's done to protect our freedom. Yesterday in
an op-ed in the Portland Press Herald
on Hanukkah , Rabbi Akiva Herzfeld notes, "America is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth... This is the greatest nation now, and perhaps it is the greatest nation that ever was." What makes America so great to Rabbi Herzfeld?
"For me, America is not about our giant passenger jets, or our trips to the moon, or our great military.
These are all great achievements, but the greatest thing about America is the ideas that unite our nation: our love for democracy and our love for liberty and freedom."
It is exactly these ideas that so many veterans have fought and service members fight now to defend.
Today,
several Maine veterans spoke out in support of equality , dignity and respect for all servicemembers. Don't Ask, Don't Tell prohibits gay and lesbian service members from serving openly in the military. The Military Facilities Abortion Ban prohibits service women abroad from obtaining an abortion on military bases, even when service women pay for the procedure out of pocket. Both of these policies have had a dangerous effect on our service members. Whether
it's the nurse discharged despite the critical need for her service , or the raped
woman in Afghanistan who tried to self-abort with her rifle , our service members deserve more than these policies.
Senators Snowe and Collins will be the deciding votes in repealing DADT and lifting the military facilities abortion ban - literally. One of their votes could be the difference between equality and inequality. That's why Maine veterans called on the Senators to support these efforts. Mainers aren't the only ones.
According to a Pentagon Paper released this week , over 70% of service members have no problem with the repeal.
Watch any of the TV stations news tonight for footage of the veterans press conference. Then call the Senators offices and let them know you support repeal - 202-224-3121.
Watch footage here: