Anti-ROTC Posters: Participate

 

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Misconception: Students who identify as LGBTQ can participate in ROTC as long as they don't reveal their identity.

Reality It's true.  It's just a violation of human rights.

VOTE NO ON ROTC

vote no on a militaristic campus

A second poster is entitled "Breaking News: Obama to Delay Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell!"


Analysis

The top poster is a bit hard to interpret, but seems to be calling for reform of  the federal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.  We agree.

The second poster cites a report that Congressional action on DADT is not expected for a year after the new Congress is seated. "Many months" may seem an eternity, but the momentum clearly is building against DADT. Representatives of organizations who have fought this fight for years, such as the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, argue, "2009 is about foundation building and reaching consensus." The executive director himself said, "What's the reality for the new administration? Financial crisis. Economic upheaval. Health care reform. Environmental challenges. Where does 'don't ask, don't tell' fall in all this? I would say it is not in the top five priorities of national issues."

Furthermore, Barack Obama stated to the Human Rights Campaign that "The eradication of this policy will require more than just eliminating one statute. It will require the implementation of anti-harassment policies and protocols for dealing with abusive or discriminatory behavior as we transition our armed forces away from a policy of discrimination. The military must be our active partners in developing those policies and protocols." Nor can Columbia wait for the military to be a perfect institution. We must take responsibility, and help to be a part of that change.

Analysis and photo by Columbia Students for NROTC.