D-Day Commemoration

Today, our esteemed president, fresh from his historic speech in Cairo, will join other leaders in the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the World War II landing on the beaches of Normandy. It was a bloody day as the allied forces began the campaign to defeat Hitler on the continent of Europe. Many died, many fought with unparalleled bravery.

I applaud the principles and actions of President Obama and have always thought that he may well be one of our greatest presidents. But he has certainly been less than great in his failure to end the discriminatory and demeaning "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military, as he had promised in his campaign. If Harry Truman could show the fortitude to end the much larger problem of segregation in the military, surely Obama could end this senseless policy. The change is slight by comparison, since many gays are serving successfully every day while being forced to hide or lie about their nature. Meanwhile, on Obama's watch, the services are losing Arabic speakers and other valuable people.

ABORTION DR. MURDER AND ACCOUNTABILITY

In the case of waterboarding and other torture, many have demanded that those who authorized it be held accountable. Those responsible could include VP Cheney and even the lawyers who wrote legal opinions with specious reasoning to support the use of torture. This accountability has meaning, since torture is a crime.

Similary, there is a question of accountability in the case of Dr. George Tiller, a Dr. who provided health care for women in need, and who was shot and killed as he attended church on Sunday. In addition to the suspect in custody, should anyone else be accountable? I think so, even though the criminal actions involved may not constitute a crime.

There are anti-abortion leaders and groups that call abortion doctors murderers, and those that foment violence against abortion clinics. Some have expressed gratitude for the killing of Dr. Tiller. The very tactics used incite hatred of these health care providers - pamphlets and vocal cries of "murderers", "blood on your hands", etc. and huge trucks emblazoned with images of bloodied fetuses.

Let these actions be considered a crime in the court of public opinion. Let anti-abortion leaders oppose abortion responsibly, recognizing that abortion clinics and doctors are lawfully and with honest dedication providing a medical service.