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The Shame: Tomorrow A DREAM but no UAFA!

Melanie Nathan – Dec 17-2010…   In forty nine years from now, I will look back and ask: ‘did they really do that in America in 2010? ‘ I will be perplexed- confused – “did they really exile Americans, in 2010 – send American citizens packing – “Go, leave America – choose between love and country!  And so what about love for country?”

“How could they? How could they have stopped lovers from loving? From beloved being betrothed- betrothed to breathe sweet American Pie-  at home in the ‘land of the free.’ How could they separate soul mates simply because they present sameness of gender?”

It made no sense – but they did? They sure did and they did it in the name  of  justifying oppression, a mantra – signed into law by a Democratic President, one who stood for social Justice.

Who was he pleasing who?

Did they continue to please and I still scream DOMA, DOMA, DOMA!

On Saturday Dec 18-2010- Looking back 49 years  there was a vote in the US Senate ,a vote for a DREAM – for the children of undocumented immigrants- the innocent children who have lost their liberty  to their parent’s desperation.

The DREAM Act passed and the DREAM of immigration and education realized; then they were free and happy.

AND looking back I try to understand why at a time when hardship was being recognized and injustice appropriately dealt  with, why were you Madison, Ken, Gina, Inger, Carla, Lori, Jen, Tim, Michael, Jon, Di,   and all the 100,000 others-

so left out of the DREAM -

with your SCREAM UAFA UAFA  UAFA.

.. when already American citizens you could do nothing, nothing to be with who you love, care for or be cared for by your love, at home in the land of the free !

And worse yet the Senate , the US Congress and themost powerful person in the world, the US President – of the United States of America, seemed not to care less…..

That was then – this is now 49 years later and we are almost 100!

When can we be together with our true love in our true home in the Land of  the Free?

Note: Tomorrow The Dream Act comes to the Senate floor for a vote  but UAFA does not.  UAFA would provide immigration equality to  American citizens and residents who are unable to sponsor their same-sex spouses and permanent partners for green cards.

The US has yet to enact laws that will prevent gay and lesbian couples from having to exile to stay with foreign partners or from partners facing deportation.  The discrimination in the USA is based on the fact that same-sex partners are specifically excluded from Federal rights – such as the right to sponsor a spouse for a green card, because of the Defense of Marriage Act. (DOMA)

Melanie Nathan
in sadness &  solidarity; yet another holiday season
watching friends separated… again… again…

..

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

This Video depicts failed leadership.  LGBT Organizations have failed to fight for UAFA – thinking that Immigration Equality will get the Job done!!   Well where are you and where were you?   If you had we would be sitting with DREAM ACT tomorrow, Saturday Dec 18, 2010.

Yes we should tell our stories; but some of us did and we had a Senate Hearing and we had Julian Bond and Shirley Tan – but we were thrown away – the distraction – If UAFA would have been pursued as vigorously as DREAM ACT as a stand alone instead of as only worthy of inclusion in comprehensive immigration reform – we would have had our million dollar advocacy and lobby groups mobilizing stories to be told to Democrats and Republicans alike.

On June 3rd, 2010 – A member of the staff of  Immigration Equality told me and the TAN family – “Don’t waste your time talking to Republicans. “  Joe of PFLAG – what do you think about that? That was the week Steve Ralls left PFLAG to join  Immigration Equality – it was not Steve who made that suggestion it was someone else.

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Dedicated to Granny Meeda,  103,  an immigrant who is living in the USA .

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