86 WWII vet on Gay Marriage: What do you think our boys fought for?

yg17 · Oct 21, 2009, 08:37 PM

This is well worth a watch. He couldn't be any more right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJ...layer_embedded

Transcript:

Quote:

Good morning, Committee. My name is Phillip Spooner and I live at 5 Graham Street in Biddeford. I am 86 years old and a lifetime Republican and an active VFW chaplain. I still serve three hospitals and two nursing homes and I also serve Meals on Wheels for 28 years. My wife of 54 years, Jenny, died in 1997. Together we had four children, including the one gay son. All four of our boys were in the service. I was born on a potato farm north of Caribou and Perham, where I was raised to believe that all men are created equal and I've never forgotten that. I served in the U.S. Army, 1942-1945, in the First Army, as a medic and an ambulance driver. I worked with every outfit over there, including Patton's Third Army. I saw action in all five major battles in Europe, and including the Battle of the Bulge. My unit was awarded Presidential Citations for transporting more patients with fewer accidents than any other [inaudible] I was in the liberation of Paris. After the war I carried POW's back from Poland, Hungary, and Yugoslavia, and also hauled hundreds of injured Germans back to Germany.
I am here today because of a conversation I had last June when I was voting. A woman at my polling place asked me, "Do you believe in equal, equality for gay and lesbian people?" I was pretty surprised to be asked a question like that. It made no sense to me. Finally I asked her, "What do you think our boys fought for at Omaha Beach?" I haven't seen much, so much blood and guts, so much suffering, much sacrifice. For what? For freedom and equality. These are the values that give America a great nation, one worth dying for.
I give talks to eighth grade teachers about World War II, and I don't tell them about the horror. Maybe [inaudible] ovens of Buchenwald and Dachau. I've seen with my own eyes the consequences of caste systems and it make some people less than others, or second class. Never again. We must have equal rights for everyone. It's what this country was started for. It takes all kinds of people to make a world war. It does make no sense that some people who love each other can marry and others can't just because of who they are. This is what we fought for in World War II. That idea that we can be different and still be equal.
My wife and I did not raise four sons with the idea that three of them would have a certain set of rights, but our gay child would be left out. We raised them all to be hard-working, proud, and loyal Americans and they all did good. I think it's too bad [inaudible] want to get married, they should be able to. Everybody's supposed to be equal in equality in this country. Let gay people have the right to marry. Thank you

emt1 · Oct 21, 2009, 10:59 PM

But... but... baby Jesus isn't going to be happy about this!!

leekohler · Oct 22, 2009, 10:00 AM

Damn right. Thank you, sir.

I'm kind of surprised no one else has commented on this. I thought this would have everybody buzzing.

AP_piano295 · Oct 22, 2009, 10:02 AM

That idea that we can be different and still be equal.

I like this.

leekohler · Oct 22, 2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AP_piano295

That idea that we can be different and still be equal.

I like this.

I watched the vid last night and almost cried. That guy gave the nicest speech.

imac/cheese · Oct 22, 2009, 10:29 AM

It was definitely a great speech.

Rt&Dzine · Oct 22, 2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leekohler

Damn right. Thank you, sir.

I'm kind of surprised no one else has commented on this. I thought this would have everybody buzzing.

Why? Not all Republicans are unreasonable.

leekohler · Oct 22, 2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rt&Dzine

Why? Not all Republicans are unreasonable.

Huh? What do you mean? I just thought there would be more reaction, that's all. It doesn't have to be negative.

Rt&Dzine · Oct 22, 2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leekohler

Huh? What do you mean?

Sorry, I didn't intend my comment to sound negative. It's a very nice speech, but what makes it buzz-worthy?

leekohler · Oct 22, 2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rt&Dzine

Sorry, I didn't intend my comment to sound negative. It's a very nice speech, but what makes it buzz-worthy?

The fact that he's a vet, the father of a gay man, and that all his sons served in the military. The fact that he's standing there- talking about a subject that is very controversial and putting a face on that subject. The fact that he had the balls to take a stand, even though many in the military probably wish he hadn't.

That makes it buzz-worthy.

yg17 · Oct 22, 2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rt&Dzine

Sorry, I didn't intend my comment to sound negative. It's a very nice speech, but what makes it buzz-worthy?

Because I bet 99% of 86 year old republicans are against gay marriage and this guy had the balls to speak out for it.

leekohler · Oct 22, 2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yg17

Because I bet 99% of 86 year old republicans are against gay marriage and this guy had the balls to speak out for it.

That's exactly right. How many people his age would have the guts to do this?

djellison · Oct 22, 2009, 11:11 AM

I think the four sons he's very proud of, have the right to be equally proud of him after that. Superb message, superbly delivered.

And if anyone disagrees with the message, may they rot in hell*

*a place that doesn't exist, but most who disagree with that message probably believe does.

Rt&Dzine · Oct 22, 2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leekohler

That's exactly right. How many people his age would have the guts to do this?

I spend a lot of time with the elderly and many of them feel this way and are upfront about it. That's why it didn't seem so unusual to me.

Teh Don Ditty · Oct 22, 2009, 11:25 AM

I can't watch this at work, but I just finished reading the transcript.

Wow. That's amazing.

Good on him. Great speech.

iBlue · Oct 22, 2009, 11:35 AM

I couldn't agree more and I think it's fantastic he stood up and said what he did. That was truly a great speech.

leekohler · Oct 22, 2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rt&Dzine

I spend a lot of time with the elderly and many of them feel this way and are upfront about it. That's why it didn't seem so unusual to me.

Can you get some of them to make speeches?

Rt&Dzine · Oct 22, 2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leekohler

Can you get some of them to make speeches?

Good point. (Although some of them would love to have an audience.)

leekohler · Oct 22, 2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rt&Dzine

Good point. (Although some of them would love to have an audience.)

I think it would be awesome.

Zombie Acorn · Oct 22, 2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rt&Dzine

I spend a lot of time with the elderly and many of them feel this way and are upfront about it. That's why it didn't seem so unusual to me.

Where are you located? This isn't the sentiment that I hear from old people. Around here they are basically weathering the storm and making sure nothing changes until they die. Then again most of the old people around here are the same ones who think society went downhill as soon as prayer was taken out of schools.

Rt&Dzine · 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombie Acorn

Where are you located? This isn't the sentiment that I hear from old people. Around here they are basically weathering the storm and making sure nothing changes until they die. Then again most of the old people around here are the same ones who think society went downhill as soon as prayer was taken out of schools.

I have to admit that on a day-to-day basis I don't interact much with bigots. I try to avoid them.

leekohler · Oct 22, 2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rt&Dzine

I have to admit that on a day-to-day basis I don't interact much with bigots. I try to avoid them.

I guess I'm surprised because that was my impression as well. It's usually the older generation who is opposed to such things.

anjinhamarota · Oct 22, 2009, 01:53 PM

Great speech.

I too was surprised, not because I think older people tend to be prejudiced but because they tend to oppose change more.

leekohler · Oct 22, 2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anjinhamarota

Great speech.

I too was surprised, not because I think older people tend to be prejudiced but because they tend to oppose change more.

Exactly. If it's different, there tends to be a bit of resistance. My Dad is terrible about change. He's straight up told me that he just wants things to stay the same all the time. My mom is better, but getting less patient as well. I don't get it. I bore easily and am always looking forward to a change.

Zombie Acorn · Oct 22, 2009, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rt&Dzine

I have to admit that on a day-to-day basis I don't interact much with bigots. I try to avoid them.

Seniors are our main clientele (computer consulting) so I don't really get a choice in who I interact with.

Oct 21, 2009, 10:59 PM	#2
emt1 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin	But... but... baby Jesus isn't going to be happy about this!! __________________ SSD Comparison Chart

Oct 22, 2009, 10:02 AM	#4
AP_piano295 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2005	That idea that we can be different and still be equal. I like this. __________________ Smile

Oct 22, 2009, 10:29 AM	#6
imac/cheese macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2007	It was definitely a great speech. __________________ "You wouldn't lie to me... Would you, little wooden boy?"

Oct 22, 2009, 11:35 AM	#16
iBlue macrumors Demi-Goddess Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Londrizzle, UK	I couldn't agree more and I think it's fantastic he stood up and said what he did. That was truly a great speech. __________________ Keep you in the dark , you know they all... pretend MRoogle

Oct 22, 2009, 01:53 PM	#23
anjinhamarota macrumors Demi-Goddess Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lisboa, Portugal	Great speech. I too was surprised, not because I think older people tend to be prejudiced but because they tend to oppose change more. __________________ "Tech nerds everywhere pissed Apple made a product for someone other than them." Macgasm \| Mac Tips, Mac News, Mac Everything. - Damn right I'm good in bed, I can sleep for days!

Oct 22, 2009, 10:00 AM	#3
leekohler In Time-Out Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois	Damn right. Thank you, sir. I'm kind of surprised no one else has commented on this. I thought this would have everybody buzzing.

Oct 22, 2009, 11:11 AM	#13
djellison macrumors 68000 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leicester, UK	I think the four sons he's very proud of, have the right to be equally proud of him after that. Superb message, superbly delivered. And if anyone disagrees with the message, may they rot in hell* *a place that doesn't exist, but most who disagree with that message probably believe does.

Oct 22, 2009, 11:25 AM	#15
Teh Don Ditty macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Long Island, NY	I can't watch this at work, but I just finished reading the transcript. Wow. That's amazing. Good on him. Great speech.

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