Are We Willing?

I think it's time to change the fight.  Aren't we all tired of waiting for our politicians to do the right thing?  Doing the right thing is not enough to motivate politicians.  They will be motivated when they have no choice.  Aren't we all tired of complaining to ourselves on facebook?  Of being angry and upset and offended every time some jackass goes into a voting booth to decide whether or not to extend to us a full set of rights?

I think it's time for us to start filling up the jails. I think it's time for us to put ourselves in harm's way. I think it's time for us to break some laws and get arrested. I think it's time to fill up the army recruitment centers with the intention of joining the army and then refuse to leave when we tell them we're gay.  I think it's time to fill up the court houses from coast to coast and then refuse to leave when they tell us we can't get a marriage license.  I think it's time to stop paying our taxes until we receive every benefit that others enjoy.  I think it's time for us to stop working for companies that don't extend benefits to our partners - companies who hide conveniently behind the protective shield of the fact that we can't legally get married in most places.  I think it's time to stop giving our money to companies that support causes or politicians who are hellbent on keeping us from achieving equality.  

I think it's time for us to wake up and stop being complicit in our own second class status.

I think it's time that we use non-violent, civil disobedience to cripple our country in every way that we can until our country treats us as equals.  

I just wonder if I have what it takes.  I wonder if we, as a group, have what it takes.  The Montgomery bus boycott lasted 13 months. 13 months of walking. To work. From work. Getting up early. Getting home late. Doing it again tomorrow. And tomorrow. And tomorrow. And tomorrow. 13 months. Cold. Heat. Rain. 13 months. Their opponents did every disgusting thing they could think of to break the boycott from physical intimidation to bending laws, breaking laws & passing laws.  13 months. I wonder if we have the gumption to live with discomfort and fear and possibility of jail or violence or death in order to get what we want.  I wonder if we're willing to be cold.  Or hungry.  I wonder.  I wonder what we're willing to give to ensure that no longer will our rights be up for a vote.

I wonder - are we willing?