Avenue Q; Straight Shooting October 7, 2009March 16, 2017 GET READY TO ENLIST An article in the Joint Force Quarterly, published for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ‘calls in unambiguous terms for lifting the ban on gays serving openly in the armed forces,’ according to the Boston Globe. (Anyone who doubts the injustice of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell – or that it weakens our military – need just watch Colonel Fehrenbach’s four-minute video.) The good news, as explained here, is that the policy is heading for the dustbin: Progressives should realize that Obama had a plan for ending DADT, the plan is working, and that beating up Obama for not doing anything is counterproductive . . . Unlike Bill Clinton’s well-intentioned but ham-fisted attempt to integrate gays into the military ‘with a stroke of the pen,’ Obama’s approach respected the prerogatives of the brass and allowed the military as an institution to save face, while at the same time ensuring that the decision, once made, would face a minimum of internal resistance and sabotage. Yes, the Fabian approach inflicted undeserved damage on those servicemembers who have been discharged in the meantime, while also depriving the country of their services. But to have let that short-term consideration dominate the need to make the transition to a gay-friendly military as smooth as possible would have required an insanely high discount rate . . . ☞ ‘I just finished reading Colonel Om Prakash’s essay in the Joint Force Quarterly on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I am running in a very heavy military district and I can tell you that an article in the JFQ has more influence on the military folks here than does the New York Times. But when the two work together, the impact is magnified (see Saturday’s editorial).’ – Krystal Ball (aforementioned candidate for Congress) ‘You don’t need to be straight to fight and die for your country. You just need to shoot straight.’ – Barry Goldwater AVENUE Q Feedback on yesterday‘s admission of puppet confusion ranged from a succinct ‘face it, you’re just old’ (well, there’s that) to this gentler explanation: Jon Winkleman: ‘Avenue Q is definitely a generational thing. I am part of the first Sesame Street Generation. I even remember Sesame Street going on the air as a toddler. If you grew up on Sesame Street, you would think Avenue Q deserved a Pulitzer Prize. For most Americans 45 and under, the show defined our early childhood and view on the world.’ And this additional feedback: Brad Walker: ‘What you have to realize is that Marx and Lopez, the creators of Avenue Q, are Muppet Freaks. Here is a link to a pitch they gave to the Henson organization for a movie called Kermit, Prince of Denmark. Just the two of them, but they do credible imitations of all the Muppet Show regulars. Now take the concerns of young adults (first job, sex, racism) and filter it through a Sesame-Street sensibility, and you get Avenue Q. The first generation that grew up with the Muppets gets a musical that speaks to them.’ Anna Marasco: ‘I had wanted to see Avenue Q for about 3 years when they finally began touring. They booked a date in KC, which is about 2 1/2 hours from Omaha. I informed my husband that this was all I wanted for my birthday and I bought the tickets. Through a series of ridiculous scheduling conflicts, I ended up having to see this with MY DAD. My 60 yr old, Republican, Conservative Dad. My dad and I watched puppets have sex. My. Dad. And. I. Watched. Puppets. Have. Sex. Dad laughed his butt off. At the end, he said ‘That was a lot of fun! It was a good idea to take me instead of your mother. But it’s too bad they had that line about George Bush at the end.’ So if I could watch puppets have sex (along with my dad) you can watch them have sex AGAIN! For the Dems.’ Jonathan Edwards: ‘I saw it on Broadway several years ago. If it helps, close your eyes during the performance to minimize confusion. You really, really don’t want to miss ‘The Internet is for Porn.’ ‘ Kathi Derevan: ‘Clowns: No. Puppets: No. But I hope you Tivo’d or otherwise recorded last night’s Letterman show. Steve Martin and Martin Short were OMG hilarious. It still puzzles me to see these guys, approximately my age, who are now like the Grand Old Men of comedy. WTF? Aren’t they the New Young Things? What happened? Anyway. I’m serious. Find a copy if you don’t have one.’ ☞ Indeed. If this four minutes doesn’t make you laugh, call 911.