OBrienWannabe

Bisexual, she/her, bit obsessive about books, movies, TV shows, and musicals

[Ryan Shead @RyanShead]

From Colonel Bree Fram:

I have been placed on administrative leave, effective tomorrow, pending separation.

In my last official act, I was able to pin medals on three of my folks. The last salute broke my heart in two and the tears flowed freely even as I have so much to be thankful for and so many amazing memories.

There are two moments that bookend my authentic service that will stay with me always.

The first was in 2016, the day the Secretary of Defense announced that transgender individuals could serve openly. That very day, I came out to my teammates. After sending the email, I left for the gym to burn off the nervous energy, uncertain of how life might change. When I returned, one by one, my teammates came to my desk, shook my hand, and said versions of, “It’s an honor to serve with you.”

The second came just last week at my final 1-star level sync with the Joint Staff. I provided one brief update and then shared that it was my final meeting and because it was an unplanned departure we’d have to figure out my replacement soon. The colonel next to me asked where I was going. I let him know that I didn’t meet the current standard for “Military Excellence and Readiness” and would be departing on administrative leave.

There was a moment of silence before reality settled in. Then, one-by-one, a room full of senior leaders, admirals and generals, walked over to me and the scene from 2016 repeated. They offered those same words, now tinged with the sadness of past tense: “It’s been an honor to serve with you.”

Both times, I walked away with tears in my eyes. It wasn’t from sadness, but because everyone had it backwards: it has been my honor to serve with all of them.

While my time in uniform is ending far earlier than I had hoped, rather than grieving what has been lost I am choosing to focus on all I have gained.

What I gained, most unexpectedly, was a family. A team that stood by me through life’s most difficult trials. From the loss of a child and another who fought for life after being born 12 weeks early, to a cancer diagnosis and life-threatening surgery, to the circumstances leading to my separation today, they were there. They offered encouragement, extended their hands, shared their love, and showed the kind of care that can only be forged through shared service. I will never forget the countless times they lifted me up. My hope is that I was able to offer that same support in return.

This chapter may be ending, but I leave far richer for having gone on this grand adventure.

I will miss the mission deeply, but I will miss those I have served with even more than I can put into words.

It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve this nation and defend the freedoms and opportunities we have as Americans. My wildest dreams came true wearing this uniform.

#Pride #PrideMonth #Military #Veteran

[Sam Stein @samstein]

I would just encourage people to watch this video and reflect on what we're doing here. Many MAGA folks will be totally fine with it. I understand. But it seems pretty evident we sent innocent people to this place.

https://t.co/jHKQBRvB2i

[Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @ReichlinMelnick]

We sent this man to rot in a prison in El Salvador because he had tattoos that said “mom” and “dad” with little crowns over them. He grew up in a town famous for its Three Kings Day pageant, which, you guessed it, features crowns.

Bring him back. Fix this stain on our nation.

[OBrienWannabe @BrienWannabe]

@Lilblackbabies You go, baby girl! Be confident in yourself!

[OBrienWannabe @BrienWannabe]

@RepMikeCollins Go fuck yourself.

[OBrienWannabe @BrienWannabe]

@_Haifisch234

[Working toward a Better Future for All! @FatherRichard3]

A message from a teacher...

"I am a high school Honors and AP Government teacher. I always have some type of lesson planned. But I knew this election cycle, I shouldn't have. I decided to tell my students the plan and then ask them if they wanted to do that or take a period to process everything that had happened in a couple of hours. Every single one of my classes didn't want to do the activity. I figured as much, be it students who just could not work and students who did not want to. I asked them if they wanted to talk about anything, and for around 5-10 minutes in each class, it was silent. There were no phones, no computers, absolutely nothing. In that silence, I saw tears from all types of students(I work in one of the most diverse counties in the nation). I saw the looks in their eyes. I saw them holding each other's hands. But more importantly. Not a SINGLE joke was told in my class today. Not a single one. I did not hear a single laugh in my class all day. My jokesters who never fail to find humor in anything, were silent. My boys who constantly make jokes about being players, had not a word to say. My girls, who always greet me the same way every single day, did not even look up from the ground. So, to give my students the voice they so rightfully deserve; here is a list of quotes from our discussion today.

"He won, and I am terrified. But even if she won, I would still be scared."- A sophomore girl who had been kicked out after her parents found out she was gay.

"I feel like the people who want to be protectors are showing women why they have to do everything for themselves."-A freshman boy who frequently quotes Andrew Tate.

"I'm sorry Ms... this country has failed you."- A sophomore boy who I have to gaslight into coming to class.

"I watched my mom hold my baby sister cry Trump won the first time. This morning, she held us both tight crying before she went to work."-A sophomore girl of a single mother.

"I'm scared."-Many Students

"Law and Order my ass"-A freshman non-binary student who LOVES playing devil's advocate.

"I can't even make a joke about this. I am so tired, Ms... I don't even feel like making jokes."-A sophomore girl who I constantly have to tell to stop talking in my class every day.

"Ms...You, as a woman, have taught me how to be a man. I am so sorry you have to continue teaching about this, basically raising the children of America. And you will never be recognized for it because of your gender."-A senior boy I had during student teaching, who I fed every single day because his family couldn't afford to eat.

"Ms...Can I please stay in here today? I just feel safer here."-A freshman boy who had been bullied for being 'gay'...he wasn't gay.

I have never seen unity in my class the way I did today. I saw hugs shared between my boys and girls who were crying. These kids amaze me. I did not know how this election would go. But I never could've anticipated this devastating result to have a positive outcome. It may only be temporary. But I am proud of my students. And if any of you happen to be reading this, KNOW that I will always support you. You all can change the world. To some of my more seasoned teachers, how do I encourage this classroom unity moving forward?"

[OBrienWannabe @BrienWannabe]

@realesttheorist @FieldsAwakens Congratulations, you’re doing so well!

[OBrienWannabe @BrienWannabe]

@allabac369 @StarAtTheDisco @j_rr30 Your blow-up doll doesn’t count.

[OBrienWannabe @BrienWannabe]

@buitengebieden Doggo needs a hug.

[Amy Siskind 🏳️‍🌈🇺🇸 @Amy_Siskind]

One reason pollsters might be failing to pick up what and Seltzer picked up in Iowa, is a lot of women are afraid to say they are voting for Harris.

Sharing stories yesterday after knocking doors in Pennsylvania, can't tell you the number of canvassers who had wives standing in the background while speaking to the husband and having them mouth something to the effect that they were voting for Harris. Or if they answered the door, they pretended to not say who they were voting for out loud and then whispered they were voting for Harris. It's kind of heartbreaking actually.

[Seth Abramson @SethAbramson]

This video is incredible.

Everyone should RETWEET it so the whole *world* sees it.

[Luis A. Miranda, Jr. @Vegalteno]

ENOUGH. We're done with the division. We're done with the hate. Time to close this chapter—for good. GET OUT AND VOTE! https://t.co/q0iUbNrb0r

[Alvin Foo @alvinfoo]

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” — Princess Diana

This is one of my favorite ad, though I don’t understand the Thai language, the emotions captured is sufficient to touch my heart and I m sure it will touch u too.

[OBrienWannabe @BrienWannabe]

@SofiaCarson @TODAYshow You are getting everything you deserve in this life. 🥰

[Lauren Hitt @LaurenHitt]

New ad from the Harris campaign on reproductive freedom, ahead of the VP's speech in Texas on Friday. This is a very tough one to watch, but it's incredibly important to. Thank you so much to Ondrea and Ceasar for trusting us to share their story.

[OBrienWannabe @BrienWannabe]

Dunno if this has been said before, I’ve only just seen the ad and I know nothing about the actual game, but does this one character in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 remind anyone else of @LouDPhillips?

[Kamala Harris @KamalaHarris]

If you are not sure who to vote for, I invite you to watch Donald Trump’s rallies.

He talks a lot about himself, fictional characters, and other nonsense. What he doesn’t talk about is you, and how to make your life better.

[OBrienWannabe @BrienWannabe]

@Vegalteno @ltmphd Jesus Christ Superstar.

[OBrienWannabe @BrienWannabe]

@Vegalteno Haven’t seen any of them live except for The Wiz…and that was done by a children’s theatre group, they did great…but I’ve seen the movie adaptations of Chicago, Evita, Hair, Hamilton, In the Heights…instant happy tears every time you and @ltmphd show up during Breathe, btw…&