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Unfortunately, you are right; logically, given the concrete distinction between dreamers and others(and our imm. laws to make it clear in many situations that youths’ unlawful presence is less culpable), there is no reason to make them inseparable in passing. Gabriel is gutsy here; it must take a lot of courage. But I’d implore him, if he becomes markedly ill during the hunger strike, to not go till the end.

It reminds me, quite pointedly, of Guillermo Coco Farinas, who is on his 100th day of a hunger strike. Many of his fellow dissidents have urged him to stop because he is more valuable alive than not. Granted, circumstances are different, but it’s the same premise: Gabriel believes in something, for himself and others, that is righteous, and the appearance of avenues for the achievement of this belief are shut down.

But things can change, even when the door to that change is doubled down. In the words of Fidel in reference to the IRA hunger strikers ironically, which I think is analogous to the original rosy promises of Obama words campaign-style,

” ¡TIEMBLEN LOS TIRANOS ANTE HOMBRES QUE SON CAPACES DE MORIR POR SUS IDEAS, TRAS 60 DIAS DE HUELGA DE HAMBRE! AL LADO DE ESTE EJEMPLO ¿QUE FUERON LOS TRES DIAS DE CRISTO EN EL CALVARIO, SIMBOLO DURANTE SIGLOS DEL SACRIFICIO HUMANO? ¡ES HORA DE PONER FIN, MEDIANTE LA DENUNCIA Y LA PRESION DE LA COMUNIDAD MUNDIAL, A ESA REPUGNANTE ATROCIDAD!”

Tremble Schumer, Tremble.

As to Rep. Gutierrez, I believe his CIRASAP excluded gay and lesbian couples because he made a political calculation that the support of the Catholic Bishops was more important than the votes of the GLBT community. He would rather kiss their ring than stand up for equality. Later, in the light of the continued revelations of the worldwide church child sex abuse scandal, he likely decided it may be better to distance himself from the US Bishops and support equality instead. This was a good decision to be sure, but we shall not forget his willingness to throw us under the bus first time around for short-term political advantage. In my view, there can be no compromise with evil, which the Congressman tried to do. Either you’re for equality or you’re not.

Interestingly, at his recent presser when he proclaimed his support for UAFA language to be included, it was for “any future CIR” He didn’t say he was amending his own bill. More slime.

I think the Dream act will be enacted, in one way or another, mostly because its the right thing to do. Legislators don’t want to see an endless parade of young people, who are no different than their own kids, being thrown out of the country or denied a future, because of what their parents did years before. It’s just not the American thing to do. Don’t give up on that one.