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Its time has passed

Posted on Feb 08, 2010 in Opinion

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The biggest question out there this week: should the U.S. military put an end to the policy of don’t ask, don’t tell?
The biggest problem that most people have with gay and lesbian soldiers serving openly in the military — or at least the reason they give — is that it weakens unit cohesion, destroys unit discipline, and causes anxiety among the ranks.

The problem is that they said the same thing in 1947 except it was that black men should not serve with white men; it would weaken the unit. Then in 1948, when President Truman signed executive order 9981, the military was forced to integrate, and the unit did change. But the unit got over it.

For the last 60 years, blacks and whites have served together in the military, and at this point, no one would consider it any other way. The same is true when it comes to the gay and lesbian members of the military. It may seem a little difficult at first, but it is the best thing for our gay soldiers; it is the best thing for our military; it is the best thing for our country.

Not to mention, that it is not don’t ask, don’t tell. According to the law, you have to voluntarily give the information. It is not voluntary when your superiors find out from private journals or letters. It is not legal when the information is surrendered to superiors by a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist or from a priest.

To deny any loyal, patriotic American from serving the country he or she loves goes against the fundamental nature of our nation. We have so few people willing to join the military in this day and age, to turn them away based solely on their sexual preference is unheard of, especially when according to defense secretary Robert Gates, chairman of the joint chiefs Admiral Mike McMullen, and CNN there are 104 current and former generals, including former secretary of state and chairman of the joint chiefs Colin Powell, are openly calling for an end to don’t ask, don’t tell. It is not the military that is against revising the policy; it is the politicians and their narrow-minded constituents.

What this country needs is for the unenlightened masses to quit worrying about what everyone else does and worry about themselves. People who live immoral lifestyles and then try to sit in judgment over what someone else does need to be quiet. People who have no lives of their own and can only derive pleasure from causing everyone else pain, need to seek psychiatric help.For those of you who are against it due to religion grounds, let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

One thing is certain, and that is if we were in a war — not Iraq or Afghanistan — a World War II type war, and the draft had been reinstated, do you think anyone would care if a recruit were gay? They would be expected to serve just like everyone else. While being gay might have gotten you discharged in the past, you can bet their response would be — you wanted in… you’re in.

I served in the United States Navy, and I served with several people who I knew to be gay. I never had a problem and any of them. The truth is that of everyone I met during my years in the Navy, if I had to put my life into someone else’s hands, I would pick a man named Davis Thompson; he is gay, one of my best friends, and the finest soldier I have ever met.

All of us need to quit worrying about what everyone else is doing with their life. It is time that all of us focus on the things that are important in America.

This is a difficult time for our country as we face problems in our economy, people trying to blowup our airliners (people who hate us), and two wars. Our government cannot accomplish anything except to place the blame on the other party; let’s keep our eye on the ball please!
 




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