I support equal rights among all citizens regardless of race or sexual preference, including the right to military service. I am not convinced however that openly gay people in the military is going to "strengthen national security" as Barak Obama says. It was almost comical how big of a deal Obama made over this legislation, like he had just torn down the Berlin wall.
Is this going to boost recruitment? Is there suddenly going to be an influx of new recruits by making a tiny fraction of soldiers more comfortable? There will be many soldiers who are not comfortable sharing such an intimate living space with homosexuals, and regardless of whether that is right or wrong, it is likely to deter some people from serving. Gays should be allowed in the military, but I believe that don't ask don't tell served a useful purpose.
No it won't deter anyone because most people don't care. I have friends that are gay, male and female and it is not a big deal. I don't look at my gay female friends as being interested in me in that, they just aren't. Just as I am not attracted to my male straight friends in that way, I am just friends with them. That sex stuff is way over blown, being gay isn't just about sex, it is just about not being attracted sexually to the opposite sex. Who cares. I have to say I have great gay friends, and if I were in a theatre of war, I would want them in the foxhole beside me, fighting with me, for freedom.
ReplyDeleteThen the question is why does it have to be, as is emphasized, openly gay people serving in the military? The focus should be on soldiering not on sexual orientation. However, now that this switch is made so that orientation is more important than the purpose of the activity it is a no-brainer to push to more rights. As the socialist credo goes, all men are equal but some are just more equal than others.
ReplyDeleteI think openly gay, as did females, have to work harder to prove themselves in the military. In reality when the other side is shooting at you trying to kill you, you won't give a fuck if the soldier beside you is dressed in drag, as long as he is working with you not to get your heads blown off.
ReplyDeleteFine, but do females have the same combat roles as males? My understanding is that they do not. Ergo the comparison is suspect on the face of it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, my point remains that the key element should be soldering not sexual orientation. Why sexual orientation even becomes part of the context simply means that the military is being used as a social policy tool not as a military operation. In simple terms, a Marine is a Marine, not an hispanic Marine, a black Marine, a white Marine, an Irish Marine, etc, etc. Identity prescribed on any other basis than military role is dysfunctional.
Let's face it, this was all about appeasing large donors to the Democratic Party. These donors were promised that don't ask, don't tell would be repealed sans faute.
ReplyDeleteIt is more for to protect gays from being thrown out of the army when it is found out they are gay, or not allowed to serve their country, because they are gay.
ReplyDeleteYou perhaps have a stereotypical picture in your head of gay men. Not all are effeminate running around half naked in gay pride parades. Just because they come out of the closet in the military doesn't mean they are going to be demanding rainbow coloured tanks and airplanes.
In the army you are soldier, and nothing else. That is the way it works, and if you don't like that, they will kick your ass to the curb.
Honeypot sure knows how to lay it on thick!
ReplyDeleteAnd totally unconvincingly I might add.