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You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / Military / End the Ban

End the Ban

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Alan Simpson with a sensible piece on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”:

Since 1993, I have had the rich satisfaction of knowing and working with many openly gay and lesbian Americans, and I have come to realize that “gay” is an artificial category when it comes to measuring a man or woman’s on-the-job performance or commitment to shared goals. It says little about the person. Our differences and prejudices pale next to our historic challenge. Gen. Pace is entitled, like anyone, to his personal opinion, even if it is completely out of the mainstream of American thinking. But he should know better than to assert this opinion as the basis for policy of a military that represents and serves an entire nation. Let us end “don’t ask, don’t tell.” This policy has become a serious detriment to the readiness of America’s forces as they attempt to accomplish what is arguably the most challenging mission in our long and cherished history.

It is time to change the policy. Hell, it is long past time.

Reader Interactions

20Comments

  1. 1.

    Face

    Gays in the military? Are you kidding? Why dont you just allow illegal immigrants to join, kids with blue hair, women with multiple past and future abortion plans, and those with meth recipes tatted on their forearms??

    Talk about undermining the discipline of the military. How can a gay solider possibly look a superior in the eye when all he wants to do is get a look at the brown eye?

    What next….does the “Army of One” become the “Army of Juan”?

  3. 3.

    Mr Furious

    Jesus, Face. Funny, but, Jesus…

    John, the link is not working. Also is that Alan Simpson, former Senator? Oh, for Republicans like that guy to still exist in power…

  5. 5.

    scarshapedstar

    “arguably the most challenging mission in our long and cherished history.”

    I’d argue otherwise, but what do I know.

  6. 6.

    mrmobi

    From the Simpson op-ed in WaPo (emphasis mine)

    My thinking shifted when I read that the military was firing translators because they are gay. According to the Government Accountability Office, more than 300 language experts have been fired under “don’t ask, don’t tell,” including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. This when even Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently acknowledged the nation’s “foreign language deficit” and how much our government needs Farsi and Arabic speakers. Is there a “straight” way to translate Arabic? Is there a “gay” Farsi? My God, we’d better start talking sense before it is too late. We need every able-bodied, smart patriot to help us win this war.

    Yeah, that’s Alan Simpson, former Senator from Wyoming.

    You’ve got just one problem, Alan. Your party is wholly owned by people who believe that Neanderthals cavorted with Dinosaurs.

    Good post, John. It is long past time for the party of look back to saner days and become the party of Lincoln again. And it’s time to end second-class citizenship for gays in the military and everywhere else.

  7. 7.

    Jake

    Frankly, I’d feel a lot better if our military had less in common with those in places like No. Korea and Iran and more in common with those in places like…practically every where else. I have no proof for this but I can’t help but think that Openly Gay = Bad has some impact on our work with coalition members.

  8. 8.

    Scruffy McSnufflepuss

    Madness? This is Sparta!

    Where’s Darrell?

    He’s off leading a Boy Scout troop. He wants to make sure they receive a thoroughly non-homosexual, purely Spartan experience.

    That’s the way he describes it, anyway.

  10. 10.

    Andrew

    He’s off leading a Boy Scout troop. He wants to make sure they receive a thoroughly non-homosexual, purely Spartan experience.

    That’s the way he describes it, anyway.

    It’s not gay if it’s intercrural!(tm)

  11. 11.

    Krista

    My thinking shifted when I read that the military was firing translators because they are gay. According to the Government Accountability Office, more than 300 language experts have been fired under “don’t ask, don’t tell,”

    That is absolutely disgraceful! For the military to sabotage its own war effort due to prejudice against gays… well, it defies belief.

  12. 12.

    Tsulagi

    It is time to change the policy. Hell, it is long past time.

    I’d second that.

    I know a former 180A who loved the military. Sole reason he left was because he thought someday he’d be embarrassed and forced out under circumstances not of his choosing. I’d pick that gay guy to watch my back in a heartbeat. Five-deferment Cheney at my back? I think I’d shoot him first to eliminate that threat.

  13. 13.

    Richard 23

    Five-deferment Cheney at my back? I think I’d shoot him first to eliminate that threat.

    Seems like the unhinged kooks can’t help but engauge in eliminationist fantasies involving the President and Vice President.

    Darrell presented a clear example yesterday (that nobody seemed to know anything about) where Kerry joked about killing Bush. And here Tsulagi clearly fantasizes about killing Cheney. He doesn’t see anything wrong with this, no doubt. It’s called ‘speaking truth to power’ or some such nonsense.

    Of course since Ann Coulter is so bad and must apologize for a clear joke (about the SC), the leftist response and condemnation is coming any minute now, right?

    [crickets, dog howling, frogs croaking, etc….]

  14. 14.

    Tsulagi

    No, just share a little pepper with him. Like electrolytes, it’s what Republicans crave.

  16. 16.

    ThymeZone

    What happens when Iran figures out that they can fuck us big time by just announcing that they want to eradicate Israel because Israel allows cornholers in their army?

    Will the American Right come to Israel’s defense then?

    Thanks to Skip for giving me this idea.

    I think we should pursue this theme agressively.

  18. 18.

    Steve B

    Keep in mind that it is much more than a question of the “moral correctness” of allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the miltary.

    There’s “idealism” as in what a great and warm fuzzy idea it is, and then there’s “practicality” from a nut and bolts standpoint (no entendre’ intended).

    What about the gay spouses/dependents? Is the military honor-bound to acknowledge a marriage of a same-sex Massachussets couple, and provide the same benefits and entitlements as a hetro couple?

    How about the increased occurrence of AIDS amongst homosexual populations? AIDS is an immediate discharge. Will the military set it self up for millions in medical retirements or other costs?

    There are quanitifable financial and operational impacts associated with this idea, beyond just overcoming a sense of social injustice.

  19. 19.

    Andrew

    How about the increased occurrence of AIDS amongst homosexual populations? AIDS is an immediate discharge. Will the military set it self up for millions in medical retirements or other costs?

    Yeah, keep making excuses for teh evil of teh gay. Such a palliative thought will surely ease your mind as you frequent the local truck stop glory hole.

  20. 20.

    Steve B

    OOoooh. They call that reasoned discourse where you come from?

    I didn’t say it was evil. Just said it was something to consider.

    Statistically, homosexuals experience far higher rates of HIV than hetrosexuals. Homosexual service members won’t be solely drawing from the military pool for sexual liaisons. They will be out trolling the civies just like the breeders. That takes them out of the relatively sterile environment of the military and throws them in the general mix.

    Which means they will likely have only slighty lower risks of contracting HIV than the general population. Which means it is a potentially significant issue which should be addressed when discussing this issue.

    Or, maybe shouted down with sneering derision by those who fear a real discussion of the issue…

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