In the least-surprising move of the year, President-elect Obama has let it be known that he intends to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy introduced by Bill Clinton. This policy, perhaps the least logical compromise of the last decade, allowed homosexuals to server in the military so long as they kept their relationships hidden. It was maintained by the George W. Bush administration in an attempt to keep the issue off of the public radar entirely.
I am sure this will eat up a lot of newsprint in the next few weeks, but it doesn't deserve it. This "compromise" neither served those who opposed gays in the military, nor those who felt they should be able to serve unrestricted. Still, such a horrible idea deserves to be noted when it finally dies.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Obama to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Posted by Nomad at 1:00 AM
Labels: dontaskdonttell, gays, homosexuality, military
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4 comments:
I agree. As generations change and more people in the military are of new generations, this policy is at the very least out dated. I don't think most people under 30 have much trouble being around openly gay people and I'm sure when the bullets are flying, each military person will be happy to have someone (whether Gay or straight) they can count on.
I totally disagree. I feel that having open policy towards gays harmful. Having an openly practicing homosexual in your unit would be accepting an anti-communal behavior. Besides the second guessing and complicated personal relationships, there could never be community showers or open latrines. I guess it is the same argument for no women on the front line. In the rear and in support, the facilities could accommodate such alternates.
I have no military experience but I do have over 7 years of experience leading hike groups. One outing I led was a mens hike group with a homosexual. The trip was a two week voyage. I didn't think that it would be a big deal but it made everything complicated. Bathing was complicated, assigning tent mates was complicated, even bathroom brakes were complicated.
At one point in the hike, I had to confiscate the camera of our gay member of the group because he was taking inappropriate pictures of the other members... and who can blame him? If I went on an all girls hike as a single man, wouldn't I be acting up as well?
As little as we think of "don't ask don't tell", we need to think more about the implications of the removal of such a policy.
Bowhunter, I think the policy needs to be all or none, and not the nebulous "Well, we know they are there, but are going to pretend they're not unless they force us to see it" that is in place today. If gays in a unit are a bad thing, then show us the evidence and reinstate the original ban. If gays in a unit are ultimately no problem (or less problem than the benefit brought) then drop the ban.
This is like putting a ban on drunk driving, but forbidding police officers to pull over people who are weaving around the road.
I can't believe I am defending a Clinton policy that I disagree with in the first place. :-) I think that the don't ask policy would not only still serve the military, I would love it for the downtown streets as well. Stay with me for a second. Aren't you tired of seeing couples making out on park benches? Even strait couple should save it for when the go home. Then I could roam the street in peace and... oh, where were we? Oh yea, like I said, it is the same argument against women. Accommodating them on the front lines costs more in infrastructure and facilities, and is uncomfortable and a distraction from duty. Could that be proved? I am sure it could... for both ways... for and against. What it really comes down to is that I think that the change in policy affirms homosexuals as normal. I think that having a gay person in the military is akin to having a 20 year old male showering with all the girls at the cheerleader camp.
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