Hey, how about just “Don’t Ask”…
…because it doesn’t fucking matter?
Today, the Senate voted to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. As I understand it, this repeal needs to get certified by the President, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Secretary of Defense to actually mean something, but things are looking good, if you don’t count the 17 years* of prejudice and systematic oppression.
I read this the other day, a letter from a gay soldier about to leave for Afghanistan. It’s very worth reading whether you’re for or against DADT. He is gracious, he is polite, he is angry, and he is absolutely right.
To members of the United States armed forces, of all sexual orientations, genders, races, religions, and political beliefs: Thank you, thank you, thank you for your service. To those of you who have suffered the most under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (because I’d argue that it’s done damage beyond its intended victims): I’m sorry we made you choose between serving your country and living authentically, without fear of exposure. I’m in awe, grateful, that you chose the choice you did. I look forward to the day you can serve openly, if you decide to do so.
Today was a good start.
*Meaning the 17 years when DADT was law, not the 17 years since people started being assholes to gay people, because that’s been going on for approximately 17 bajillion years.
If for no other reason DADT should be done away with because of the threat of Blackmail. Of course our Leaders can’t govern from logical thought but have to justify their voters prejudice.
Even if you would argue (as I would) that there are logistical and psychological advantages to military units where no one is sexually attracted to their fellow soldiers, DADT combines all the worst features of every option. Any disadvantages that we might get, we’ve already had for 17 years, and our military never changed from the world’s best. So it can’t be repealed too soon for me.
Mousie, I think that we all could agree that it would be most efficient for units to run without soldiers being attracted to each other. Certainly. Absolutely.
This is of course unrealistic, if we are to use humans. I agree that DADT is the most horrible solution. I was offended when it went into effect, and was championed by a man who claimed to be a friend to gays. At the time, I did not knowingly know any gay people, but I was still offended for them. This abomination needs to be buried without eulogy.
As a straight military member myself, Mousie is right. And fraternization isn’t even allowed in uniform, so why worry? Matt’s right too – that’s entirely unrealistic. The military, for those who aren’t involved in it, is all-encompassing sometimes. It’s all you see – military people, military situations. People play grab-ass all the time at work (which you can be punished for) with some people (who can also be punished for it up to and including getting your ass kicked out). That’s bullshit anyway, but it’s the way the rules work, and DADT is just drawing a lot out of a lot of people. Leave the Don’t Ask part alone, because it’s nobody’s fucking business to ask you. But the Don’t Tell part is bullshit.
Don’t Ask, Who Cares?
As someone who comes from a military family, and has been dating a queer (former) service person for the last 8 years, I have to say that DADT, while a fucking clusterfuck of willful ignorance, was still better than what came before.
Did no one see ‘Serving in Silence’? Anyone heard of McCarthy?
Yes, DADT is errant bullshit, but at least it nominally slowed down the witch hunts and purges that periodically have run through our military like Montezuma’s revenge for the past 70 years. For some reason, our country has to be pushed kicking and screaming towards tolerance no matter what the social issue. When I heard about the repeal, I said FUCKING FINALLY.
Said the same thing back in 1993. See how far we’ve come?
Good points all around. I would think that the proper way to deal with it is that gays can serve, and they have the freedom to be closeted or out. Then again, I believe in a lot of liberty. There are a lot of liberties the enlisted give up.