2008 Woodie Awards
STAFF EDITORIAL, 1/31: 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' deprives gay, lesbian troops of dignity
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Opinion
Happy 15th birthday, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell!" We don't wish you many more.
Two weeks ago, Sen. John McCain proclaimed to fanfare in front of Republican debate moderator and CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, "It is working, my friends! The policy is working! And I am convinced that that's the way we can maintain this greatest military."
America has been scared of gay soldiers ever since Lt. Gotthold Frederick Enslin was dishonorably discharged by George Washington from military service in 1778.
With troop levels stretched thin today, it's inane that the military has dishonorably discharged over 11,000 troops since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" went into effect, for the sole fact they admitted to being gay.
The policy says allowing homosexuality into the military would "create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability."
We're not going to comment on the current state of morale (see: "up-armored vehicles") or discipline (see: "Abu Ghraib"); however, we don't think the gays pose any more of a threat to the military than they do to our public school system, marriages, cartoon characters, scouting organizations, national security, football teams or dance clubs. This childishly mindless drivel is ridiculous and needs to stop now.
Just last May, the Pentagon discharged its 58th gay Arabic-speaking linguist. Lawmakers, organized by Democratic Rep. Marty Meehan, reminded the House Armed Services Committee chairman in a letter that the loss of "capable, highly skilled Arabic linguists continues to compromise our national security." We agree with Aaron Belkin, director of the Michael D. Palm Center which specializes in research for the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, that it's probably more hurtful to be discharging these valued translators than it is helpful.
Keeping homosexuality out of military service is actually a relatively new practice and arrived with the onset of Christian indoctrination in the world. Ancient cultures believed that a military full of intimate lovers would fight harder, have stronger cohesion and generally have higher morale. Therefore, commanders strongly desired gay men for their most respectable military units. The Sacred Band of Thebes is a wonderful example of this. This troop comprised 150 pairs of men who were the quintessential Delta Force of their time.
Two weeks ago, Sen. John McCain proclaimed to fanfare in front of Republican debate moderator and CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, "It is working, my friends! The policy is working! And I am convinced that that's the way we can maintain this greatest military."
America has been scared of gay soldiers ever since Lt. Gotthold Frederick Enslin was dishonorably discharged by George Washington from military service in 1778.
With troop levels stretched thin today, it's inane that the military has dishonorably discharged over 11,000 troops since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" went into effect, for the sole fact they admitted to being gay.
The policy says allowing homosexuality into the military would "create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability."
We're not going to comment on the current state of morale (see: "up-armored vehicles") or discipline (see: "Abu Ghraib"); however, we don't think the gays pose any more of a threat to the military than they do to our public school system, marriages, cartoon characters, scouting organizations, national security, football teams or dance clubs. This childishly mindless drivel is ridiculous and needs to stop now.
Just last May, the Pentagon discharged its 58th gay Arabic-speaking linguist. Lawmakers, organized by Democratic Rep. Marty Meehan, reminded the House Armed Services Committee chairman in a letter that the loss of "capable, highly skilled Arabic linguists continues to compromise our national security." We agree with Aaron Belkin, director of the Michael D. Palm Center which specializes in research for the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, that it's probably more hurtful to be discharging these valued translators than it is helpful.
Keeping homosexuality out of military service is actually a relatively new practice and arrived with the onset of Christian indoctrination in the world. Ancient cultures believed that a military full of intimate lovers would fight harder, have stronger cohesion and generally have higher morale. Therefore, commanders strongly desired gay men for their most respectable military units. The Sacred Band of Thebes is a wonderful example of this. This troop comprised 150 pairs of men who were the quintessential Delta Force of their time.
Be the first to comment on this story