Thursday, February 4, 2010
When you can't be all that you can be.....
There's talk around Wahington about lifting the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the military. Even General Colin Powell (ret USArmy) has gotten behind the lifting of the ban. Powell, you may remember, was previously against homosexuals openly serving in the Army. He said it was a "behavioral characteristic", unlike skin color, which was a "benign characteristic".
Powell now says, "If the chiefs and commanders are comfortable with moving to change the policy, then I support it. Attitudes and circumstances have changed. Society is reflected in the military. It’s where we get our soldiers from."
Other than ending his sentence with a preposition, he's right.
The Army has long been a forerunner in civil rights. Black Americans were integrated in the Army before society at large accepted them as equals (if they are today?). The complete desegragation of races was not implemented overnight. It was a slow process. Many fine examples of valor among "negro" units exist. From the Buffalo Soldiers to the Tuscagee Airmen, black Americans had fought and died with distinction - only to be segragated.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a landmark decission, to be sure. Up to that point, homosexual Americans had been barred from service in any branch of the military. Don't ask, don't tell provided a way for homosexuals to serve. However, serving came with restrictions. They had to stay in the closet, living in secrecy.
Race is a bit harder to keep secret. But, should anyone be forced to deny a most fundamental human right as basic as loving who you wish to love? In the United States?
C'mon folks, let's end this bigotry quickly!
What's the great fear? Does anyone really believe homosexuals are less capable to wage war? Is it really any of our business who an adult loves? Are we afraid we'll somehow get gay blood on us and morph into drag queens on the battle feild?
Sure some people aren't going to like it. But, a lot of people weren't comfortable with the idea of intergratin of races either. Would any reasonable person now say that was a bad idea ?
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13 comments:
Well mac, once again you've inspired me.
But did you really have to use the phrase 'gotten behind' in an article about buggery?
I'm innocent, I tells ya !
I'm innocent, I tells ya !
Buffalo Soldier 9, thanks for stopping by with the links.
A common misconception is that because a man likes other men, that he will hit on them all. They don't realize that like heteros, he is attracted to a specific type and won't hit on or look at all men.
And in an un-pc tangent. Affecting a "gay" accent cracks me and my friends up. I hope it wouldn't be considered disrespectful. It's not meant that way.
Of course affecting an Irish accent cracks me and my friends up too, maybe we're just drama queens. Ha ha. Get it? Queens.
Oy, I'm buffoonish.
I've never been able to understand why the neocons ever cared about this issue. After all it's not like any of them was or ever will be in a foxhole with anyone actually shouldering a weapon in service to the country.
Well said, Mac. And I'm with Pliny. The most vigorous opposition will never be in a foxhole with these soldiers, though that I would like to see.
FL,
Are you talking about the chicken, or this post here?
;-)
What did you want him to say?
"Where we get our soldiers from, it is." ?
.. another Harvey Milk moment.
I thought this article from the Washington Post was interesting.
It just goes to show,the wheels of justice turn on politics, or something like that.
Well, Ian, I suppose he could have said,
"It's where we get our soliers."
It's nitpicking, I know. But ask Botts, I'm good at making something out of nothing... I was just goofing on him.
Yes, I am the Last person who should worry about anyone's grammar.
Mac, that is not a complete sentence. He should have stated "Society is reflected in the military as it is where we get our soldiers." To simply state "It is where we get our soldiers" (or worse to say 'it is where we get our soldiers from') does not describe what "it" is. :)
As for homosexuals serving in the military - they already are serving. They are serving in the open, too. Most soldiers just don't give a damn if a person is gay. Believe it or not, homophobes are just the very loud minority.
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