STAR/TRIBUNE
By ANNE FLAHERTY , Associated Press
WASHINGTON - It's time to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and allow gay troops to serve openly for the first time in history, the nation's top defense officials declared Tuesday, with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff proclaiming that service members should not be forced to "lie about who they are." However, both Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen asked for a year to study the impact before Congress would lift the controversial policy.
Reversing the Pentagon's 17-year-old policy toward gays "comes down to integrity," for the military as an institution as well as the service members themselves, Mullen told a Senate hearing. Unpersuaded, several Republican senators said they would oppose any congressional effort to repeal the policy.
The Pentagon announced an 11-month review of how the ban could be lifted, as President Barack Obama has said he will work to do. In the meantime, Gates announced plans to loosen enforcement rules for the policy, which says, in essence, that gays may serve so long as they keep their sexuality private.
Homosexuality has never been openly tolerated in the American military, and the 1993 policy was intended to be a compromise that let gay men and women serve so long as they stayed silent about their sexuality. Clinton had wanted to repeal the ban entirely, but the military and many in Congress argued that doing so would dangerously disrupt order. Repealing the ban would take an act of Congress, something that does not appear close to happening.
This policy should be thrown out as fast as it can. This "don't ask, don't tell" policy is absolutely absurd. I really don't care if my military members are gay or strait. For me it matters that they can do there job, keep us all safe. Sexuality doesn't matter if you do your job correctly.
ReplyDeletewell, I think be in the military or not is just one more right. If you don't allow gays in the military you are taking this right from this people and we live in a democracy where everybody has the same rights!
ReplyDeleteThis policy is totally unacceptable. I've never seen something more marxist. And Ross is right, sexuality doesn't matter if you do your job correctly!
Luiza Evangelista 5th hour
It is right that the policy would be repealed because this is the matter of nothing but just one country's own national defense. Each of soldiers who are in military service are doing it for their nation.
ReplyDeleteI think what we need to see is how skillfully and devotedly they do their job. Not their sexuality. As long as they do well what they were supposed to do, we shouldn't kick them out.
I don't think the sexuality of any military members matters, I know they are property of the government and the government has every right to know their sexuality, but that may still stop homosexual boys or girls from joining the military, because they may feel awkward. If you sign up for a job, they don't ask you what your sexuality is, they could care less, they just want you to do the job right right way and the military should be the same way, because if we don't have tons of people signing up for the military, people are going to start having to be drafted again, and nobody wants that. So overall, I think they should stick with the "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy.
ReplyDeleteThey shouldnt need the dont ask, dont tell policy in the first place because it shouldnt matter in the first place. If hey pop up with "oh yea, im gay" then oh well. let them be gay. I don't see why sexuality has anything to do with the military. Military people should have to deal with gays in normal life so why not in the army too? If theyre afraid of getting checked out by the same sex... well guess what! It happens everywhere!
ReplyDelete-Dorothy Restuchi
The don't ask don't tell policy is a poinless policy. If you go to aply for a job anywhere else they don't ask for your sexuality and wether you are gay or strait they won't fire you over it. and really it could be used against the government if a person signed up for the military and wanted to get out early all they have to do is go say that they are gay. Its a policy that isn't need and should be thrown out.
ReplyDeleteI dont think its right that gays have to keep things like this personal. I mean this"dont ask, dont tell" policy is better than not letting gays in at all but i still dont think things like being gay should make any difference. If someone has the guts to fight for there own country, then they should at least be able to be confortable confronting there sexuality. The U.S. military should be happy enough that they want to fight for there own country for there sexuality to even make any difference. I also think that if people in our country mostly except gays then why cant the U.S. military.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how removing this policy would make anything worse. I don't think people should have to lie about who they are. Just as long as they get the job done correctly then I honestly don't see a problem. I really think this policy should have been removed a long time ago. At first I think it may take awhile to get used too but afterwards I think it will make us a better army because nobody is going to have to keep secrets anymore.
ReplyDelete-Tori Lien P2
i agree with ross and brady. The only true fact that matters is if they do their job right.But the one thing that might interfere is thier sexuality. They may not be able to concentrate in order to do their job. But i still think they deserve a chance to at least try to serve our country
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ross and Brady to. If you go apply for a job they don't ask if your gay or straight. If a gay guy wants to be in the military they should be able to. If they can't do their job then kick them off but if they do there job right then let them do it and if no one knows what will be the difference.
ReplyDeleteNick Calder P7
i agree with nick. Gays and straights apply for all kinds of jobs and are given the job by how they perform not their sexuality. This is a stupid policy and should be thrown out ASAP.
ReplyDeleteTo me it doesn't matter if they have the "dont ask, don't tell" policy. What's the difference if they have it or not? Either way you aren't going to be able to tell if they're gay or straight. Like Ross and Brady said, as long as they can do their job and keep us safe that should be the only thing that really matters on this issue.
ReplyDeleteI really don't get what the big deal is if people are gay or straight. Everybody makes it such a big issue and it's so stupid! If someone wants to be in the military they should be able to, whether they're gay or not. If they're good at their job who cares if they're gay. I would rather have someone that is gay and good at what they're doing do the job than have someone who is straight and not as good be doing it.
ReplyDeleteIn my oppinion gays should be able to fight for our country if they want to. If they are willing to put their lives on the line for us then the least we can do is look past their sexuality and support them by letting them serve in the military. As long as they do their job correctly it should be fine for them to be in the military and especially during a war when we may need as many soldiers as we can get.
ReplyDeleteI think they should definitely get rid of the policy. I also think that it's not as big of a deal as some people make it. If they get rid of it not much is going to change. People join the military to protect this nation, not to worry about who's gay and who's straight. Another thing is you aren't forced to be silent about your sexuality in other jobs so why should you be in the military?
ReplyDeleteI pretty much agree with everyone else. They should get rid of the policy as it really won't change anything with protecting the nation. Heck, being gay in the military might keep the soldiers together one way or another...
ReplyDeleteNo matter if we get rid of it or not there will always be people who just cant or wont get along with gay people. The "dont ask, dont tell" isnt right but keeps people from getting treated differently from some people. Im not saying I agree with it but I dont know how much better it would be if it got repealed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ross and Brady as well. It shouldn't matter what sex they are attracted to. If they want to fight for our country, let them. Why do some people have to be so judgemental? Gays are not always attracted to EVERYone of the same sex. It's none of anyone's business anyways. The choice to tell people about their personal life is their choice, so I definately think that they should get rid of this policy.
ReplyDeleteI don't really think its fair to not let someone be in the army just because their gay. It really shouldn't matter if you're gay or straight. Especially if you're deffending your own country. You would probably want more troups since we're in a war and all.
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS TORI LAMBRIDES NOT HEATHER TYLER .