Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: No Applause From the Chiefs
– President Barack Obama, State of the Union, January 27, 2010
President Barack Obama, State of the Union Address, Jan. 27, 2010
[ABC also read a lot into Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s reaction to President Obama’s attack on the recent SCOTUS decision on campaign finance law, but that’s another story.]
Many people have forgotten was the original intent of the of the 1993 DA/DT “compromise” was not to enshrine discrimination, but to come to an accommodation that recognized the reality that tens of thousands of homosexuals serve in our armed forces, with distinction and dedication. And the idea was to allow that to continue, so long as they kept their sex lives private. Instead the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that was supposed to allow gays to serve honorably and be protected from “witch hunts” was perverted into a vehicle for continuing to drum out well-qualified servicemen and women — not because of their conduct, but solely because of their sexual orientation.
Joint Chiefs of Staff, State of the Union, ABC News
And that, by the way, is exactly how it should be. The nation’s top military advisors are not the Joint CHEERLEADERS of Staff. It is not their role to publicly applaud or deride the political policies of the civilian leadership. Their job is to salute smartly, and carry out their orders. If they feel the President, or other civilian leaders, are charting a disastrous course, they have the duty to tell them privately, and to even resign if they cannot faithfully implement those polices in good conscience.
Robert Gates, Defense Secretary, Jan 27, 2010
Defense Secretary Gates has ready been looking for a way to ease the ban, but it’s not easy. The law is pretty clear. Back when President Clinton first took office in 1992, discrimination against gays was a Pentagon policy, not a Congressionally mandated law-of-the land. The UCMJ simply stated, “Homosexuality is incompatible with military service.” When President Clinton tried to acknowledge the reality that was demonstrably untrue, he was outmaneuvered by opponents on Capitol Hill and ended up with a law that boxed in the Pentagon for almost two decades.
This SHOULD be the year that changes. But with dysfunctional Senate that no longer operates on a simple majority vote for anything, who knows if 60 votes can be found?
Tags: Congress, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Gays, Joint Chiefs, Obama, State of the Union
Comments (14)
0
R White · 176 weeks ago
I once was a D.I. and I do not understand how you going to do this, are
all the soldiers going to be in one room that is gays and nongays if
that is the case.Why should we let all the gays have fun. Why not put
some females in the room to so everyone can have fun. When are you all
going to understand its best not to ask and don"t tell. Not to many
years ago you all order that all soldiers be train together that is
males and females all this did was to lower the standards for all. Thank
god you all stop that. And yes Females can do any Job a male can do,
and some females can be 11B that is infantry.
0
Dave · 176 weeks ago
/web/20130618011210/http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/29/in-their-boots/
0
Hope · 176 weeks ago
When will people wake up, and realize the homosexual society is
relentlessly trying to cram their lifestyle down everyones throat. Why
does it have to be broadcasted to everyone in the first place? Keep it
to themselves and get on with life! Can't they just do their jobs and
keep their sex lives to themselves?
0
Casey · 175 weeks ago
The homosexual society is NOT "try to cram their lifestyle down"
ANYONE's throat. They just want to have the civil rights given to other
US citizens. They aren't asking anyone to be gay or listen to how their
nights with their partners go.
Sex life is easy to keep to one's self but imagine being in love with someone and not being able to display that publicly, whether it be holding hands or just openly saying that you and this person are a couple, in fear of being publicly humiliated by receiving a dishonorable discharge from your job? Imagine having to keep your whole life a secret from peers. It's not an easy thing to deal with.
Sex life is easy to keep to one's self but imagine being in love with someone and not being able to display that publicly, whether it be holding hands or just openly saying that you and this person are a couple, in fear of being publicly humiliated by receiving a dishonorable discharge from your job? Imagine having to keep your whole life a secret from peers. It's not an easy thing to deal with.
DOD reviewing policy to recognize gay partnerships in teacher transfers
By Travis J. Tritten, Stars and Stripes
The Department of Defense said this week it is reviewing a decision to recognize same-sex relationships when transferring teachers at overseas schools.
The decision, made in mid-January by the DOD Education Activity and two teachers unions, gives gay couples who both teach at military schools the same status and consideration as heterosexual married teachers when they request a job transfer together. It also applies to committed but unmarried heterosexual couples involved in domestic partnerships.
The new policy remains in force and would affect teacher transfers later this year.
By Travis J. Tritten, Stars and Stripes
The Department of Defense said this week it is reviewing a decision to recognize same-sex relationships when transferring teachers at overseas schools.
The decision, made in mid-January by the DOD Education Activity and two teachers unions, gives gay couples who both teach at military schools the same status and consideration as heterosexual married teachers when they request a job transfer together. It also applies to committed but unmarried heterosexual couples involved in domestic partnerships.
The new policy remains in force and would affect teacher transfers later this year.
0
Moe · 175 weeks ago
I would like to know what current First Sergeants think of the proposed
policy? More specifically, how would assigning personnel to bays,
dorms, or rooms be handled?
0
Jim · 175 weeks ago
As a retired Master Chief Petty Officer I have dealt with this issue during two liberal political administrations:
the Clinton and now Obama. Going from a complete ban on Gays in the Military to "don't ask don't tell" under the Clinton effort to the current proposal under the current administation. I am in complete agreement with the comments of Hope entered earlier.
My comments are directed to Admiral mullins, who is quoted in the news today as saying that he personally
believes that Gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military. This was expressed as his personal views. It is unfortunate that the senior U.S. Military officer doesn,t understand that he doesn't have a personal opinion while he is sereving in his current capacity. He is also the senior representative for the millions of sailors serving in the Navy. The press is asking the wrong people about this issue. Ask the people who will have to deal with the indignities that undesired sexual advances will bring to young men for whom homosexuality is so repugnant.
the Clinton and now Obama. Going from a complete ban on Gays in the Military to "don't ask don't tell" under the Clinton effort to the current proposal under the current administation. I am in complete agreement with the comments of Hope entered earlier.
My comments are directed to Admiral mullins, who is quoted in the news today as saying that he personally
believes that Gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military. This was expressed as his personal views. It is unfortunate that the senior U.S. Military officer doesn,t understand that he doesn't have a personal opinion while he is sereving in his current capacity. He is also the senior representative for the millions of sailors serving in the Navy. The press is asking the wrong people about this issue. Ask the people who will have to deal with the indignities that undesired sexual advances will bring to young men for whom homosexuality is so repugnant.
0
Ranger · 175 weeks ago
True homosexuals cannot reproduce. Therefore Nature selects them for
extiction. This abnormal behavior can not be legislated to normality.
0
Casey · 175 weeks ago
When women were first introduced into the military by The Women's Armed
Services Act of 1948, men were appalled because they thought that women
were unfit for combat and that the presence of females would cause
sexual issues amongst the men. However, in the case United States v.
Virginia, the Supreme Court even said women deserve "equal opportunity
to aspire, achieve, participate in and contribute to society.” And so
women became an active part of the US Military and I think we can all
agree the females have proven themselves much more worthy than anyone
could have imagined. I have no doubt that homosexuals will eventually do
the same.
0
abundt · 175 weeks ago
I spent 20 years on act duty retiring as a SGM, I was NEVER in a unit
that didn;t have some gays or what I called Bisexuals. I never cared or
for that mater was remotely interested in if someone was gay. I was
interested in how they did their job and rsponded to orders. There is no
sex allowed on missions or in barracks those that do that are punished
for disobeying orders. this doesn't matter if the persons are
male/female partners or female/female or male/male. They are not
permitted to participate so whats the change? I am 67 and a retired
psychologist and still havenot figured out why anyone would announce
their sexual preference unless they are prospecting for partners. Most
people are just not interested. I used to say offpost when someone
asked,: Sorry Taken" good luck I have a wife
0
William Geitz · 175 weeks ago
In my 27 years of naval service including two commands, It appears to
me that once again the politicians are using the military to conduct a
social experiment. In the early days we were all accused of being
prejudiced towards blacks, then *****-mongers when dealing with woman in
the Navy. No doubt, as in the past, personnel will be judged to be
homophobes. However, I fear that this action will form a victim-class
whose presence within the military will disrupt the moral of the troops
and whose treatment as a special class of service people will mark them
for special treatment with regard to promotions, assignments, and
evaluations. Likewise it will further a new form of political
correctness within the command structure. Remember Fort Hood.
Admiral Mullen should resign instead of standing side-by-side with others who have no clue what leadership is about and who see the military as just another tool in their quest for political power.
Admiral Mullen should resign instead of standing side-by-side with others who have no clue what leadership is about and who see the military as just another tool in their quest for political power.
0
gib warner · 173 weeks ago
I don't know if I worked with a Gay or Lesbian..Probably did..I do know
that I HAVE in the civillian world of Firefighting, EMS, and Police,
hell, Walmart too...So what's the big deal? All that I've worked with
didn't do anything but their JOB!!! We even joked about it!!! My
favorate comes from one of my Captains of a fire dept. in
Columbus,Ohio....What's a ***got look like? Looked in your mirror today
didn't ya! LOL... HE,LET ALONE OTHER GAYS,LESBIANS,AND BI'S SHOWED ME
THE ERROR OF EVERYONE!!! IN BATTLE, FIRE'S,WHATEVER, THEY'RE JUST AS
GOOD AS ME IF NOT BETTER!!! I SAY LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!LET THEM HAVE THE
RIGHT TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY WITHOUT RIDICULE..NO BS!
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE "LAND OF THE FREE" DUMBASSES!!! THAT'S WHAT I FAUGHT FOR WHEN I SIGNED UP!!! THEY SHOULD BE ALOUD TO SERVE JUST LIKE ME(A STRAIT MALE)...GET OVER IT IF YOU DON'T THINK SO...THIS IS THE 21ST CENTERY!!! IT'S TIME SOME PEOPLE GREW UP!!
POPS
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE "LAND OF THE FREE" DUMBASSES!!! THAT'S WHAT I FAUGHT FOR WHEN I SIGNED UP!!! THEY SHOULD BE ALOUD TO SERVE JUST LIKE ME(A STRAIT MALE)...GET OVER IT IF YOU DON'T THINK SO...THIS IS THE 21ST CENTERY!!! IT'S TIME SOME PEOPLE GREW UP!!
POPS
No comments:
Post a Comment