Comments on: Ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

The New Republic: When Barack Obama Decides To Repeal The Policy, He'll Have A Much Easier Time Of It Than Bill Clinton Did

[caeric]

I received my B.A. in 2001, and had just begun the Master''s program at my university that fall when, just after 9/11, I was contacted by the military in reference to attending the Defense Language Institute. It is an offer I would have readily accepted, and there was a pressing need for such personnel at the time.

I had, however, fought a hard battle within myself during the previous years to come to terms with who I am. I would not deny that part of myself, and advised such to the recruiter. She said that she understood, that she personally did not agree with the ban, and advised that if I changed my mind to let her know... with the understanding that if I were to choose to enter the military I would have to live under ''don''t ask, don''t tell''.

I did not enter the military, although I very much wanted to. I was not able to provide a service to my nation that I would have enjoyed and that my nation needed.

I had known a number of people in the various forces, all of whom were heterosexual and none of whom had a problem with homosexuality. I could have served alongside them without difficulty, but my nation said otherwise.

How much talent has been wasted? How many needs could have been met? How many lives have been tarnished or harmed because someone who could perform a specialized and necessary task was discharged because of this ban?

[imnho]

years from now when people ask about the Bush adminastration people will say do''t ask. Necons will say don''t tell anyone what happen and ost of the country will say don''t persue those policies that got us into this mess. lol

[questionnews]

How about going from "Don''t Ask, Don''t Tell"
To "Don''t Advertise, Don''t Pork Your Buddy"

[george10429]

I was in the Navy for eight years in the eighties and nineties, served right through desert storm - everyone knew I was gay and not on single person cared - why should they?

Fast forward to now, I work for a large company and not one of my colleagues at work is afraid of me in locker room - why should they be? People have to get over their innate fear of the unknown and move on.

In the final analysis - people want to know are you going to do your job? Are you going to back up the folks around you and follow through when you commit to an assignment?

Other than the few closeted jerks out there, the majority realize that being gay does not mean anyone is a threat - it just means they probably are not as miserable with their overbearing spouse at home, like so many of my straight friends are.

I am still eligible to be recalled for service but I would have to tell them that I don''t serve with out recognition of my partner - of 22 years - and I don''t serve any organization - from the closet.

[burneb]

Let us hear more from those to whom it really matters, and less from those who have never been there but have an agenda of their own.

The people whose opinions should count most in this issue are those who serve in combat units, particularly close confined units like submarines. Those who never have can only guess what it is truly like, and are just blowing smoke.

The first responsibility of any President and all combat units is ensure they remain combat-effective. It is not a bogus issue. Social and moral consideration must take a back seat here. How banning or allowing *** to serve in such units truly affects their combat readiness, I have not enough evidence to say in general, but neither do most who make claims about it.

[rdavek]

Given all the other problems we face as a country, and in fact as a species, can''t we just stop obsessing about who everyone is having *** with? I for one couldn''t care less. You''re there, your queer, get over it.

[paris1969]

"Though Obama has said he wants to repeal "don''t ask, don''t tell," he has also stated that he won''t be "out front" on the issue and will work cautiously with the military leadership to make the change."
... I think you should either let *** in and treat them as equals or don''t let them in at all and face the consequences.

[pvperson]

Doesn''t it ever bother Evangelicals that they find deception necessary to further their view point? If theirs is the "moral" and "right" stance then why do they need lies to sell it?