I served nearly 3 decades in the Army both active and reserve, and up until about a year ago, I bought into all the "it will upset the discipline" rhetoric that you get from the military leaders and the social conservatives.
I was talking to an old HS friend several months ago, who I found out was now gay (well, he's probably been gay all along, but he didn't let me know). When I told him that I thought allowing gays in the military was wrong, he asked me a simple question: Think back over your career in the military- can you think of any instance where knowing the soldier next to you was gay would have prevented you from doing your job?
I thought about it and I couldn't come up with anything, other than possibly my initial officer training where I was in a barracks situation (that's 6 weeks out of a 30 year career). Most soldiers are NOT "in foxholes"- for every combat arms guy out there, the Army has probably 4 or 5 support soldiers who are not in some "band of brothers" situation- they just show up and do their job every day- cooks, clerks, doctors, truck drivers, mechanics, supply specialists.
It wouldn't matter one bit if the cook or the mechanic or a doctor was gay. Hell, the gay cook would probably do a better job- serve that cheese burger or chipped beef with flair
So I'd propose starting with allowing open gays in all military specialties that are not combat arms (basically, the same jobs that women are currently allowed to do). Maybe at some point consider opening the whole thing up- or maybe just certain combat jobs (does it really matter if a fighter pilot is gay? why?).
I served nearly 3 decades in the Army both active and reserve, and up until about a year ago, I bought into all the "it will upset the discipline" rhetoric that you get from the military leaders and the social conservatives.
I was talking to an old HS friend several months ago, who I found out was now gay (well, he's probably been gay all along, but he didn't let me know). When I told him that I thought allowing gays in the military was wrong, he asked me a simple question: Think back over your career in the military- can you think of any instance where knowing the soldier next to you was gay would have prevented you from doing your job?
I thought about it and I couldn't come up with anything, other than possibly my initial officer training where I was in a barracks situation (that's 6 weeks out of a 30 year career). Most soldiers are NOT "in foxholes"- for every combat arms guy out there, the Army has probably 4 or 5 support soldiers who are not in some "band of brothers" situation- they just show up and do their job every day- cooks, clerks, doctors, truck drivers, mechanics, supply specialists.
It wouldn't matter one bit if the cook or the mechanic or a doctor was gay. Hell, the gay cook would probably do a better job- serve that cheese burger or chipped beef with flair
So I'd propose starting with allowing open gays in all military specialties that are not combat arms (basically, the same jobs that women are currently allowed to do). Maybe at some point consider opening the whole thing up- or maybe just certain combat jobs (does it really matter if a fighter pilot is gay? why?).
Lol. Call me crazy but every now and then I'll pick up a can at the store for some "shit on a shingle."
It figures. Didn't follow this other than knowing that they were trying to sneak the Dream Act in the Defense bill, and noticed that the media ignored that part.
How gay do you have to be?
That's an easy out. Maybe they should combine this with gay marriage. You have to be married to prove you're gay.
Yep, that's how it usually works...
