Don't Ask. Do Tell!

Gays in the Military?  Support troops say yes, combat troops say no


The big headline out of the Gays in the Military survey is that 75% of active duty troops see no problem with it.  Left largely unreported is that the 25% opposition is concentrated in the combat arms.

The vast majority of our military is logistics and support "tail," while only a small percentage make up the "teeth" that do the actual fighting and other field activities outside the safe confines of the garrison.  Combat troops live cheek by jowl in rough conditions where trust in one another is critical.  Support troops have it much better and enjoy the luxury of retreating to semi-private living quarters and latrine and shower facilities.

This will have to be resolved before proceeding.  You can call the combat troops bigots if you want, but they are the ones doing the fighting.  Doing this the wrong way could have grave consequences.

An encouraging statistic out of the report shows that most gays now serving simply want to get on with soldiering and have no interest in "coming out" once the ban is lifted.

President Clinton provided a way for gays to serve, but that wasn't good enough for the activists.  The vast majority of those kicked out under Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) were self-identified.  For some it was an "I'm here and I'm queer!" statement, while many others who didn't like the military life used it as a get out of jail free card.

Activists that join to act out will quickly find themselves bounced from the ranks.  Military life is arduous, especially the first few years.  Trying to maintain a separate agenda, even while not breaking regulations, will simply interfere with the training one must accomplish.  Spend too much time on your activist agenda, and you will fail your training and find yourself a civilian again.

DADT Undermines the Code of Honor
For those of us who place military effectiveness first in this discussion, one aspect of DADT is disturbing:  We are asking gay people to live a lie.  The military bans gay sex, but you can break that law as long as you don't tell anybody.  This is very un-military.  The US Armed Forces is an institution built upon a foundation of trust and honor, and DADT undermines that.

My Simple Solution
Decriminalize homosexual acts.  Strike from the UCMJ those article and clauses that outlaw homosexuality.   This confers no special status on gays, but no longer subjects them to witch hunts either.  Current rules would prevent bigots from discriminating against them, as well punish the activist gays bent on acting out.   Everyone must be treated equally and behavior codes are much stricter in the military. 

The Chaplain Corps and conservative Christians are dead set against repeal, but decriminalizing homosexual acts would put gays in the same category as another class of sinner currently serving, those having sex outside of marriage.  The military is full of them.  And in Christian theology, fornication is no better or worse than sodomy.

If Christians can tolerate fornicators in the ranks, why not sodomites?

WaPo - Gays in the Military Report

WaPo - Right Move, Wrong Time

Wikipedia

Gays in the Military

A federal judge this week ordered the DoD to halt it's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy.  Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has already said he is personally supportive of allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces.

I support the equal treatment of all people, and if the pentagon determines it can integrate homosexuals into our armed forced without threatening national security, then I'm all for it.
(This is an update of a previous article)






My problem with the judge's ruling is twofold:  

1)  It forces the military's hand.  Secretary Gates says he is working the issue, and we should take him at his word.  He has asked for time to get it right, and for the sake of national security and the well-being of all troops, gay and straight, we should give it to him.  We are fighting two wars and dealing with the personal problems that go along with it.  Doing this in a slapdash manner could damage morale, impede our fighting ability, and end up harming the cause of the very people it hopes to help.

2)  The constitutional rights argument is specious.  The military discriminates against women, old people, the handicapped, drug users and convicted criminals.  You surrender many rights when you put on a uniform, including the right to free speech, free assembly, and freedom from search and seizure.  You go where they tell you to go and do what they tell you to do.  You shut your pie hole when they tell you to, and you submit to random drug tests on demand.

A productive debate must be grounded in fact.  Here is some perspective from a veteran.  You may come away unconvinced, but at least you will see how the military is very different from civilian life. 

If it's good enough for the JCS Chairman, It's good enough for me

I'm not a fan of gay sex, but what people do in the privacy of their own lives is none of my business.  Also, I'm a veteran, and I've been in tight quarters with men and women out in the field, and if everybody keeps it professional there's no problem.  BTW, here's combat vet Uncle Jimbo's opinion, and he's way tougher than me:

“If I am lying by the road bleeding, I don’t care if the medic coming to save me is gay. I just hope he is one of those buff gay guys who are always in the gym so he can throw me over his shoulder and get me out of there.”

I agree with Uncle Jimbo, and many other vets do as well. The new generation serving now is even more tolerant, so I am not yet convinced that allowing gays to serve openly will be the calamity that some claim.

I didn't ask, they didn't tell...
I know Army and Navy vets who say that they were in units where it was an open secret that certain troops were gay.  Nobody asked, nobody told, and everybody minded their own damned business.  The closest I ever got to that was the rumor I heard that the Ramstein Dental Clinic was full of gay airmen.  Other than having second thoughts about being put under for treatment, I didn't really care (Hey, I was young and sexy back then...)

The military is a fairly conservative place, but it's not the morally pristine environment some imagine it to be

It is full of people who cuss, smoke, drink too much, take advantage of others who drink too much, commit adultery, steal, and consume pornography.  Libido-fueled swordfights and cat fights take place, and adding gays to the mix will merely increases the number of flashpoints.

The military is different.  Here are some points to ponder as you hear this debate play out:

- Your private life is not always private. You can be prosecuted for adultery or even associating with the wrong people on your off-duty time.  

- You can be severely punished for public behavior that would be shrugged off if you were a civilian, to include showing up to work late, dressing inappropriately and visiting places that are declared off-limits

- Morale and unit cohesion are very important. Lack of it can result in tragic mission failure and even death. This is an important motivator for people to team up despite different backgrounds and life outlooks

- Dress and grooming standards are strict, right down to how you paint your fingernails, how much and what type of jewelry may be worn, facial hair and grooming.

- In a combat AOR, dress codes are strict and unisex: Either you wear your uniform or you wear PT gear.

- In a combat AOR, PDA (Public Display of Affection) is verboten. Private display of affection is too. So basically, not only is consensual sex between a single man and single woman off limits, so is an innocent hand-holding date. Making an unwelcome pass at someone can result in harsh punishment.


These factors cut both ways 
The US military has a critical mission, and distractions and controversies can result in tragic consequences.  The US military is also a very disciplined organization that is adept at getting a diverse group of people to pull together and get the mission done.

* - If I support gay rights, why did I post that graphic? Because it's funny! I also can't help laughing at John Stewart when he's busting on conservatives...

Richard Blumenthal: From Hero to Zero

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is a POS poseur*.  He falsely claimed to be a Vietnam vet for political gain, and now he's been called on it.

He rounded up some compliant VFW members as a backdrop for his non-apology.  The scene reminded me of the faithful wife standing by her man as he confessed his philandering:  

"On a few occasions, I have misspoken about my service and I regret that. I take full responsibility," he said, surrounded by friendly veterans at a VFW hall in West Hartford. (NY Daily News)

Taking responsibility for his own BS...  How refreshing!

You don't "misspeak" about such topics.  You know if you were there or not.  Honorable veterans know that and are careful to characterize their service so there are no misunderstandings.  It's for this reason I don't harp on about my service in various places.  Yes, I was there, and there was a war on, but I was a comm troop, not a door kicker or out on patrol, and I don't want to give anyone the false idea that I did anything heroic.

The only saving grace for this serial exaggerator is that he has been a rock-solid advocate for veterans, which probably explains the VFW photo op. 

The Connecticut VFW Commander was not too happy about the whole thing:

The commander of Connecticut’s Veterans of Foreign Wars organization blasted Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal Tuesday, referring to his prior statements of service in Vietnam as “outrageous.” 

“Mr. Blumenthal was considered one of the best friends a veteran could have in Connecticut. It is a true shame that he let a false claim of Vietnam service change that,” said Richard DiFederico, in a statement. “Those who served in uniform during the Vietnam era also deserve our gratitude, which makes Mr. Blumenthal's claim to be something he is not so outrageous.” (Politico)

Commander DiFederico makes an important point:  All who served in uniform have earned our gratitude, and Blumenthal has served honorably.  It is a shame he has now dishonored himself by trying to steal the honestly-earned glory of our true war heroes, some of whom never made it home.

He needs to drop the weasel words and give a direct and sincere apology to the true heroes whose glory he attempted to steal.

* - Uncle Jimbo at Blackfive - Go see what he has to say about all this...