Another think tank has come out, suggesting that DADT[1. Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy of the US Military] be repealed, as there is no evidence to suggest that openly Gay service people will cause any form of Unity Disruption, as the Conservatives claim. What makes this a bit more interesting is that panel who came up with this conclusion are former Military Leaders. These aren’t scientists, or some Gay Rights Activists, but bona fide retired Generals and Admirals.
The study was conducted by four retired military officers, including the three-star Air Force lieutenant general who in early 1993 was tasked with implementing President Clinton’s policy that the military stop questioning recruits on their sexual orientation. (source – Fox News)
While the Conservatives seem to want to keep us Gays back in the closet, it really is amazing at how this issue keeps popping up. I mean, what is it about Homosexuality that has the Conservatives in an uproar all the time? What threat are we to them? I mean a lot of Gays are fiscally prudent, and hell, most people are far more fiscally prudent than George Bush, so what is the beef?
Then there is this talk about how being openly Gay will cause distrust among the other members of a unit, that a Gay soldier would be in. Now I don’t know about you, but trust is based on being honest. So how does hiding who you are, what your orientation is, help build up trust among the others? Surely if they find out you are Gay, won’t they wonder what else you are hiding from them?
So the whole issue of TRUST seems a bit wonky to me. But then again, remember General Peter Pace, who claimed that the United States Military had High Moral Standards, hence his support for DADT. Course the fact that DADT is basically telling Gays to LIE escape the General as to what is and what isn’t Moral.
Certainly going to be interesting to see what happens after the election. Will a win by Obama bring about the end of DADT, a win by McCain? Somehow I don’t think it will, least not right away, and not until something drastic happens. All I do know is that by forcing serving people to hide their orientation, to be dishonest, leaves the US Military highly vulnerable to espionage, and other nasty stuff.
