Last week Democrats tried to advance a bill that would overturn the “Don’t ask, don’t tell “law. Under this 17 years old policy, the military is barred from questioning a service member’s sexual orientation (don’t ask) and gay men and lesbians are allowed to serve only if they keep it secret (don’t tell). Unfortunately they couldn’t overcome a filibuster by 40 republicans to repeal this shameful policy. Editorial Tony Perkins, a Marine Corps veteran and president of the Family Research Council, thinks this 1993 law should stay. In his editorial he says that “ a soldier must represent his or her country and maintain military discipline 24 hours a day”, no doubt about that but what evidence does he have to suggest that homosexuals can’t maintain their military discipline 24 hours a day? And how dare does he exclude our fellow Americans from representing the country that we all love? Instead of hiding behind the shelter of ignorance we should face the facts that gays and lesbians are part of our society. Back in the day a lot of Americans didn’t want to accept blacks into the society but now we know how deeply wicked that idea was.
He argues that if we pass the law we would discriminate against those with traditional values and that would drive many such people away. Are we willing to discriminate the right of our fellow Americans to serve for their country just because some prejudice serviceman’s don’t like to serve with gays and lesbians? Isn’t that the same thing as saying blacks shouldn’t be in the military because those with “traditional” values would go away. The truth is those with “traditional “values should suck it up and change their prejudice attitude toward this issue. Bible advocates slavery so should we make that into a law too because it might be in “tradition” values of some people? No, slavery is not a social norm anymore and this don’t ask don’t tell policy is no different than the segregation era of military. Whoever doesn’t like to serve with his fellow country man that is a little bit different from him should quit the military and don’t serve. Prejudice is not honored and prejudice soldiers shouldn’t represent our country. He also, just like most republicans, gave wrong statistics about how many Americans want to keep the law as it is in his editorial. “A recent polling company survey found that 48-45% plurality would prefer to keep the law as it is”, this is not true base on a Gallup poll in May, 70% of Americans said they favor allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly. What needs to be considered here is if we want to continue the discrimination against gays and lesbians or we want to be the country that respects anyone with any background and differences.
I have mixed opinion of the issue. First I was in the military for over 20 years and very familiar with the issue. When I first enlisted I was asked if I was gay. Later on a later enlistment, it was off the radar. I think most serviceman and women will accept gay comrades as I have over the years. Just because "You Don't Ask and Don't Tell" that people you serve with "Don't Know".
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