Bangor Daily News: Dump "Don't Ask, Don't Tell!" [View All]

[Bluebear]

The argument for keeping black and white soldiers in separate units during World War II was that having black men serving beside white men would cause conflict and morale problems. Black men, proponents of the policy argued, could not perform at the same level as their white counterparts, and white soldiers would not want to serve so closely with men of darker skin.

The argument for keeping women out of the military was that women could not perform the same tasks as men, and sexual tension and privacy needs would cause conflict and hurt morale.

The argument for keeping gay men and women out of the military is that their presence would cause – you guessed it – conflict and morale problems. Like the earlier arguments on color and gender, the defense of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is illogical and not borne out by facts.

It’s time for President Obama to end the discriminatory and shortsighted practice. He promised to do so while a candidate, but he’s not the first to make such a promise....

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/108155.html