Bangor Daily News: Dump "Don't Ask, Don't Tell!"

[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

[DURHAM D]

1. Frankly, I wish that when Clinton asked Powell to let gays served openly in the military -

and Powell said NO and called his friend Senator Sam Nunn for help, Clinton should have fired his ass right then. The grounds for dismissal - treason.

I am so tired of this being a wedge issue.

[Q3JR4]

4. If it were me I'd have asked,

"is anyone here willing to carry out my orders?" of my underlings and if no one was I would have fired them all and replaced them with troops who would have.

Q3JR4
A man who has, sadly :P, never been president.

[sarge43]

6. Wouldn't call it treason.

It was certainly insubordination -- reason enough to drop the UCMJ on his head. You do not criticize your superiors in public. Go to the mat in private if you must, then either salute smartly and follow orders or put in the retirement papers. Else unit cohesion is degraded. I've often wonder what Powell would have done if one of his subordins had publicly dissed him.

As a career service woman, I spent many years surrounded by men who some times expressed sexual interest, some times quite vividly. I survived and thrived. You can too, guys. (And I don't remember any mention of unit cohesion being effected by these shenanigans.) Besides, as one gay nicely summed it, "Straight men vastly overrate their attractiveness."

[Thrill]

2. Surprised no one ask Obama about this at that townhall today

I thought for sure some progressive from Madison would have made it to Green Bay and asked this.

[bluedawg12]

3. We are the change and we've been waiting for the bus. n/t

http://thm-a01.yimg.com/image/ae89b1f5ff531bde

[bobburgster]

5. Honestly think...

the powers that fret over this issue will be surprised how little fanfare dumping the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy will make.