I haven't heard much about gays in the military in the last few years. I would expect there to be a flurry of activism given that we are at war and understaffed.
Although discharges (based on the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy) have dropped in the last few years, the Army has still dismissed highly-in-demand skilled people simply because they were gay. Read this. And this.
I recently read about an appeal to Congress by active duty gay military personnel that if the US is considering reinstating the draft, to end the gay ban.
Frankly, I think that's a bit backwards. I don't believe that this country has the right to consider a draft as long as they're turning away willing able-bodied volunteers. That being said, end the ban before instituting the draft. End the ban instead of instituting the draft. End the ban because it's the right thing to do. End the ban because your two flimsy arguments (gays pose a security risk and disruption to the hetero troops) have been proven groundless by the experiential facts. American troops served with British troops without incident.
That being said, if you won't end the ban before instituting a draft, then don't you dare end the ban after. That sends a mixed message: we don't trust you if you come along voluntarily but we will trust you if we have to drag you kicking and screaming.
Why is the same government that wants to nullify our relationships and keep us out of military service so willing to allow us to pay our full complement of federal taxes???
ReplyDeleteI often wonder that myself.
ReplyDeleteI also wonder if there isn't some legal way of putting our taxes into escrow when there is a dispute -- not unlike what you can do with rent when the landlord has let the property go to crap (not unlike what the current Administration has done).
Yahoo!!!
ReplyDeleteRoyal Navy: A Campaign to Recruit Gays"Five years after Britain lifted its ban on gays in the military, the Royal Navy has begun actively encouraging them to enlist and has pledged to make life easier when they do."