Last month, retired Air Force General Merrill McPeak, one of Barack Obama's highest-ranking military supporters during the campaign, reiterated his opposition to openly gay service. When McPeak participated in the debates over lifting the ban in 1993, he was Secretary of the Air Force. Like most military members who shared his position then, McPeak couched his sentiments in terms of military effectiveness, saying that homosexuality was "incompatible with military service" and would "work against unit cohesion."
Why is it the gay and lesbian community are dead set on forcing this issue on the rest of America? Openly anything in the military is the antithesis of the military. The military puts every service member through boot camp to rid them of the most flagrant parts of their outward personality and to make them a soldier. Just like every other soldier. That bears repeating. Just like every other soldier. There is no room in the military for openly gay service. There is no room in the military for openly racist service, or openly misogynistic service. Once the military goes beyond those boundaries, when do they stop. The military is not a microcosm of society at large it is a society unto it's own. Why can't gay and lesbian service members just serve and keep their sexuality where it belongs, in the privacy of their own bedrooms?
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Not in my military. Not on my watch. This type of forced acceptance legislation does not belong in the military. I agree with the article poster. Keep it in your bedroom. If I was still in the military and was FORCED to serve with openly gay service members I would probably be forced to file sexual harassment charges. Especially since members of the same sex have to share showering and sleeping quarters. This is not even close to fair to the 99% of the military who are straight.
i think this topic is old. i think that if you are secure in your man hood move on for god sakes most of you who are anti gay in the military probably have some homosexual tendencies yourself and dont be too flattered thinkin any gay man would be interested in you, i think when bullets are flying a gay man isnt thinkin of jumpin your bones. its a brotherhood not a dating service. its a shame that people are so insecure and circulate hate so much. you know, any person who wants to serve thier country should. and just because most of you are closted homosexuals yourselves shouldnt keep gays from joining because you afraid of something you dont quite understand yourselves. so go through some sould searching and pull out your boa's and grow a set and get over it for gods sakes this is getting old
Once again, you can tell who has never served by their inability to actually understand the concepts of military life, and unit cohesion. First, In the military you are not only subject to civilian law, but you are also subject to the UCMJ. The UCMJ has clearly defined laws for specific aberrant behaviors. If your sexual preferences lead you to break those laws then stay out of the military. Second, part of joining the military is giving up some of the freedoms that you enjoyed as a civilian. Once you join you are not an individual anymore, you are a Soldier or a Marine, or a Sailor. You are a small part of something that as a whole is great. There is no room for someone to stand out as different than their fellow soldier. There is no room for there to be a distinction between those that are wearing the uniform. The military spends a lot of time and money trying to turn boys (and girls) into men (and women). If you are not prepared to give up some of your individuality then DON'T JOIN. We prohibit thousands of people from joining the military for various reasons. Being openly gay is on of those reasons.
Honestly I think the biggest issue is that there is not room in the military for your private life to trump your work. Hence the don't ask don't tell policy. It is basically an issue of keeping your private life private. Gay or not if you can't do that don't join.
The more and more educated Pres-Elect becomes (Welcome to the real world) on this and many many issues...you will notice a continueing shift in his "stance".
I have an immediate family member that is openly gay...I love her...but wouldn't it a million years support a decision that she join the military.
I'm hopeful the don't ask don't tell policy never goes away. As it trully would have a negative impact on good order and discipline...and though most wouldn't understand, it truly is incompatible with military service. Most of those currently incharge recognize this.
MSG, U.S. Army
Having served honorably for 11 years, and also a gay man, I see times changing. 40 years ago, African Americans were not allowed to serve their country. If I am willing to give my life for my country, why not allow it? The enlistment rate of the military is at an ALL time low. It gay men and women are willing to serve, LET them! I was open in my last unit, everyone from the guy next to me, to my battalion commander knew. ABSOLUTELY no one had a problem with it. We are pushing forward as a country, let's continue to do so.
Seems that the issues are confussed as to the openess of a persons being. In fairness to all they should have discriminating questionaires asking if a person is heterosexual or a-sexual as well to truely set aside and give up the enlisted "individuality." (as John states)...
Then if an individual expresses his/her sexuality then they should be discharged according to the rational of John...
