Views on Gays in the Military - should they serve openly?

Question

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/06/us/politics/06web-toner.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Bill Clinton’s promise to lift the ban on gays in the military provoked one of the most wrenching fights of his first year in office. It roiled his relationships with Congress and the military, consumed huge amounts of political capital, and ultimately ended in an uneasy compromise: “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”

So it was noteworthy and politically telling, 14 years later, when the eight Democratic candidates at a contentious debate in New Hampshire seemed in utter agreement on one thing: It was time to return to that original promise to allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military. It was time to repeal “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” which allows them to serve if they keep quiet about their sexual orientation and do not engage in homosexual acts.

Answer 1

Personally I don't want to hear about anyones preference. What next-those who are into bestiality (miltary dogs )? those who like kids? those who like themselves (you know what I mean-do the other guys want to see that?)? those who like blow ups--can they bring them to bed with them? those who like prostitutes?those who like incest, those who like amputees? those who like this and that? Where do we draw the line?

Jeez--"Don't ask don't tell". , and keep it to yourself-private. Give some of us a break. Enough said about that. Who wants to hear all that? Yet alone see it when they can't leave.

Maybe everyone should have their families watch if they feel the need to expose it all--like their kids or nephews and nieces--don't forget Mom and Dad and sister and brother.

In answer-my view--keep it to yourself, show a little discretion. And act like a thinking human and not an animal.

Answer 2

There are many people in the military who do not ever want gays to serve openly in the military. In fact, they don’t want gays serving in any capacity. Many believe that they oppose a threat to unit discipline and cohesion.

That's what I think too. I also think the military wasn't designed to be an instrument of social change. The problem with that is that what they were saying to African-Americans and women 50 years ago. Blacks and women shouldn't serve with Whites and men. It would disrupt the unit. You know what? It did disrupt the unit. The unit got over it. The unit changed.

I'm not sure where the rumor got started that homosexuals have less control over their sexual urges than heterosexuals do, or where we got the idea that if a homosexual man serves in the military then it puts others at risk. The very idea of banning gays in the military stems from the still prevalent existence of homophobia in this nation. We just don't like gays. We don't like them, don't trust them and don't want them near us.

I think it's high time as a nation that we take a strong look at our own phobias and fears and try to educate ourselves a little bit more. Gays do not pose a threat to straight people any more than we pose a threat to gays. Personally, I think anyone who is willing to serve this nation in the armed forces should be suited up and sent to work without question.

Let me put it to you this way. If you're being beaten and robbed in an abandoned parking lot, do you really care if the man who comes to your rescue is gay or straight?

Answer 3

Actually the bible is pretty clear about gays. It also says the same about those that eat shellfish.
We should ban oyster eaters from the military. How can an army or navy operate with morale being destroyed by having people eating mussels and lobster all over the place? How can they fight when they can't trust the guy in the foxhole next to them to have a steak together after the fighting is done - he might order crab!
But who can be surprised? Look at the crap coming out of Hollywood. They have people openly eating shellfish. And they are presenting it as normal. Trying to make our kids think this is acceptable - forcing a depraved lifestyle of shellfish eating into our familes.
Ban the gays sure - then we can get to the real issue and finally have the debate we need - no more shellfish eaters in the military.

Answer 4

no they shouldn't and it's for their own good because people in the military are barely coming around to the idea of women being in the military. i get discriminated against all the time because i'm a woman in the navy and it would be hell for a person who's gay. first of all they make you sign a contract when you join saying that you won't participate in gay activities while you're serving and and if they catch you or you admit to it then they'll kick you out. plus i know that if they're on the boat and the guys on there find out then they'll kick their asses. and even if they did raise the don't ask don't tell law so that gay men could serve in the military, they would get the crap kicked out of them everyday by the people they work with. and if they were to go into battle, no one would cover their backs and their superior officers would put them on the front lines to kill them off. it's sad to say but it's the truth and you can ask anyone in the military and they'll tell you the same thing.

Answer 5

Serving in the military is a very honorable thing. It shouldn't discriminate to anyone who wishes to join; no matter their race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.


Bill Clinton did a very admiral thing by starting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". It was a step closer to ending another stage of discrimination in the military. However, you find everything extremely difficult to deal with when Congress is controlled by the opposite political spectrum. Conservatives have a "high moral standard" that they aren't willing to look over. Yet, as we see today, they have no choice but to allow gays in to supply Bush's troop surge.




The point I'm trying to make is that gays are people, too. We're discriminated against because of something that most of us have no control over. I know I didn't choose to be gay; I just am. But to penalize someone because of it is morally wrong. This goes towards acceptance in the military all the way up to marriage rights.

Answer 6

The chief purpose of the military is to kill people and break things. If there s any possibility that gays openly serving in the military would compromise that then ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I served in the military with men that I knew to be gay. They were great Marines and I remain in contact with some of them. They were great Marines, meaning they focused on the task at hand and not their sex lives, just what I would expect of any good Marine.

I do not agree with Bill Clinton on too many issues but I believe don't ask don't tell is a good thing. It allows anyone to serve without compromising morale.

Answer 7

Yes, because a person's sexual orientation has no bearing on how well they do their job. During my Navy career, I served with several gays. They proved to be extremely competent in their jobs. In a couple of cases, they were more competent in their jobs than heterosexuals assigned to the same job. Before you can ask, I'll answer; no, they never made passes at me or any other guys on the ship. They were very professional. To the answerer who said that people would not feel comfortable taking orders from a gay guy, that is immaterial. When someone of a higher rank gives an order it is to be followed without question. It makes no difference if the person giving the order is Black or White or gay or straight. The only thing that matters is what that person is wearing on his or her sleeve or collar. Telling the Commanding Officer at Captain's Mast that you didn't follow an order because the person issuing the order is gay will definitely not help your case.

Answer 8

Nope.I say this with many years experience behind me (this is not a metaphor). Seriously, they are there, but I think, especially in combat units, it would be detrimental to morale, and morale is everything. It is always those who have never served, who advocate such a thing. Like I said, I know gay people in the military, they do not serve openly, though,one, a soldier who was in my charge, did 'out' himself was was subsequently discharged. They are situations that arise in a combat, and even training environment where sexual orientation would be a paramount concern, especially in the field of combat arms.For those who say it is not important, and does not matter, I would submit that sexual behavior is the driving for of human nature, especially when you are talking about men. So in an all male environment, in close quarters, how can it even be seriously said that sexuality would play no importance and would not matter? That is BS!

Answer 9

Like Romney, I thought it was not a good idea when Clinton first came up with it, but today I think it's the perfect way to go.
The more I think about it hasn't it always been that way?
I mean prior to "don't ask, don't tell", if a homosexual wanted to successfully get an honorable discharge didn't he/she have to keep their sexual preference in the closet?
They don't need to lift any ban, open gayness cannot be tolerated in the military.

Answer 10

Absolutely, if they want to serve and are capable of serving judging not sexual orientation as a standard. I would say let them serve.

In not allowing them to serve openly we join countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, North Korea and Cuba, and I thought the whole NeoConmen argument was that we were better then these countries.

The once greatly feared army of Sparta was mostly gay and actually their military culture encouraged this.
And at the time when our military is stretched thin, and we are letting convicts serve, why not the gays and lesbians, they are more honorable.

Answer 11

I think, " Dont ask, don't tell," is to protect the people who are gay. If you have a openly gay man serving with 50 straight men it may put his life in danger. The military has many rules that we do not have as civilians and thats just another rule. Just like the dress codes and hair styles. If you do come out of the closet while serving, I wonder if you will be discharged or just warned to go back into the closet. I think there are a lot of openly gay women in the military and it probably doesnt bother the women as much as it would the men. I thinks its just good advice being given to them.