Gays in America's Military - Why Do We Even Care?
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It's the end of the Thanksgiving holiday. Visiting family and friends have gone home with as much leftovers as you could foist upon them.
Every meal for the next week will feature uses of turkey heretofore unimagined - turkey jelly, turkey cider, turkey gelato. Maybe this Christmas we'll skip the gym membership and instead just ask for new pants the next size up.
But before you slip off into the tryptophan coma you've managed to keep at bay since Thursday, take a moment to consider a blessing too often overlooked. Consider the blessing of all the things in the world that are none of your business.
That might sound facetious, but bear with me. In a world of too much information, the 24-hour news cycle, Facebook, Twitter, Skype and instant messaging, in an age where devices which might give us more time instead just seem to give us more to keep up with, at a time when most of our lives are too full, be thankful for the things that you don't have to be concerned with - like the sexuality of other consenting adults.
I've thought about when it is appropriate to be concerned about another adult's sexual orientation, and I can think of only three circumstances: when that person might be the subject of your amorous ambitions; when you are the object of another's amorous intent; or when a close friend or relation might become intimately involved with that other person.
What's unclear is what such private matters have to do with an individual's ability to perform the duties of a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine.
A lot of people are missing the connection. Among them are Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who recently affirmed his support for repealing "don't ask, don't tell" in the lame-duck session of Congress. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has also called for the swift repeal of DADT.
In fact, depending upon which polls you believe, 57 to 75 percent of Americans favor discontinuing the policy.
Congressional supporters of DADT, led by Sen. John McCain, promise to filibuster any attempt to repeal it. The senator is concerned about how letting gays serve openly in the military might affect morale and readiness. But as reported recently in Joint Force Quarterly, "After a careful examination, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that unit cohesion will be negatively affected if homosexuals serve openly."
If the senator needs confirmation, he need look no further than our own allies. Studies confirm that the militaries of Israel, Australia and Canada have not suffered from allowing gays to serve openly - and that of the 28 members of NATO, only the U.S. and Turkey prohibit gays from serving openly.
Since the implementation of DADT in 1993, more than 13,000 men and women have been discharged from the military solely because of their sexual orientation. From 2002, when the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began, through 2009, there have been 4,496.
How do we as champions of freedom, as a country engaged in two wars and facing threats from around the world, turn away competent individuals who are eager to serve their country on the basis of an issue that has nothing to do with that service? Is it reasonable to believe that the specter of other people's love lives might have a greater effect on morale of our troops than multiple deployments in two war zones?
As we close the books on another Thanksgiving, let's be mindful of what really matters and what does not.
Let us never fail to be thankful for young men and women who willingly and proudly place themselves in harm's way for love of country. And with all in our ever-busier lives that we should rightly occupy our minds, take a moment to be thankful for the things we needn't be concerned with.
Kevin Smith lives in Aberdeen. Contact him at kevinasmith@gmx.com.
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Comments
animalluvr 2 years, 5 months ago
Obviously, Gabanga, you don't have any gay friends. I am very happily married but have gay friends of both sexes and they are probably the best friends I have. Their sexual orientation does not affect me in anyway. They are my friends, therefore they know I am not gay so there is not an issue! Their sexual orientation does not in anyway affect their job performance nor does it have any bearing on their intelligence. They are professional people in professional jobs making very important, intelligent decisions everyday in their line of work. I for one don't see how it would be any different for gays in the military. Their sexual orientation has nothing to do with their intelligence or decision making abilities. I would not have any problems serving side by side with any gay person, be it male or female if I was in the armed services. In fact, I would be proud.
fugitiveguy 2 years, 5 months ago
Gays are their own worst enemies. Keep having those carnival freak show parades such as they do in San Fran and New Orleans and then expect to be accepted just like anybody else. If the collective gay community didn't make such a big deal of their sexuality maybe they would have less problems blending in.
fugitiveguy 2 years, 5 months ago
Maybe its time we re implemented the draft. Everybody serves, gay-straight-black-white-latino-liberal-conservative.
Scoot 2 years, 5 months ago
@ Animalluvr - well said! I agree with you 100%! I have worked and have friends that are gay. Being gay is their preference. I have to say the gay people I have known would bend over backwards to help you! People should not prejudge others. Let's let God do his job.................
JustAGuy 2 years, 5 months ago
RE: Scoot: "Being gay is a preference" NOT!!
In most cases, it's just the way someone is wired. Like their eye-color. It is what it is...
Arestorer 2 years, 5 months ago
I dont have a problem with gays serving in the military. I do think they go a little overboard with their parades and rallies. But, what I think it comes down to is; that they can "catch bullets" just like straight G.I.'s. If their willing to give their life to protect our country, I say let them serve.
moonchild7 2 years, 5 months ago
Married men who are having sex with gay men are more than likely Bi-Sexual. MEN whether Straight or Gay, will have sex with just about anything anyway, so I don't see what the argument here is at all. Human Sexuality is a vast subject full of innumerable psychologies. Real problems only arise when said sexual partners are inanimate objects, children, non-consenting persons, relatives, animals, etc. These people who are so "concerned" about the Government staying out of our personal lives sure want it to be involved when it comes to alternative lifestyles. What hypocrits.
foregolf 2 years, 5 months ago
Gabanga- so you are telling me that men who are homosexual, if they are in your presence, are going to ogle or amorously admire you. Pretty confident. Does that mean that all heterosexual women ogle and amorously admire you? Gay men are not sexually attracted to every single man just as heterosexual men are not attracted to every single woman.
None of the homosexuals that I know try to change another individuals sexual preference. That is because they feel that it is NOT a preference. It is natural to them.
If you do not like the parades and celebrations that happen in San Francisco and New Orleans, then don't go to them. What is the difference of their celebrations from what heterosexuals are doing in movies and TV? And why do so many people care about what others are doing in the privacy of their homes?
teufelhunden 2 years, 5 months ago
Re-read what Scoot wrote-LOL
JER 2 years, 5 months ago
teufelhunden: I can now conclude you are a 13 year old little boy. Did you get all tingly when you read Scoot's comments?
teufelhunden 2 years, 5 months ago
Lighten up JER...and you are wrong.
teufelhunden 2 years, 5 months ago
Hilarious!
Ross 2 years, 5 months ago
fugitiveguy -
Most gays are hardly this open - I think you would be shocked if you knew how many gay people you are acquainted with without realizing they are gay! Maybe even you.........smiles!
intrepidreader 2 years, 5 months ago
mauiman, in your thirty years of active duty, you served with lots of gay men. You just didn't know it, because they weren't overcome with desire at the sight of you in the shower or showing up for inspection in spangly evening dresses. This isn't open for debate, there have always been gays in the military and always will be. That's why I laugh every time I hear people discuss allowing gay men and women to serve--that barn door was thrown wide open thousands of years ago and it's way too late to close it. What's on the table now is the proposition to allow them to serve openly without fear of court martial. It really isn't their problem that some heterosexuals want them to continue a charade that keeps the straights more comfortable in their notion that there aren't any gays in their clubhouse.
Since everyone loves to drag what the rest of the world does into every discussion, I'll point out that the United States is almost alone among western nations in this refusal to allow gays to serve without hiding. It would probably be too simple to ask if it has ruined their armies.
LB67 2 years, 5 months ago
it's unlikely that gays serving in the military will suddenly change the way they act towards others if DADT is repealed, what it WILL do is keep people from announcing that they are gay just to get out of the military so they won't have to deploy again
fugitiveguy 2 years, 5 months ago
What was that famous line in "Blazing Saddles", "dancing around like a bunch of Kansas City _"
MooreNorth 2 years, 5 months ago
So would this mean that men and women would sleep and shower together? I mean, what's the difference?
nothingspecial 2 years, 5 months ago
Mr. Smith, you're so right and so wrong.
You say the following: "I've thought about when it is appropriate to be concerned about another adult's sexual orientation, and I can think of only three circumstances: when that person might be the subject of your amorous ambitions; when you are the object of another's amorous intent; or when a close friend or relation might become intimately involved with that other person. What's unclear is what such private matters have to do with an individual's ability to perform the duties of a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine."
I agree, why do some gay folks have to so openly involve us in their sexual orientation --- by insisting they be allowed to be completely open about their sexuality within the military?
I can understand if a gay person or a straight person mistakenly makes a pass at someone who doesn't appreciate it - not a federal offense. I don't think an otherwise well performing service member who is "discovered" to be gay should be kicked out for that or that it should effect their career.
But I think sexual relations between military "co-workers" should be strictly prohibited and dealt with because although it happens in most every workplace it can be dangerous within the military. Hetero-sexual misbehavior of this kind is a problem in the military and homo-sexual behavior could be too, if things are completely relaxed.
link2eternity 2 years, 5 months ago
Hello Mr. Smith,
Just thought I'd ask a question or two in regard to your position.
First, are you of the opinion that there s noting wrong with the gay lifestyle at all?
Second, upon what basis have you made such a decision?
Tony
MikeNC 2 years, 5 months ago
Whether a person is homosexual or heterosexual, is fine with me, it's their PRIVATE business. BUT, one thing that has not been addressed in repealing don't ask, don't tell, is this: An openly gay soldier moves to a state that recognizes gay marriages and marries. Then then the gay soldier couple wants to adopt a child and now qualifys to live on post. On post families live in very close proxemity. Will the heterosexual families have any rights if they do not want to see their children exposed to this lifestyle? So does the government now spend millions building separate on post quarters? And then does the government do this, and then get sued by Gays in the military for separating them from others? What does the government do for single soldiers on post who live in barracks and a straight soldier does not want to bed with a gay soldier? So now does the government build barracks for gays and barracks for straights? Then get sued by gays who say it discrimnation? It's one thing for the government to show no bias toward RACE, CREED, or COLOR. It's quite a different issue when the govenment now has to get involved with who you want to sleep with. There are alot of "the morning after" issues that have to be resolved first. You gotta know how deep the water is before jumping into the pool. Diane McLellan
animalluvr 2 years, 5 months ago
First off "mauiman" I am almost 50 years old and I seriously doubt any branch of the armed services would allow me to enlist; second I was speaking my views on the subject, not yours. Thanks to "intrepidreader" for the comments. Sounds to me that"mauiman" may not be comfortable in hisher own skin.