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Military certifies repeal of ‘don’t ask’ policyI am glad I am retiring. I have nothing personal against Gays other than I think they are sinning and engage in immoral activity. They have free-choice just like I do. I do have serious issues with this back handed attempt to force people like me to affirm their lifestyle decision. They claim in the training material that that is not what they are about but then go on to list all the ways they must be treated and those amount to tacit affirmation. Luckily, I will be on terminal leave by the time it goes into effect.A caveat, I think the military will adjust and there will be no huge backlash against the gays in the military. My main objection is soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines being forced to conceal their opinion. Another egregious example of a minority forcing acceptance on the majority. Around 10% of the population has managed to force the other 90% to conform their moral views or at least act like they do. How sad is that?
We've already had briefings and the obligitory classes (death by powerpoint) ad nauseum on this subject as a US Army civilian. I agree with you completely and think it is sad that our viewpoint is considered hatred and their viewpoint is is not considered coersion. We can't force our will on them but they can on us. Hypocritical.
I agree with you completely and think it is sad that our viewpoint is considered hatred and their viewpoint is is not considered coersion.
So this is really lilke that? Sad. What about if someone objects because of religious beliefs? Is that still considered hatred? And what happens to the serviceman/civilian who states this? Do they have to get counseling or something?
So this is really lilke that? Sad. What about if someone objects because of religious beliefs? Is that still considered hatred? And what happens to the serviceman/civilian who states this? Do they have to get counseling or something?
Yes to all. Essentially, you are allowed to think what you want but not to express those thoughts if they are contrary to the stated policy of tolerance and (implied approval) of homosexuals and homosexual activity. You can expoect serious counseling at a minimum up to and including disciplinary action under the UCMJ for noncompliance, the policy i not only law, it is also considered a legal order. I say again, I am sure glad I am retiring soon and will not have to deal with it.
Stay out of the GS sector when you retire then! 😀I have friends who are Army chaplains and have told me of the double standards placed on them yet those leading any other faith is allowed to conduct services in the manner their religion dictates, without backlash. And any complaining done by the Christians about it will get you into deep kimchi.It is pretty sad. The Army is caving along with the rest of the government. Islam is ROFLTBO! >:(
Our military is very professional. They will figure out a way of dealing with it and still performing their duties as they have always done. It would only be a problem if someone flaunts it or openly disrespects someone either way.
I think the Army will deal with it and without any spectacular problems, I am just glad I won't have to. There are several aspects to the program and the way it will be repealed that really bother me. The biggest is the way in which soldiers who disagree with homosexuality are being muzzled and being forced to tacitly accept what they consider immoral behavior, the other is billeting arrangements. I predict some problems when they force straight and gay soldiers to share rooms in the barracks; I just do not understand the logic behind that one. There will be those that argue (there already are) that straight and gay soldiers have already been living together and that may be so but it is also a case of ignorance is bliss.
I trust this will mostly affect enlisted men who are single and cannot afford to, or are not allowed to, live off base.
I trust this will mostly affect enlisted men who are single and cannot afford to, or are not allowed to, live off base.
That should be enlisted personnel, the force is about 20% female. Believe me, women can get in just enough trouble as men, the only difference in general is the nature of the trouble. Women don't get into as many fights but they have just as many drug and other discipline problems as males and they get unexpectedly pregnant to boot.We live in interesting times.
Call me old fashioned and maybe chauvanistic, but there is something to be said about “sending the boys off to war” and “When JOHNNY Comes Marching Home” that has a sense of logic to it.I am not by any means putting down the women who have served honorably and with distinction, but I believe the fewer distractions, regulations, and reasons that soldiers have to focus on other than training and combat are valid reasons for men only military.Same with homosexuals. Many have served honorably and gone above and beyond, but there was a reason that the rule was put into place long before this recent appeal. Like Patrick said, living in oblivion has its merits.Let me reitterate that I do believe homosexuals and women can and do serve with great valor and distinction. I just personally feel our well oild machine would run a tad smoother without the distractions both cause.My two cents...
First, I want to say that was born and raised inside San Francisco, and we were hip to gays by junior high. In high school, the athletes used to go to North Beach and, as they put, it to “roll queers.” As soon as some of us reached the age of 21, we looked forward to taking our dates to the major female impersonator shows, especially Finnocchio's -- and not tell them what they were seeing to surprise them. At Cal, if one asked, "Are you a Psychology major?" it was an inquiry to learn if you were gay.I say all this as background to what I witnessed when I served in the Army as a draftee for two years August 1954-56. At that time, everyone made jokes about avoiding guys who played "drop the soap." One draftee during our first 8 week cycle of BT at Ft. Ord let it be know he would do anything to get out. He deliberately dropped the soap on a tough sergeant who first beath the crap out of them, then wrote him up. He got what he wanted and received a Section 8 discharge.During my 2nd BT cycle at Ft. Lee, the NCOs had private rooms on the same floor as our 40-man cots. Each morning a not-too-swift country boy came out of the cook's room. No one bothered him for being gay.During my 18 month TOD in Kaiserslautern Germany, I saw no evidence of gay behavior and activities among the men I served with, but more than a few times the they would comment about many of the WACs who did not hide their "bulldyke" behavior. They looked so tough, some of the GIs said they would never want to get into a fight with them. We did suspect one lieutenant because he said more than once he loved the smell of sweat in a gym.To summarize on topic my two years in the Army, at no time did I witness any violence against gays, nor did I see any gay "flamer" behavior. Of course in those days, nearly all would have been "in the closet."
I don't think we will see a whole lot of violence with the repeal of DADT, I just think it is unwise. Open homosexuals will cause tension within th ranks and there will be some incidents but most will be probably be in the nature of harassment. The vast majority of military servicemembers are conservatives who hold moral reservations about the practice of homosexuality and I think it is stupid o antagonize the sector of society that serves to appease a minority of the population, they are very vocal but a minority none the less. Will the benefits of their serving openly outweigh the costs?Then I see aricles like this and the tend to prove my point: Recruiters pressed to reach out to gays once ban is lifted. I would really love to know what the actual numbers of gay service members are who currently serve while in the closet?
The day has come, yesterday the repeal of DADT became official and today I final out of the army and sign out on terminal leave. It has been a good run and rewarding, but I am glad to put that chapter of my life behind me. ;D Today is the last day I will ever wear my ACU's again. ;D
