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"Don't ask, don't tell?"
This weekend, President Barack Obama said he will do away with the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military. He says he's working with the Pentagon and congressional leaders to end the policy that bans gays and lesbians from openly serving in the military - but he didn't give a timetable on how soon that will happen.
"We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve the country. We should be celebrating their willingness to step forward and show such courage, especially when we are fighting two wars. My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will look back and see a time when we put a stop against discrimination - whether in the office or on the battlefield." One of many Idahoans watching this issue very closely is Air Force Lt. Colonel Victor Fehrenbach. He's based here in Mountain Home, Idaho - and is a decorated veteran of 18 years. His career depends on Obama repealing "don't ask, don't tell."
"I could go in to work tomorrow and find out that I've been officially fired, and I won't be able to put the uniform on again." A civilian outed Fehrenbach to his supervisors this spring, and by now he says he already would have been discharged for being gay. But his case has been stalled - possibly because Defense Decretary Robert Gates is interested in reviewing cases like his. Gates questioned the motivations behind Fehrenbach's outing - and asked if the military should take that into account before taking action. Fehrenbach has made national headlines over this, making appearances on MSNBC etc. He says President Obama spoke to him personally, and told him he would put an end to "don't ask, don't tell". When this issue finally is discussed in Congress, Fehrenbach says he hopes he'll be asked to testify on behalf of military men and women who are directly impacted by the policy. So, what do you think?
Should President Obama repeal "don't ask, don't tell?"
6 CommentsLeave a comment |
It should be up to all that serve in the military
not the Presdident, he surley doesn't know how most of the inlisted feel about this, an they need to be confortable where ever their at.
The President is the commander in chief, and as such, he does have the right to repeal DADT, but to do so at this time would not be prudent. If Don't Ask, Don't Tell is repealed, it will open up a huge amount of controversy and questions. Two questions that immediately pop up for me would be for those servicemembers who were honorably discharged but kicked out for being gay, will they receive some type of compensation? Also, what will on base living assignments be like for enlisted troops? There are far more important basic issues facing Americans such as the sluggish economy and health care.
OK so how I see this is DADT...it is simple if I don't ask you then you don't tell me. In this case Lt. Col could have kept his mouth shut like he has for 18 past years and road it out 2 more years til he retired. Instead he admitted he was gay, therefore going against the policy. For that he should be discharded from the military with an other than honorable discharge. If he were driving while under the influence he would get an Articl 15 and possible discharge because Mtn. Home has a ZERO tolorance for that....so weather Obama does away with the policy in the future it is still policy NOW!!!! Lt. Col should have been discharged 72 hours after he admitted he was GAY!!!!
My son is currently serving in the United States Army and is deployed in Afghanistan at this time. From the letters we have received, which is 2 in 81 days, and one call), my son is more concerned with me sending him soap, deoderant, and toilet paper. And I am fairly certain that those 8 young men whom where trying to hold off 300 insurgents would have welcomed any help, gay, straight, tall, and/or fat. I don't understand how our government sends our young men and women over there, then will not provide them with essentials like soap and toilet paper.
I can't speak for other parents of deployed children, But I would rather my son who is fighting under our flag, have what he needs before I do. Because tonight, I will lay my head on a clean, dry pillow, and my son will be looking death in the eyes.
There's no reason why Obama shouldn't repeal DADT.
The enforcement of this policy has long been less than uniform. And really, what does it accomplish? It protects people from reality- the reality that the guy standing next to them is looking forward to going home to his boyfriend, rather than his girlfriend. It means that LGBT individuals have to lie about themselves- while those around them are free to talk about their opposite sex partners, they can either lie about the sex of their partner, or pretend they don't have one.
Canada, Britain, Australia, Israel... they've all managed to integrate openly gay servicemembers into their militaries with little more than a ripple. So, why do some claim that straight servicemembers will be unable to work alongside gay ones? Do they really think so little of the US military?
There's no reason to cater to those who aren't mature enough to accept that *gasp* some people are gay, especially when such catering is detrimental to others who wish to be able to fight for their country honestly.
This is part of a transcript from the Emmy award winning television series 'The West Wing'. During a discussion on "don't ask, don't tell" a black admiral on the Joint Chiefs of Staff joins the conversation:
Major Tate: Sir, we're not prejudiced toward homosexuals.
Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: You just don't want to see them serving in the Armed Forces?
Major Tate: No sir, I don't.
Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: 'Cause they impose a threat to unit discipline and cohesion.
Major Tate: Yes, sir.
Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: That's what I think, too. I also think the military wasn't designed to be an instrument of social change.
Major Tate: Yes, sir.
Admiral Percy Fitzwallace: The problem with that is that's what they were saying about me 50 years ago. Blacks shouldn't serve with whites. It would disrupt the unit. You know what? It did disrupt the unit. The unit got over it. The unit changed. I'm an admiral in the U.S. Navy and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff... Beat that with a stick.