Don't Ask, Don't Tell

[Ben Willaert]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123287737

Don't ask, don't tell. I already found it silly when it became law in 1993. Hopefully this phobia can be laid to rest. How horrible it must be for many of these men and women to present themselves as something they are not. Especially the hermaphrodites. I guess I didn't know they are denied from serving in the military as well. What? Do they have cooties?

Choice or no choice, homosexuals can live in the same standards as anyone in the military. Straight men don't have to hide fraternizing with women while on leave. They don't have to hide their spouses. I would think this country has grown up enough since the 90's to be tolerant of working with people of different sexual orientations. Let's get rid of this silliness. Live and let live.

/ and why can't NPR use punctuation in their transcript? Aren't they professionals?

[Bob Jentges]

My days of military service age passed decades ago, and I am not certain I have enough insight into contemporary military service life to give an educated opinion. I can accept whatever decision present military leaders decide to go with, provided it is based on their experience and best judgement, not political correctness.

Having said that, from my experience as a teacher/coach and 30+ years in management in the business world, I will offer these thoughts.

I coached football players who I thought might be "gay" although that is not the term we used back in the 60's. Some got along well with their teamates, some did not, very similar to players who seemed "straight".

In the business world I had bosses who were perceived as not straight and also supervised employees who were perceived as not straight. In neither situation did those people flaunt their sexual orientation, nor did I, and our working relationships were fine so long as we did our jobs.

[Bob Jentges]

Since my 2/3/10 post in this thread in which I essentially expressed ambivilance about the present Administration's move to consider repeal of don't ask--don't tell, I have been watching hearings and reading articles on the topic.

The Secratary of Defense and most of the active high ranking uniformed military seem to favor repeal. On the otherhand, I understand more than 1000retired generals and admirals submitted a letter advising against repeal.

I also read that both the American Legion and the VFW have expressed opposition to repeal. It is not clear to me if the rank and file members are opposed, or only the leadership.

[Dan Conner]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123287737

Don't ask, don't tell. I already found it silly when it became law in 1993. Hopefully this phobia can be laid to rest. How horrible it must be for many of these men and women to present themselves as something they are not. Especially the hermaphrodites. I guess I didn't know they are denied from serving in the military as well. What? Do they have cooties?

Choice or no choice, homosexuals can live in the same standards as anyone in the military. Straight men don't have to hide fraternizing with women while on leave. They don't have to hide their spouses. I would think this country has grown up enough since the 90's to be tolerant of working with people of different sexual orientations. Let's get rid of this silliness. Live and let live.

/ and why can't NPR use punctuation in their transcript? Aren't they professionals?Ben, I totally agree with you. Too many seem determined to divide our country via hate. Instead, we need to do as you suggest - live and let live.

[Bob Jentges]

I think for someone like Dan Conner, who I perceive from his writings supports big government getting bigger and intruding more and more in our personal lives while trying to exert power and control in our daily activities, to say we need to "live and let live" is a significant ray of hope!

[Dan Conner]

I think for someone like Dan Conner, who I perceive from his writings supports big government getting bigger and intruding more and more in our personal lives while trying to exert power and control in our daily activities, to say we need to "live and let live" is a significant ray of hope!Now if only you would let live for peopole with no health insurance, or those who have health insurnace, but can't afford the deductibles/coinsurnace. You opinion is more "live (for yourself, of course) and let die" for others. Not a very sharing or caring feeling.

[Bob Jentges]

In my first post in this thread back on February 3 (which had nothinbg to do with health insurance, Dan) I said I could accept whatever decision military leaders decided to go with. I still have that opinion, provided the decision is based on the best interests of the military as a whole.

This morning I read an article in the Washington Post that think essentially agreed with my non-decisive opinions. But the article made a few specific points I think worthy of thinking about. 1) Most important is military effectivness. 2) The military is not a democracy. 3) People give-up some of their freedoms when they enlist in the military. 4) This is not a civil rights issue.