DADT: They Are Killing Us Softly With Their Song

DADT: They Are Killing Us Softly With Their Song
By David Mixner
Copyright By David Mixner
Feb 3 2010
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One is tempted to cheer any progress on the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) since the obscene policy has destroyed nearly 14,000 military careers over the last 17 years. Watching Defense Secretary of Defense Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mullen personally come out for allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the military was moving and amazing. In fact, if you listen to their softly purred words of support and the resultant press, you would think DADT would be over any day now. Over and over again in a direct, concise manner they proclaimed their opposition to the policy. The press captured each sentence and repeated it like a song to all who would listen.

ArticleLarge The problem is that DADT isn't going to end in the near future - not even this year. These new converts are asking for a year long study and then maybe at least another year before implementation. After all is said and done, the implication is that once they 'study' us one more time, they might slowly integrate us into the Armed Forces over the next few years.

What do they mean they have to 'study' for a year our impact on the military if we are allowed to serve openly? How offensive is that?

Really, come on gang, we are Americans citizens who don't have 'cooties' and don't need to be 'studied' to see if we will overwhelm our nation's military with some mysterious immorality. Maybe they want to be sure that the straights in the military aren't so weak that they can't resist us at one look at us naked? Or perhaps their own sexuality is so uncertain that they can't resist a hot man (or woman) when they see one? My guess is that our straight soldiers are just fine and secure with their sexuality as we are with our own. They don't need protection from us and gays and lesbians need not worry about sexual advances from straight soldiers who can not control their urges.

What needs to be studied? That we are fit citizens? That we care for our country? That somehow our sexual orientation is so dangerous that it might undermine the military of our nation? Please give me a break. This is just offensive. We are honest, hardworking citizens who love our nation and have a right to serve without being offended, studied and questioned on our morality or patriotism. Remember, we had that comedy of a study in 1993 when Senator Nunn showed President Clinton how close men sleep to each other on the carrier USS Roosevelt. Are we going to be treated to such ignorance, such indignity again? Isn't this study just going to allow the right wing nutjobs to gain steam in the year and deny us our freedom one more time? Remember, President Clinton also promised us after his six month review that he would sign the Executive Order and he lied to us.

Yes, I am glad that cowardly third party snitches and blackmailers might be removed from the policy even though there are still ways left to 'set up' homosexuals who currently serve in our nation's military. Guess on a cloudy day any sunshine looks good but it in reality it just distracts from the truth that it is still cloudy and stormy.

Because the fact still remains on a daily basis we must lie who we are to our family, friends and those who lives depend on us. We must never acknowledge a loved one at home nor admit that we have a life like anyone else. We must continue to dehumanize ourselves for the comfort of others for an antiquated policy that should have never been implemented in the first place. Our soldiers who die in combat have to think of their partners who will be denied full rights in their heroic deaths. Who will not be even allowed to accept the flag as their loved one is buried. What kind of change is this? Not much of a one!

President Obama can issue a stop loss order today. Behind the scenes we have been promised an amendment to the next military approbations legislation. Our community national leaders told us that this would be the year for the repeal. They asked us to be patient, implying there was a grand plan for the repeal. Well, sorry, two more years of this policy stinks to high heaven. Congress should act immediately for the full repeal of DADT and we should refuse to support or give money to anyone who does not support such an effort. In less than a year, we will face a Congress that is less friendly than the one now. Do we really believe our chances will be much better next year than this year?

Repeal it now. Stop the crap and deal with us as full American citizens. The policy is offensive, obscene and immoral. There is no reason to study us; just embrace our talents, gifts and patriotism.