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NastyDaddy -> RE: Number of gays leaving military rises. (5/27/2006 12:10:42 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ArtCatDom
I find it interesting this is presented as homophobia.
The don't ask, don't tell policy was instituted to protect gay service members from withhunts and persecution. It has by and large worked. I entered military service soon after the policy was implemented. At the time it was instituted, it was seen by both the media and military alike as a pro-homosexual policy change.
Taking an additional pragmatic view on it, the policy is the best balance between force cohesion and gay rights possible in current times. It will be at least a generation (if not more) before gays will be able to openly serve in the military. It's a simple fact that the bulk of military recruits come from areas where homophobia is very prevelent (such as the urban ghetto and fly-over country Appalachia). Openly gay service members would create a large amount of tension and ruin unit cohesion.
During my time in service, I had a number of military friends "out" themselves to me because anyone who talked to me privately about such things learned quickly I didn't give a rat's ass. Having discussed it with some of them, they were fully aware they were not entering a gay-friendly climate when they joined the service. They knew being publicly out would ruin their military career. It's not like they were lied to by their recruiter and told the barracks were like a gay singles bar on the weekend.
The denial of homosexuals to have full and open rights in the military is certainly wrongheaded. But the problem doesn't start with the military. The military is simply doing the best it can to protect the rights of all soldiers (including gays) while maintaining a viable force. The problem lies in our culture and people. If one day homosexuality is broadly accepted in the United States, then the military will surely follow suit.
Very well stated but I suspect if you waded back through history to the very origins of mass forces to combat another's mass forces there were issues which began the military position/homophobia, as I said all along it's not a novel concept.
Whether the issues which developed the stance involved actions of same sex play or sex while in uniform, in the foxhole, on the high seas, above the clouds, behind the chow hall, in the dorms, in the head or where ever... they certainly developed.
For the most part the military is an 'after the fact' agency, if something gets.. or is fucked up bad enough... then fix it, beat yourself on the back, get a good report and climb the ladder (ever hear jokes about kneepads?).
Perhaps it stems from organizationally focused totally big picture I had to walk 15 miles uphill both ways perspective like... if I have to suck cock and kiss ass in order to advance in rank/position, then why invite it in for free at the bottom? [:)]
The overall military stance has been around for a few decades indeed... on the order of x1000
Funny thing... the way they pray over all your pieces after you blow up, since that stance is also widespread and timeless in the military, one may have something to do with the other???
Did you hear the one about the two drunk sailors that wanted to keep drinking but only had 78 cents between them? [:D]
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