This is a story about the “don’t ask, Don’t tell” rule being repealed in the military. The Military will begin training its people for the first time in February. The training will be going in three phases; first they will be training people like lawyers, chaplains, administrators and civilian personnel, then they will move on to leadership like commanding officers and such, lastly they will train the rest of the military.
This has been a largely disputed and controversial topic among a lot of people in and out of the military. People that are against repelling the law are claiming that letting people openly serve as gay or lesbian will cause people, both gay and not gay, a lot of problems. They say that it will cause harassment and also issues about privacy and worries about showers, restrooms, and barracks. I have friends that were in the Marines and they all say that the repeal of the law is a bad thing for the Marines. One friend of mine stated that the Marines operate at a level of battle that requires trust among members of a unit. These men have to go into these battles and look out for each other. If one or more guys in the unit are openly gay then there would most likely be homophobic tendencies of the other members that are worried about serving with a gay member.
The other side of this argument is that all people should be able to be themselves and if that is gay then they shouldn’t have to hide it. Arguments for repealing the law include people’s rights. Peoples rights are just that their rights. If someone is gay they shouldn’t have to hide it in fear of retribution of commanding officers or losing their jobs.
My personal belief on this is one of mixed emotions. I don’t believe that anyone should be forced to do anything that they don’t want to do. I don’t think that being gay or straight intitles you to anything better than the next person. My biggest question about this whole thing would have to be “why is this an issue?” that is what bothers me the most about the whole thing. Why is it that we have to make it a rule to not be openly gay or make a rule that it is ok to be openly gay? I understand that a lot of gay people might be offended that the rule was there in the first place. Do we really need to make this big of deal about it though? Why can’t they just get rid of the rule and go on with life. I’m not even sure what they could possibly be training people for on this subject. It is my understanding, and please correct me if I’m wrong, that Gays and lesbians want to be treated like everyone else. If this is the case then so be it. If you are gay then be gay if you’re not then don’t be gay it is a simple as that. I don’t think that one trait about a person should decide who they are. I personally think that someone in the Marines, or any other branch for that matter is a soldier first then whatever else second. Gay is not a definition of someone just merely an aspect of that person.
I can see your point of view, but another view is that of the navy. Women are not allowed on a submarine because of problems that might arise. If a gay man is on a submarine then this creates a whole new issue with the bunking and the arrangments. Personally I have no problems with homosexuals, its their life style and they should live it how they want. I actually talked to a friend who serves in Iraq and when this whole thing happend he said that he'd rather not know if the people who are fighting on the front line are gay, he wants to have his whole concentration on fighting not on the people who might be checking him out. Like I said though it's their choice and let them live like they want.
ReplyDeleteHey! I agree that this issue seems blown out of proportion! It's sad that homosexual men and women are discriminated against even though they are serving the country.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that you people look at it in a different view than I do! Maybe that because my husbands serves in the military so all I hear is about this issue. What people need to know about this issue is that it is just like women were allowed into the military we(the American tax payers) had to pay to put up new barracks because of course during war times and training we don't want you haveing sex at night with your partner while others are trying to sleep. Or worried that people are checking you out. Key of why we have seperate barracks for men and women. So, if your a gay male should you be put in the womens barracks and if your a gay women should you be in the mens barrack or do we tax payers now have to build women, men, and gay barracks?? He is right in the Navy women are not allowed to go because of the fear the women might be raped. Ok so there would be fears and new polocies written if we let gays be open in the military. I also know that a lot of people would leave the military if this happened.
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