Don’t Ask Too Fast

Is this a religous question or a military question? If it is a religous question then we should ask ourselves, "Is it OK to kill?" If it is a Military question, then we should ask ourselves, "Are there gays in other occupations on earth?, Are work places any different with gays there/here?" If the govt doesn't know whether or not to allow gays in the military, perhap they should read there own policy on discrimination. It is hard to beleive we pay elected officials our hard earned tax dollars to actually debate this in congress in light of our financial crisis. Bottom Line... if they meet the requirements ie...diploma, non felon, pass the physical, pass the written test, are citizens etc. so be it.

I say what's the harm? They've been there, I've served with them, they don't hurt anyone, and they want to serve. So just let them. It'll be okay. Really, nothing terrible is going to happen.

Continued from earleir post:

All other religions have the same Achilles Heel. Once it is established that homosexuality is innate, the religious argument against it evaporates.

As has been pointed out by many others already, gays and lesbians are already in the military. There is no problem with these homosexual soldiers doing their duty now, so why would that change when their orientation is known? If heterosexual men and women can work together in the military - sometimes in very close quarters - without sexual misconduct becoming the norm; and closeted homosexuals are currently behaving themselves under Don't Ask, Don't Tell; then why is it universally assumed that out-of-the-closet homosexuals are not going to be able to accomplish the same restraint?

As for the morale argument, do you honestly think that soldiers - the people who fight, suffer, and die for our country, only to be compensated poorly and treated like crap by their own government both during and after service - cannot handle the fact that Pvt. Wilson might like the way they look in the shower? Men and women who could kill another person with their bare hands if they had to are going to lose a battle because Sgt. Smith might think their ass is hot in fatigues? Come on! This is a non-argument.

For all of these reasons, gays and lesbians are simply regular people - nothing more, nothing less. The First Amendment says that denying ANYONE the right to free speech is anti-American. Yet that's exactly what Don't Ask, Don't Tell does. It denies a group of people the right to speak out about who they are. I don't think the armed forces should be anti-American. Do you?

Since I have no heaven or hell to send anyone to, my only comment is it is between GOD and the offender.
I can not judge nor condemn, for we all have come short of GOD's glory. Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.

LET's not LENTS..... TYPO....sorry

Leeran has it right, this isnt about gays in the military its about openly gay people in the military, and I can tell how many of you have never served based on you responses. Most gay people in the military will stay quite about it some branches and some MOS's are better or worse than others but I know you wouldnt have wanted to be openly gay, we made fun of each other for everything and we were brutal give us that and think of the endless jokes. Once this happens how far behind are the lawsuit's from both the gay and straight soldiers? The fact remains gay people are in the military, we know so are straight people if we do things this way we do have to separate the gay men from men and women from women. Have fun trying to pull all that off, maybe Obamma should have thought this one thru a little more.

OF COURSE NOT!!!!!
Lent's only send the "straight" men and women over there to protect, serve and defend our country.
Everyone knows a gay person couldn't possibly do that.............

IT IS 2009 PEOPLE.........WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!!

I think we do need broaden our horizons maybe further than any of you will ever be able to handle. That is always how progress is, it zips right passed some and right on top of others. Here is how it could be done, anyone can serve who can meet the mental & physical test . The rules will not change, if a member sexually harasses another member that memeber faces discharge. So it really will be "dont ask dont tell" and people will have to ask not to tell and then still get in trouble. Its all a politcal money mover I say make them pay big only to have wording changed. Because dumb is dumb

Who do people think they are telling any U.S. adult citizen who is mentally, physically capable of completing any job, including those in the military, successfully that they are not allowed to do it? The problem lies in those who are audacious enough to truly believe that they are superior to any other human being based on religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc.. It is up to us as responisible people to treat each other with the respect that we wish to receive. How else will this lesson be taught to future generations? I also truly belive that when it comes down to it, any military personnel (homophobic or not) would much rather have a homosexual fellow soldier helping to save their lives on the battle field than be left to die. Since at this time, some individuals cannot be adult enough to see the benefits of the military to be a melting pot that accurately reflects the make up of our country, it is up to the government (i.e. the EEOC, Pentagon, and all three federal government branches) to force them to accept all potential qualified personnel as is.

As for using scriptures to press home a poin, consider this one: 40. Who calls us Thelemites will do no wrong, if he look but close into the word. For there are therein Three Grades, the Hermit, and the Lover, and the man of Earth. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
It may not be Judeo-Christian scripture, but it is holy text to some folk. I bring this up not to challenge the beliefs of the faithful, but as an example to consider that morality is based on faith, and not all faiths agree as to what is and is not "moral" and is morality really what we should consider when debating whether or not our fellow countrymen deserve the privelege to serve thier nation. as I have stated earlier, I would be honored to serve with anyone willing to serve beside me. As for Dont ask, Dont tell, Dont persue. I do not believe the ideal behind repealing it is to force anyone to accept or become homosexual, simply to acknowledge and tolerate it. I would predict that initially if it is repealed we will hear alot of " I am gay" being trumpeted about. thats ok, the elation of such liberation should be expressed...then it will become as mundane as heterosexuality and likely die down to less than a whisper..I dont think it is too much to ask to allow free folk to express joy at their newfound freedoms, after all consider that there is not now any restriction on gay or lesbians serving in the military, they are just expected to hide the fact. All they are really asking for is the dignity to answer truthfully if someone even cares to ask, they are asking that their loved ones are treated no different than ours. I cannot comprehend that there is a danger to America's moral fibre by making it possible for chaplains to console greiving spouses of homossexual servicemembers, their loss is no less than ours. I have seen heroes, we all have, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who we praise for their deeds..does their sexual orientation in any way diminish their sacrifice..can we honestly cheapen their valor over something so trivial? I would like to hope not. We are the "Land of the Free" only because we are also the "Home of the Brave" that is something to reflect on while we debate this.. consider this..why does the only part of our national anthem that is routinely sung end as a question? this may not be as much an argument over gay/lesbian rights as a debate over who we are and who we want to be as a nation.

I think that gay's have as much right to feel free in the military as they do in their normal lives. Why would you discriminate against gays when everyone in the military, whether you are male, female, gay, or straight are fighting for the same reason "peace". Let's not build another war while we are trying to end this one. I am a straight person, writting this comment.

NO WAY

To point out the obvious to those who are homophobic about showering with gays...
Well guess what? You already have/are. Probably have since boot. That's the point of don't ask don't tell. They're -in- the military already. Heck some might be friends of yours. Really, being gay doesn't change the person you know, it just changes how you see them.
And what if you encounter someone *gasp* openly gay? Big whoop. ten to one, they won't be attracted to some homophobe ranting on about the "dirty queers". That's like assuming a woman will be attracted to someone who openly proclaims he'll hate them for no justifiable reason other than their own backwards logic.
In short. The gays are already in the military, we're just trying to give them to option to be honest about who they are.
I doubt many will be though when they're presented with such a negative attitude about their preferences.