Don’t Ask Too Fast

The current policy "Don't ask, Don't tell" is the best policy. I will not share a room, shower, or dining facility with any open gay people. This lifestyle is against my religion and will only bring the morale of the military down as we are already down with the street garbage we already have (Drugs, felons ect). In combat you really need your buddy to cover your ass and work in close quarters and have contact with each other. We don't need any other distractions. This is truly a life and death situation.

Firstly, as a wife to a solider I will not say that gays or lesbians can't serve, they will regardless but I think that it works out for everyones best intrest right now ask don't ask don't tell policy. For one thing it'll protect all males or females who will have to deal with the idea of being uncomfortable around other soldiers who have openly spoken. Then it'll also protect the soldiers who have 'come out' because it'll keep them safe from harrasment and other stuff soldiers will do to them. Secondly, I think we have enough to deal with right now as a country that we don't need to be discussing this policy. I think this was polocy was made for a good reason regardless what time period it came up in. 2009 people doesn't mean that we aren't dealing with the same issues the dealt with back then when the created the policy. Some things and some people will always remain the same. I am not for or against gays, I simply don't care. But, for those who got all offended and stupid over this topic, com'on, really? Think about it. Put your feet in a straight soldiers combat boots and realise that they deserve a little respect and they are also fighting for our freedom just like the gays are. So simply said, don't ask don't tell. No one gets picked on, no one gets messed with. Everyone is all set. IIt should remain the same. Some things are best left unchanged.

LIVE & LET LIVE WHAT TWO MATURE ADULTS DO BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IS NO-ONES BUSINESS BUT THOSE TWO. iF WE CONSIDER FOR ONE MOMENT GAYS HAVE BEEN SERVING IN THE MILITARY AND DEFENDING THIS COUNTRY FOR CENTURIES SOME HAVE EVEN BECOME LEADERS OF COUNTRIES AND BECOME LEADERS. THINK FOR ONE MINUTE WHEN YOUR IN THE WAR ZONE ARE YOU EVEN THINKING IS HE GAY, THE MIND SET IS ONLY THAT YOU AND YOUR FELLOW OFFICER SURVIVE. WHEN INJURED DOES SOMEONES SEXUALITY MATTER?

I believe they should be allowed to serve after all, it's their country too. On the other hand, I believe your sexual orientation should be kept private. There is no place for your personal sexual orientation in the military work place so, if you keep it to yourself and don't bring it to the table as though it's something of importance like official military business, then I don't see why this is an issue for anyone. I grew up in the military and am straight. I do not care what a persons personal preference is as long as they do their job. A gay person can do paper work, PT, IT related functions, drive a tank, shoot a gun, translate and anything else no different than a straight person. Again, it's their country too.

I believe that Gays should be able to join the military if they want too. If they want to fight and defend this country, then why shouldn't they. Gays are people just like us and shouldn't be discrimenated against for who they choose to sleep with. And also remember be told that God created as all equal. We are all God's children. And who are we to judge. There is way to much other important things going on this world but everyone wants to worry about Gays!! I was always told to treat people the way you want to be treated, and to show respect to people. Some people truly disappoint me. Some of you qoute its a sin. Guess what God forgives us of all our sins, no matter what they are. So people who treat tese people with disrespect should be ashamed of yourselfs. And the only one who will judge you is GOD!! Gays should be aloud to join the Military if they so choose!! This country needs all the help it can get!!

Although I believe the don't ask, don't tell policy should remain in effect for the sake of those who are less open-minded, I agree with the idea of unit cohesion being more affected more by heterosexual relationships than homosexual. Over the course of a year in a combat zone, I cannot count how many times males and females were caught together and cannot recall a single same-sex incident. It's amusing that there are people out there who are posting that think gays join the military to take advantage of being able to shower and share quarters with the same sex. They join the military for the same reason as the rest of us, to serve our country, not to influence others with their sexual preference.

We are all the same in the combat zone. I have gay friends that I am proud to have served with and trust with my life. Being gay is as much of a hindrance to job performance as being straight is. We are all people no matter our sexual preference, race, height, weight, whatever. The don't ask, don't tell policy is there for those of you who are ignorant and close-minded - you are the ones who should not be allowed to serve.

- a female combat vet who has served for 8 years

I do not believe in casting judgement over anyone, gay or straight that I do not personally know. Gays should have as much rights as anyone else in this country is allowed. We are all human beings regardless of our preference in partners. I would be more concerned about those select persons within the military targeting openly gay males or females to make examples of by use of violence. Sadly enough, some of the most "devout" followers in religious orders forget some BASIC teachings by their God...that being:

Though shalt not JUDGE lest ye be JUDGED.

Or... "Let he who is WITHOUT sin cast the first stone."

Just because a person is gay, it does not mean they should be treated and thought less of. Some of my best friends are gay. Do I worry they are going to try to cross the proverbial line, and make an advance towards me? No. They know I am straight, AND not their type. This world of humanity needs to evolve its thought process towards being more accepting of different customs, religions, preferences and lifestyles. So in short, push the envelope forward!

I am an openly gay high school student in South Carolina. I would love to join the military, just as my father and his father, and his father before that did. It would be a great honor to serve this nation which has served me so well. The only reason for me not wanting to join the military, is Don't Ask Don't Tell. I see it as a way to hurt our Christian beliefs, if I remember correctly, its "Love Thy Neighbor." What bothers me the most, is how anyone could call homosexuality a "sin" in this day and age. If you looked up the word heritage of some of the words in the bible, you would know they don't mean the same thing you think they do. I'm happy in my country, and all I want to do is fight openly, is that really so hard?

Why can't we look at people as people and not put labels to them? I believe it's about time for all of us to wake up and really see each other as human beings, not necessarily the dregs of society. Isn't that what the United States is founded on? Equality across the board should even be an issue at this time in the nation's life, instead, how about feeding the hungry, employment for all, happiness and acceptance for all, no matter who and what they are. These discriminatory practices lead to a lot of good minds being persecuted for no obvious reason whatsoever. Sounds kind of like Nazi Germany, where only a small portion controlled the thoughts and minds of all, and look what happened there......I cringe at the historical reference.

If they are in the military and serving their country then who cares

I don't understand why a person's sexual preference has to be briught to the forefront unless they are in the business for profit. Sexual preference has never been an issue because it's no one truly cares what one does in their private lives. I wouldn't know if a person is gay or straight unless they bring it to my attention or they chooses to wear their sexuality on their sleeves. Prostiutes dress in a certain manner for profit and show that they are available for certain activivities. Who would know if one is gay unless heor she chiooses to flaunt it, and what is the profit for doing so? Sexual preverance is a personal matter and shouldn't be on an application for employment or to server our country, unless one's motive is to show themselves available.

It's not about hatred to divide gay from the straight. It's about our moral standard in society. I'm a straight man and I know gay people I'm cool with. They know where I stand about homosexuality. I feel if you can put a straight and a gay person in the same locker room, well put a woman in the locker room with me. I rather have a woman checking me out than some man oberving me while I'm unaware of his attraction towards me. Lets be real people, homosexuality is a mental issue-OK. You can say "hey what about how the blacks were treated and discriminated against" Being black is part of God creation. Being homosexual is a act of decision. You can either act on your feelings or maintain yourself and get professional help. We as a people keep raising the bar on moral standard. Lets say hey " we all accept homosexuality in our culture-cool" Whats next, brother and sister sleeping around, mother and son, father and son; the list goes on. We need to take a stand somewhere. We need to say hey thats wrong regardless of how that person feels.

My dad was a POW in WWII for 3 1/2 years - the gay agenda was the most horrific torture he had to endure. Nightmares never left him -

Combat soldiers are not tolerant nor are they going to learn to be tolerant. They kill people and break things. That's what you want them to do. They will not trust a gay man to take their back but if they don't know the man is gay, that's OK because they have been told that they are not going to be told if the man beside his is gay. They can handle that because that is what their orders are. You can dream all you want about a tolerant combat soldier. The gay combat soldier will be the first one killed in a firefight.

I am a 62 year old Vietnam Vet, served 3 years and 8 months incountry and I served with the best. I knew a few gays while I was in country and while I was in the many Pacific ports. As a vetern there is only one thing you count-on, wish for is that all of your fellow service men and women have on thier minds is the team. As long as they have your life in their hands and are comminted to protect, then I do not care if they are gay or stright. By the way I ran into a few stright personnel that had nothing on their minds but themselves. I believe making anyone who fights and serves the USA and Freedom has the right to proceed with that freedom, as the freedom of religion, gun (no assualt arms) position, life presuits which do not or are impossed on others. Why is it that the People Of The USA cannot except everyone and their way of life with out emposing their beliefs on others. Make a set of base rules for law and order and move on. The country would be a lot better off.