Join The Army! (As long as you're not gay)
Wed Aug 23, 2006 at 04:07:37 PM PDT
It's pretty ironic, actually. For years the policy of the military has been "Don't ask, don't tell." Not one of Clinton's shining moments, to be sure. But this has allowed the military to enlist gay and lesbian soldiers - as long as they don't mention they're gay.
The Pentagon has relaxed enlistment standards including age, physical fitness, education and criminal records. The Corps has been unable to meet their recruitment levels and has a current shortfall of 1,200 people. Yet the number of people leaving the military because they've admitted to being homosexual has risen since 2001.
In fact, if you don't wanna go to war no more, looks like the only way to get out (in one piece) is to tell them you're gay. How long will we allow our government to discriminate against sexual orientation in the military?
Seems like the logical thing to do would be to eliminate the ban on homosexuals in the military. It's estimated that more than 65,000 people serving in the military are homosexual. One out of ten people in the United States is bisexual or homosexual.
Since the ban on gays serving openly was implemented more than 11,000 men and women have been dismissed under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" according to the Government Accountability Office.
According to the GAO more than 800 of those had skills deemed `critical' by the Department of Defense, including linguistic training, medical skills and expertise in combat engineering.
This is the first time the Marines have had to use the involuntary recall since the beginning of the Iraq combat. The Army, meanwhile, has issued orders recalling about 10,000 soldiers so far, but many of those may be granted exemptions.
Freakin' ridiculous, if you ask me. Since when has sexual orientation had anything to do with defending our nation?
"If President Bush is truly interested in boosting the manpower of our services, he should immediately endorse repeal of `Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" said C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of SLDN.
"Our closest allies in Iraq and Afghanistan already benefit from welcoming openly gay troops, and we should as well. Today's news is yet another compelling reason for Congress to lift the ban."
A Congressional bill to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is supported by 119 members of Congress, from both sides of the aisle.
"Every day, the Marine Corps loses good men and women because of this law, and every day, others choose not to re-enlist because they are officially unwelcome in the services," said former Marine Sergeant and Iraq war veteran Brian Fricke.
P.S. While I'm personally against the war, I support my troops - no matter what sexual orientation they may be.
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