How stupid is it to not let gays serve openly in the military? Just watch this Army recruiting ad from the 1980s and substitute the words "man or a woman" with the words "straight or gay" and see how it sounds.
Here’s the transcript:
MALE HELICOPTER PILOT VIA RADIO: This is Army two-one-two, seven miles northwest, low on fuel, heavy weather.
FEMALE SOLDIER AT HEADQUARTERS: Army two-one-two, radar contact, turn right, heading one-five-zero.
VOICEOVER: With a fog-bound helicopter hanging on your every word, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a man or a woman--only that you’re good.
MALE HELICOPTER PILOT: Roger.
FEMALE SOLDIER: Over landing threshold.
MUSIC: Be all that you caaaan be. . .
MALE HELICOPTER PILOT: Thanks for your help.
FEMALE SOLDIER: (Smiles) Roger.
MUSIC: You can do it in the Aaaarrrrrmy.
So I was wandering around the internets last night and came across an old "Be All You Can Be" Army commercial from the 1980s. That led me to pull up a few more, including this one. Of course, the first thought I had after it ended was about the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" issue.
At this point, it’s only a matter of time before we look back at the current day and age with the same head-shaking, eye-rolling incredulity that the ad above inspires. Because with a fog-bound helicopter hanging on your every word, it doesn’t matter whether you’re straight or gay--only that you’re good.
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