RSS
Home
Reexamining 'don't ask, don't tell'
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
The debate of whether gays should serve openly in the U.S. military is heating up once more. Many politicians feel that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy first introduced by President Bill Clinton in 1993 has become outdated. During a campaign speech, President Barack Obama stated that the law needs to be repealed. However, with the country’s economic downturn, an aide stated that it could take months before announcements are made regarding the law.
The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy prohibits anyone who "demonstrate(s) a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts" from serving in the armed forces of the United States. Since 1994, more than 13,000 military personnel have been discharged due to the policy. Discharges peaked at 1,273 in 2001 and have fallen sharply since the war began. To discharge and replace service members, who were dismissed because of their sexual orientation during the first 10 years of the law, cost tax payers at least $190.5 million. This amounts to roughly $20,000 per discharged service member, according to a 2005 study by the Government Accountability Office.
I remember when the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was up for debate back in the 90s. It was a hot topic of discussion in the hallways and lunchroom of my school, so hot that my history class decided to hold a debate on the issue. My class was given a few days to research the topic and on the last two days of that week, we were divided in half—the students who were for gays in the military occupied on side of the room, and those who were against the law sat on the other side of the room.
When I got home that Monday afternoon and told my parents about my assignment, we discussed the issue, and because of my parent’s religious views, they felt that gays should not serve in the military. I, like most people, was influenced by my parent’s views. Because of what the bible said, I thought that it was “wrong” for gays to serve. After leaving the dinner table that evening, I knew which side of the classroom I would sit on. However, after talking to other classmates and other adults, by the end of that week, I began to think differently. How can someone be denied a job for their sexual orientation? Religion aside, the concept is just wrong. During the time of Jesus’ teachings, he hung around so many diverse followers, people who, at that time, were sometimes considered outcasts because of their lifestyles, occupations and social status. If Jesus accepts everyone, why can’t we. When I went to school the first day of the debate, I was not sure which side of the room I would sit on. I never told my parents, but I decided to be for the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which allowed gays to serve in the military.
Now that the law is more than 15 years old, I too feel that it is outdated. And, I’m not the only one. A December 2006 Zogby International poll found that 73 percent of military personnel said that they were comfortable interacting with gay people. An ABC/Washington Post opinion poll found that more Americans accept gays serving in the military than in 1993. Roughly 75 percent said that gay people who are open about their sexual orientation should be allowed to serve, up from 62 percent in 2001 and 44 percent in 1993. Prohibiting someone from serving in the military simply because they are gay is as twisted as denying someone access into an establishment, such as a grocery store, because of their sexual orientation. It’s a free country. We should let them serve openly. None of us have the authority to judge, but God.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
