Saturday, December 18, 2010

About Time


Today, the Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend.

By ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell, no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.

As Commander-in-Chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known. And I join the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the overwhelming majority of service members asked by the Pentagon, in knowing that we can responsibly transition to a new policy while ensuring our military strength and readiness.

I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.



Now the fear-mongers, the nay-sayers, the hate-peddlers will have the opportunity to see if they were right, and, one might hope (yeah, one might hope for the ability to poop golden eggs, too), to learn from it. We'll find out if kicking out highly capable soldiers of all kinds, heroes, translators, you name 'em, is better for our security than keeping them. We'll see if our combat readiness suffers, if there's wholesale defection; simply, we'll be able to decide if we were better off before or after repeal.

I don't doubt there'll be some soldiers that'll leave service as a result. My prejudice is that we'll be better off without such people, as we expect more and more from our troops as person-to-person emissaries for our country. People inclined to hate categorically ought not have fingers on triggers, I'd argue.

But if I'm wrong, we'll learn that, too.


4 comments:

  1. Actually, it's article 125, Frank. According to Stars & Stripes, "Sodomy is defined in the Manual for Courts-Martial as 'unnatural copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex.' Under the UCMJ, sodomy — which includes oral sex — is considered a criminal act, even among consenting adults and married couples." http://www.stripes.com/news/panel-urges-ending-ucmj-s-sodomy-ban-1.95937

    If article 125 were strictly enforced, the military would be shrunk by 80-90%. Article 125 is an anachronism that should be repealed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anachronism? Like obeying orders

    The President's the Commander in Chief last time I checked, he can order the Marine Band to play "Relax" by Frankie goes to Hollywood, instead of "Hail to the Chief" and they'd have to do it, even the part where "Frankie" fellates the microphone...

    Frank "already been to Hollywood" Drackman

    ReplyDelete
  3. Eww-Gene!!!!
    have you been to your local Military Recruiters office yet?
    I know you've been waiting years to legally wear one of those gay Navy Sailor Suits...Oh yeah...
    don't tell em about that incident with the 12 year old, there not THAT open minded
    and FWIW(that means FWIW) I have about as much of a Southern Accent as Steven Hawkins, i.e. none, I've got a bizarre mixture of Germany/Michigan/Nebraska/South Dakota/North Dakota/California, with just a touch of Long Island...
    So whatever wrote went to waste, just like your daddys seed.

    Frank

    ReplyDelete
  4. DrekMan...(The WormDrekanus)...

    So, when you attend The American Civil War Re-Enactment Society Secession Gala you will be talking like Brit Scientist.

    Thet a fact? All they-uns be dressed up fit to kill, in crinoline ‘n homespun, swords ‘n tatersall boots an yah say yo ain’t agonna be a-talkin like you got a mouth fulla Hush Puppies, when you-all be sayin how the slavery was in-signifcant like, an plegein yo sacrad onher, Rat?

    That should go down well with the Southern Ladies & Gentlemen as they do their “Gone With the Wind, Hate as Heritage” thing.” You’ll be lucky to scape bein hoss whupped. Suh!!!

    You say: “I've got a bizarre mixture of Germany/Michigan/Nebraska/South Dakota/North Dakota/California, with just a touch of Long Island...”

    Well, bizarre certainly fits you, Germany – yeah the brown shirt element, Michigan/What’s wrong with Nebraska? – Fits. South Dakota/North Dakota – Check, the north south dementia again.

    California? Probably San Berdoo biker redneckia. Long Island? Must be by marriage.

    And: "I don't get it, the Air Force has had openly serving Homos for decades..."

    Oh, say… you were openly Air Force weren’t you…? Jus sayin!

    So did you guys get all gay “distracted” from napalming the villagers, Searchlight missions, or whatever?

    EugeneInSanDiego

    ReplyDelete

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