Don't Ask, Don't Tell: A Must

Essay by tb0mbCollege, UndergraduateA+, November 2009

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According to the Washington Post, the Supreme Court declined to hear a constitutional challenge to the Pentagon's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on Monday, June 8th. The policy was adopted in 1993 after Bill Clinton tried to put an end to the military's ban on service by gays and lesbians (Public Law). Although, President Obama is on record opposing the appeal against the policy, it's said that he eventually intends to abolish it (Branigin). I don't think people are looking at the big picture. The military is not a regular government job. Open homosexuality is incompatible, unreliable, and incoherent with the military service.

A recent poll reflected 75 percent of Americans in favor of allowing gays to serve openly in the armed forces (Branigin). I think that the only opinions that should count are those actively serving in the armed forces-heterosexuals who do more than work, but we deploy and live together in very close conditions with minimal privacy.

People, with no military experience, gush about the military's "need" to overcome its "homophobia." As a woman, I would be uncomfortable with a random, heterosexual man in my bedroom-or showering with me-so why would it be okay for a homosexual woman to be in that position?The people that are for lifting the ban assume that homosexuals would "check their sexuality at the door." Those of us challenging the lift (and the militant homosexuals seeking an end to it) know that this is ridiculous. The supporters' assumptions will require that homosexuals remain celibate because any expression of sexuality will probably end up in the barracks, on the ship, or in public during foreign port visits. That's an instant degradation of trust-an imperative value for the military-and extreme discomfort for the roommate(s). The military is still trying to manage keeping the men and...