QUOTE{S} OF THE DAY
“The problem with the arguments for inaction isn’t that they’re wrong, it’s that they prove too much. The military is always doing important work under difficult conditions. And the president is always dealing with a variety of hugely important issues. No day is ever going to be a convenient day for the brass to stop doing what they’re doing, and start dealing with the difficulties involved in getting soldiers accustomed to serving alongside openly gay and lesbian crew members. And no day is ever going to be a convenient day for the White House political team to pick a fight with the military. But that’s a reason to avoid delay, not to embrace it. The current policy is as wrong as it was during the campaign, and firing skilled and patriotic linguists is as insane today as it was during the campaign.
{snip}
Instead of writing more letters to patriotic men and women in uniform who are tired of living a lie, it’s time for Obama to start writing letters to members of Congress urging them to change the rules.”
Matthew Yglesias on Obama’s foot dragging and hypocrisy on DADT and the ongoing discharge of service members, including those involved in critical national security issues such as Arab linguists and counter-terrorism experts, from the military because they’re gay.
As a Marine and one who is intimate with the workings of the United States military I’ve always maintained that ending Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is as simple as signing the order and having it read throughout the ranks of the service.
The U.S military is trained for “instant and willing obedience to all orders” and ordering it to integrate openly gay and lesbian soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines will be no more difficult nor less effective than President Truman’s order that forced the military to integrate African-Americans into its ranks.
And it was that order by Truman in July of 1948 that resulted in the the U.S armed forces being the single best integrated, most color-blind organization in American society then and today.
And this is an excerpt from an incredible and deeply touching open letter from an Army officer about to be discharged from the military under DADT to his Commander-in-Chief begging President Obama not to fire him for being gay:
“As an infantry officer, I am not accustomed to begging. But I beg you today: Do not fire me. Do not fire me because my soldiers are more than a unit or a fighting force – we are a family and we support each other. We should not learn that honesty and courage leads to punishment and insult. Their professionalism should not be rewarded with losing their leader. I understand if you must fire me, but please do not discredit and insult my soldiers for their professionalism.
When I was commissioned I was told that I serve at the pleasure of the President. I hope I have not displeased anyone by my honesty. I love my job. I want to deploy and continue to serve with the unit I respect and admire. I want to continue to serve our country because of everything it stands for.
Please do not wait to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Please do not fire me.”
May 12th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I just don’t get it. You are so right on this one Scott. What is the big fucking deal about signing this order to allow gays in the military? Won’t they just comply and that will be the end of it? Obama should just put up or shut up. Take action now already!!!