We all know about the famous "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy that was instated during Bill Clinton's presidency during 1993. When hearing about this policy most people think about it in a negative connotation. With no background of the actual law, of course, one will think its main objective was prejudice against open gay and lesbian soldiers serving and their sexuality needed to be closeted. On the other hand, this policy was enforced to acutally protect these soldiers from discrimination because of their sexual orientation, while still offering them the same equal rights as every other soldier.
After seventeen years of controversy, President Obama was the one who set out to repeal this act. On December 22, 2010, the bill was set into effect that all gay and lesbian soldiers could openly serve. The problem is not the fact that we have gays serving in the Army, but that we will have people who will show discrimination towards them because of it. And without this policy, they do not have to have the approval from every other soldier. Therefore, this will not prevent any type of discrimination. No soldier deserves to have this type of intolerance because of a difference in sexual preference. With that, it is safe to say that the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy was underestimated in thinking it was only out to harm gay soldiers, but the true goal was to solely protect them.
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In a way I think in the Army, people should not be open about there sexual orientation because everyone has a different mindset on homosexuality and for the most part it is not a good one. People will think of you differently and not treat you the same if you would be straight. If you are all being shot at by Osama Bin Laden I am sure there will that one immature soldier that thinks why should I protect this guy because he thinks hes gay and going to hell anyways. Its not that I think it is something you should hide from the world I just think it would be best to keep it yourself in certain situations.
ReplyDeleteI think that people in the army should be able to express themselves any way that they choose. Just because they are gay doesn't mean they are bad soldiers. There should be no discrimination while people are protecting our country. Instead, they should work together as a team to get the job done.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Amy. Just because you are gay or lesbian does not mean you are a bad soldier. Everyone has different views and feeling and people should not be discriminated against because of them. People who like the same sex can fight just as well as people who like the opposite sex and because of this I don't think it should matter.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately peoples opinions have been the source of conflict since the dawn of mankind. These opinions lead to disagreements which lead to conflict. Opinion is the reason we have an army to begin with; however, letting people be open about their sexuality although justified is a touchy idea for a military. In a civilian setting its easy to control, but when soldiers start to divide and conflict between each other they hurt themselves and the people they protect. Thats why in my personal opinion policies like don't ask don't tell are important to keep civilian conflicts out of a military atmosphere.
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