*Arguing with a wall is pointless.* ** *Years of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”: A Disservice to the Nation*
The decade under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has been a disservice to our country and to the people who serve in our Armed Forces. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has deprived our Armed Forces of the skills, talent, experience and commitment of nearly 10,000 personnel discharged under the law. It has deprived us of untold numbers of young Americans who have chosen not to serve or who have cut short their careers in the military because of the ban. The ban demands self-denial far beyond the already substantial sacrifices expected of uniformed personnel and their families. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” forces gay military personnel to live a lie as a condition of service. The law denies others the opportunity to know and learn from their gay colleagues. The history of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is complicated. A comprehensive account of the policy, its genesis and application, would require volumes to tell. On this tenth anniversary, however, we review some of the defining moments of the past decade. We review how the initial promise of a more benign policy toward gays actually created mass confusion about the policy and backlash against lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. We review how, over time, the new law showed its true colors as a gay ban, just like its predecessors, not a step forward for our nation, our military or our military personnel. We review the epidemic of anti-gay harassment in the ranks and the inadequate response of our military leaders. In particular, we review the brutal murder of Private First Class Barry Winchell at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, exposing six years of harassment and violence against gay service members left unchecked by military leaders. Lastly, we examine the significant shift in public opinion post September 11th in support of gays serving openly in the military. The American people and some military leaders are beginning to acknowledge that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was bad policy when it became law, and it is bad policy today. It is time for change. Click Here: http://www.sldn.org/pages/ten-years-of-dont-ask-dont-tell-a-disservice-to-the-nation On 9/21/10, Keith In Tampa <[email protected]> wrote: > > Maybe you can support this claim, with some empirical data and some > facts/proof? > > I don't believe your claim, period. > > > > > On Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 12:31 PM, Tommy News <[email protected]> wrote: > >> *No, Keith. Wrong. * >> *There have been countless backstabbing "efforts" and vendettas to "out" >> closeted and silent members of the military, including baiting, spreading >> rumors, searching possessions and correspondence, entrapment, etc.* >> *It is those who chose to "enforce" the policy, who caused it to fail.* >> ** >> *Billions have been wasted on these witch hunts and discharges.* >> *DADT is a failure. Always has been. Since 1993. * >> ** >> *Repeal it NOW, no further "delay". * >> >> >> On 9/21/10, Keith In Tampa <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> No Tom, the policy has worked fine. It has been those who chose to >>> violate the policy who have had their "lives and carreers ruined". >>> >>> Again, the military is no place for a "Gay Parade".......If you think >>> that rescinding the DADT policy is going to somehow allow you and your >>> buddies to get up and announce, "We're Here And We're Queer"; you are sadly >>> mistaken. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 12:20 PM, Tommy News <[email protected]>wrote: >>> >>>> *No, Keith, the DADT policy is a complete falure and it has never >>>> worked.* >>>> ** >>>> *Thousands of lives and careers have been ruined.* >>>> ** >>>> *No further biased "study" or delay should be tolerated. >>>> * >>>> >>>> On 9/21/10, Keith In Tampa <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> No Tom, the DADT was enacted, by the Clinton Administration in 1993. >>>>> The policy has worked, successfully for seventeen years. >>>>> >>>>> Is it time to rescind the policy? I tend to agree that it is, but not >>>>> until such time as the military has a chance to weigh in, and determine >>>>> the >>>>> effects of such a change in policy, and "how/what" type of policy to >>>>> implement as a replacement. >>>>> >>>>> Sexual practices has no place in our military. There have been Gays in >>>>> our military who have fought and defended our Nation since 1776. No >>>>> policy >>>>> is going to change that. We especially don't want a military that is >>>>> weakened by a bunch of folks with an agenda!! >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 12:13 PM, Tommy News <[email protected]>wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> *No, Keith.* >>>>>> ** >>>>>> *The Pentagon has had since 1993 to review this failed policy which >>>>>> has ruined thousands of lives and careers.* >>>>>> ** >>>>>> *No further delay is acceptable.* >>>>>> *Delay means do nothing. >>>>>> * >>>>>> >>>>>> On 9/21/10, Keith In Tampa <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> No Tom, you're missing the real issue here, blinded by some >>>>>>> secondary issue. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> First, the Pentagon should have every right to review and determine >>>>>>> how repeal of DADT will effect the military. Second, and more >>>>>>> importantly, the goal by the Marxists is to lock the Republicans out >>>>>>> of amending the proposed Defense Appropriations bill now before the >>>>>>> Congress. I don't trust the likes of Chuck Schumer, Barney Frank, and a >>>>>>> host of other Marxists controlling the vote over Defense Appropriations. >>>>>>> You shouldn't either. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> From CNN: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/09/20/senate.defense.bill/index.html >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> But in a statement issued Monday night, Senator Susan Collins >>>>>>> (Confused, Maine) said she would side with the rest of the GOP because >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> Democratic leadership of the Senate "intends to shut Republicans out of >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> debate." >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Collins said she agreed with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of >>>>>>> Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, that the law is "simply not fair." But she said >>>>>>> Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, should give Republicans and >>>>>>> Democrats "an equal opportunity" to offer amendments to the defense >>>>>>> bill. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> "Now is not the time to play politics, and I again call on the >>>>>>> majority leader to work with Republican leaders to negotiate an >>>>>>> agreement so >>>>>>> that the Senate can debate the defense bill this week," Collins said. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> In a separate statement, Snowe also indicated she would support a >>>>>>> Republican filibuster, saying the chamber should be allowed a full >>>>>>> debate on >>>>>>> the measure. Snowe also questioned why the Senate would vote on repeal >>>>>>> before the military has completed its review. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> "We should all have the opportunity to review that report which is to >>>>>>> be completed on December 1, as we reevaluate this policy and the >>>>>>> implementation of any new changes," Snowe's statement said. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The defense authorization act, which is a broad defense policy bill, >>>>>>> would not rescind "don't ask, don't tell" until after the Pentagon >>>>>>> completes >>>>>>> a review of the repeal's impact on the military. The review is due in >>>>>>> December and would serve as the basis for necessary certification by the >>>>>>> president, defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff >>>>>>> that >>>>>>> the military could handle repealing the policy. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >>>>>>> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >>>>>>> >>>>>>> * Visit our other community at >>>>>>> http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/> >>>>>>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >>>>>>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. >>>>>> Have a great day, >>>>>> Tommy >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >>>>>> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >>>>>> >>>>>> * Visit our other community at >>>>>> http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/> >>>>>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >>>>>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >>>>> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >>>>> >>>>> * Visit our other community at >>>>> http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/> >>>>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >>>>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. >>>> Have a great day, >>>> Tommy >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >>>> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >>>> >>>> * Visit our other community at >>>> http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/> >>>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >>>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >>> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >>> >>> * Visit our other community at >>> http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/> >>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. >> Have a great day, >> Tommy >> >> -- >> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >> >> * Visit our other community at >> http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/> >> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >> > > -- > Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. > For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum > > * Visit our other community at > http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/> > * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. > * Read the latest breaking news, and more. > -- Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. Have a great day, Tommy -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
