Posts Tagged ‘don’t ask don’t tell’

The era of DADT is officially over


21 Sep

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Discrimination | Comments Off

As of yesterday morning,12:01am EDT, September 20, 2011, to be exact,  Don’t Ask Don’t Tell officially stopped being the policy of theUSmilitary. Let’s just take a moment to smile and celebrate that. All pending investigations and discharges have been halted. Applications are being accepted from openly gay recruits. This, my friends, is good news.

Yes, there will be some problems, as there still are with women serving, and some people (politicians) will try to blame the policy change, but overall, nothing about this policy change will hinder our military, and in many ways, we will all be helped.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (FINAL)


29 Dec

Tags: , ,
Posted in Discrimination | 1 Comment »

Separate is never equal. 51% of the people will vote to enslave 49% of the people 99% of the time. That’s why we have courts; that’s why letting the voters decide isn’t always the answer.

The repeal of DADT is a major step forward. And I appreciate that Congress actually voted for the repeal. But they didn’t have much choice. The courts had already invalidated the law.

This isn’t new; this isn’t liberal judges legislating from the bench. This is the courts performing an important part of their function. Sometimes society needs to be forced to do the right thing.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (4)


13 Nov

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Discrimination, Politics | 1 Comment »

The Pentagon is gets it. The soldiers get it (as the Pentagon’s opinion is formed by survey responses from the soldiers). We know courts get it, and the President gets it. So why doesn’t Congress get it? Why can’t Congress see that it is time to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?

Is it because the average Congressman is twice as old as the average active duty soldier? Or because Congress only has a 14% minority population compared to 25% of our soldiers?

Congress- listen to the people you represent, all of us. It is time. Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (3)


13 Oct

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Discrimination | 1 Comment »

Add Judge Virginia Phillips to my list of judges of the year. Judge Phillips has ordered a global injunction against enforcing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. In her careful reading of the facts, she has determined that not only does discharging gay soldiers not aid the military’s goals, in fact, it hurts them.

The Justice Department still has time to appeal, and Obama is on record wanting Congress to overturn the law (they’ve already voted not to), but I hope they don’t. This is why we have the judiciary, to make the right decision even when its not the popular decision.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (2)


26 Sep

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Discrimination | Comments Off

Two years ago, a federal appeals court ruled that the military can’t discharge personnel under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell unless they can prove it furthers military goals. This week, Judge Ronald Leighton ruled that the Air Force did not prove that in the case of Major Margaret Witt, who was discharged under the policy, and ordered her reinstated.

I would claim that firing Witt actually hurt the military’s goals. She is a highly decorated flight nurse who rose to the rank of Major. That doesn’t happen if she’s not a good airman who’s an asset to her unit.

Congratulations, Major.

Don’t Ask, Dont Tell


24 Sep

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Discrimination | 1 Comment »

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was not repealed, even though the new rule would not have gone into effect until after the military had finished its investigation(?) on how best to do so. Apparently, Senators think that repealing DADT will hurt morale for troops on the ground in the Middle East.

I have never served, so correct me if I’m wrong, but how likely is a gay Marine, who has been serving in silence, in a combat zone, to turn around and say to everyone, “DADT’s been repealed. I’m GAY!”? And if he did, how surprised would his unit really be?

Hate and Stupidity go Hand in Hand


11 Jun

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Discrimination | Comments Off

“I cannot believe that a bunch of lacy-drawered, limp-wristed people could do what those men have done in the past.” -Yuma mayor Al Krieger speaking against repeal of DADT at Memorial Day service

 “I am reluctant to compare myself to George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, but I did get some feedback on what I said, and I don’t believe that I said anything different than what they would have said.” -Krieger, a week later

Mayor Krieger, please see the Wikipedia page of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, and then try and tell me that Washington would have said what you said.

100 Words On

topics explored in exactly 100 words