Stupid Is as Stupid Does:
A Collaborative Analysis by Jacob M. Washington and Tracie L. Washington
Today, by a vote of 56-43 Senate Republicans blocked an effort to repeal the law banning gays from serving openly in the military. I think this has to do with more than just “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the military. Based on recent Congressional history, this democracy is totally screwed up because our legislators are allowing things to become personal. In other words, bills aren’t passed because of who is supporting or not supporting them, not because of the substance of the law.
So here we are…fighting several wars…thousands of lives at stake…and our paid employees, i.e., Congress, won’t fund the military because our legislators want to continue to discriminate against non-heterosexuals.
We all understand that everyone has their own personal opinions, or even religious views, but there has to be a time when legislators realize who they work for. According to what I saw on Rachel Maddow’s show tonight, even 65% of Republicans believe Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell must go. That leads into my next hypothetical question, but a shockingly feasible one which is, how do those 43 nay-Sayers explain to that percentage of non-heterosexuals that voted them in, that they (legislators) basically repudiate their way of life AND their safety from foreign aggressors – like Al Qaeda all at once? Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. And so what’s next? If they find out there’s a vast homosexual population in schools, will these same legislators decide not to fund education?
As a civil rights lawyer and human rights advocate, I just can’t get over the fact that we’re having this debate. It’s insane. Even our kids know it’s insane, yet we expect them to respect our leaders. Seriously?
This is another analyisis done by..
Setting it STRAIGHT?: Republican senators block repeal of DADT, democrats allowed
By: Cornelle D. Carney
9/22/10
Childish and selfish are the senators who refused to repeal the ban on the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that has been in effect since Bill Clinton’s administration. As a people we should not be here. This problem is deeper than just allowing gays to serve in the military. It is an infringement upon civil liberties; some of the very ones that which this country was founded, to included the First and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution.
Some critics are concerned about how heterosexual soldiers would feel living and bathing in close quarters with gays. This is a valid concern; however, policies are already in place that protects soldiers from sexual harassment, etc. If a soldier legitimately feels harassed then he or she can report it up the chain.
Bottom line is we simply cannot deny employment with the military based on sexuality. Equal opportunity policies are in effect presently for this very reason. What makes the military immune from this process?
For goodness sake, let ‘em in!
-J.Washington
Ultimately it comes down to an ignorance that has been deeply embedded in the heads of many Americans. A large portion of our culture has this blind hatred of homosexuals that never is never backed up by a good reason. People seem to refuse to acknowledge the fact that being gay in the military is no more relevant than ones religion or race. People over look this when they are a member of the majority.
ReplyDeleteHypothetically lets assume that don't ask don't tell worked the way it does but applied to Christianity instead. Would this be unfair? I think so. People need to understand how it works from the perspective of the minority to understand truly how discriminating and morally wrong it is.
-S. Jones
I really do agree with you. how can are government continue to justify this ruling. Like really!
ReplyDelete@Anonymous- While I agree with most of your statement- the one problem I see is that you say "A large portion of our culture..." What culture? We have no culture. We have McDonalds and WalMart. Our "culture" is buying things we don't need and watching television.
ReplyDeleteWe will create a SHIFT in the total consciousness displacing the antiquated and bigoted views of the 'good 'ole boys club' with fresh, loving, compassionate and FAIR ones. One by one, banded together in unity we can change these wrongs. Your words here will resonate into the hearts and minds of the like-minded. Keep the faith, and keep on speaking out on the side of true justice. God is on your side. ;-))
ReplyDelete