Weekend Protests Call For End To 'Don't Ask Don't Tell'

ABC News:

Twelve thousand miniature flags are fluttering on the National Mall through today to represent the men and women discharged from the military since Bill Clinton in 1993 signed off on the "don't ask, don't tell" compromise -- a policy that requires gays and lesbians conceal their sexual orientation or leave the military.

The flags, placed by volunteers, cover six football fields of space in view of the Capitol building and the Washington monument.

Read the whole story: ABC News

Comments

[NeedNewDeal]

Way to distract voters with a tired old wedge issue, Big Media!

We'll just go ahead and ignore the New-Depression, foreclusures, soaring cancer rates and the millions without healthcare.

Thanks for reminding us on what's important!

[CARTERJ]

What a pity that, in order to get something done in the USA, you have to boil it down to a selling point that can put it across to the majority. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was a stupid label from the beginning. If it had been sold as "Can You Do the Job?" or something like that, it would have been clearer.

Sexual orientation has nothing whatsoever to do with a person's ability to do a job. Sexual behavior of any kind within the military is banned, whether hetero or homo. It should be a non-issue.

[ceasenake]

The Dems should get a chance to allow openly gay members into the military in 2008 so we'll see how it goes.

It'll be kind of rocky at first, but once all the good ole boys get out and the military becomes just another federal agency things should smooth out.

The Dems won't be needing the military for anything, anyway.

[Gayrove]

What is it about some senior American military men, like that colonel and others, feel that the American soldier is so fragile and insecure sexually, that the idea that, for example, a homosexual might see his privates in a shower might unman him for combat? How is it that Israeli, English, German, French and so forth soldiers can maintain "unit cohesion" while, allegedly, American soldiers go all to pieces at the thought of.... well, take your choice: are they afraid of being eye-raped or eye-rejected? I bet it's the latter. Theoreticallly a "normal guy" can kid around about different sizes, including even his smaller example. But, my gosh, how could you do that with someone who might just let on without saying anything that you're not as attractive as they are? And what's a decent straight guy to do in the shower if he catches a queer watching him and he get visibly stimulated from it?

[johnmorgan]

Don't you love the way the Republicans constantly babble about "freedom" and "democracy," until you mention freedom for gay people, or freedom for black people.

Then suddenly they don't believe in freedom anymore.

[ohiomark]

What many of you Libs overlook is that your hero, Bill Clinton, signed this bill. He did it 1993, early in his first term. Where was all protests back then?

[SmellyOne]

Is this more important an issue than ending the war?

Why is there never any anti-war rallies covered?

Do they exist?

[Qbear]

BRAVO!

http://gaytwogether.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/03/28/prideflag_3.jpg

[esquire07]

Gay Americans should have the same right as other Americans to kill and enslave Middle Easterners for Bush Oil.

[SalB]

I think we all forget that before Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the military asked about orientation. If someone didn't answer that s/he was straight, s/he was discharged. Clinton wanted the military to stop asking, and futhermore, stop caring. Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a comprimise. It isn't much better - like a boost of a foot or two when you're drowning under ten feet of water. What we want is for the military to stop caring about soldier's sexual attraction.