For many of us who served in Iraq or Afghanistan, the hyperbolic rhetoric from those opposed to a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell is somewhat amusing. Listen to Senator John McCain or Elaine Donnelly, head of the right-wing Center for Military Readiness, and you'd think allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would trigger mass rioting in the military. To this point, those opposed have hung their hat on a survey of Military Times readers, which showed an even split on the issue (though the trend over the years has tilted towards favoring a repeal). The survey they rely on was unscientific, to say the least, because it relied fully on subscribers, who tend to be older than the military, and mostly officers. But, it was almost all anyone had to go on.
That changes today.
A new poll -- a scientific poll -- conducted jointly by Republican and Democratic pollsters of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans shows that today's military is extremely comfortable around gay and lesbian Americans, believes their sexual orientation has no effect on their ability to do a job in the military, and would overwhelmingly accept a decision to allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.
It's a point, I should note, that even General Petraeus seemed to indicate that he knew to be the case, as well, testifying in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday.
The poll, conducted by Lake Research Partners (Democratic) and American Viewpoint (Republican) for the non-partisan Vet Voice Foundation, found that 73% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans would find a repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy acceptable, with younger veterans (under age 35) showing even more acceptance (77%).
At the same time, more than seven in ten Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (73%) are personally comfortable in the presence of gays and lesbians, while hardly anyone said they were very uncomfortable (7%). Overall, 60% of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans agree that sexual orientation has no bearing on one's ability to perform their duties, including 42% who strongly agree. Two-thirds of those veterans under age 35 agree (66%) with that statement, including almost half (47%) who strongly agree.
As the pollsters write in their memo on the poll findings, "Any notion that ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell would disrupt the military or that service members would be unwilling to meet the change is debunked."
That much is very true. Back to people like Senator McCain and Elaine Donnelly, it always amused me that by saying a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell would disrupt the military, they were implicitly saying that service members couldn't or wouldn't handle the change -- that they weren't professional. In making their case, they're actually insulting the members of our Armed Forces.
This poll proves what we all know to be true -- our military is the most professional organization that the world has ever known. Those who wear the uniform can handle change. And, in this case, not only will service members abide by a repeal, but they'll largely accept it and move on to the task at hand.
While politicians go nuts and toss around heated words on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, those in our military are essentially saying of a repeal, "Fine. Who cares?"
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Our government makes rules that have little or nothing to do with what the people want.
Now - what are we calling such government again? Democracy?
Ha.
If not to say: ha ha
In a democracy the leaders we vote for execute the will of the people as a whole. A consensus if You will. They can make unpopular decisions when needed to get something important done many people do not realize is good for them. But THAT is their main goal: to make the lives of the people better.
Does it make our lives better to despise a minority for reason of sexual orientation? - On the contrary. Our lives are diminished with every part of the people not sharing it.
Gays love one another. Our politicians sow dissent and hatred.
You do not need to know more than that to know what part of our lives we want to get rid of.
Hint: it is not boys kissing one another.
In November of 2008, I was hopeful that the Dems would actually make progress on this issue. Clearly they have no interest or intention of doing so. While that saddens me, it doesn't surprise me. It only means that I needn't take time away from my busy life to become acquainted with the issues and candidates associated with the 2010 election cycle. Democrat = Republican. One party is openly hostile to gay issues, and one is openly indifferent. I can't, in good conscience, vote for either.
The hetero draftees sent into combat will believe they're there not to fight the enemy but so that a sexual minority can openly profess its incongruous sexual proclivities. When the body bags start piling up the entire situation will begin to deterioriate.
Our Canadian military does not have a problem serving with gay/lesbian members of the military, neither does England and other countries' military personnel. You Americans need to get off the soap box. The idea that a gay/lesbian soldier is going to find every heterosexual male/female in their unit attractive and wants a relationship with them is such nonsense.
BTW, I'm a heterosexual female.
As a gay person, it is not my responsibility to manage your sexual insecurities.
As a specific example that may amuse you, in college I had four friends sharing a flat, two of whom were gay. We called the house (which was rather large for our standards) "the 51% gay mansion", on the presumption that "all guys are at least 1% gay" so even though it was an even split, the house tipped gay. Anyway, we may still be in the minority but there are plenty of straight guys who don't need you to manage our sexual insecurities!
The study is totally unnecessary because RAND did a similar study for the Clinton administration back in 1993. We are currently paying them to do the same study again. Certainly the changes in attitudes about homosexuality over the last 17 years have made eliminating discrimination in the military much easier.
I expect that DADT will be repealed before the election. S. 3065 introduced on March 3 has 25 cosponsors. The only problem with the bill is it does not prohibit discrimination against transgender people.
They'll be fine.
We did have the October 2006 Zogby poll of "545 U.S. Military Personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan (or in combat support roles directly supporting those operations)". Zogby observed the exact same result as the Lake Research/American Perspectives poll announced today, that 73% of military personnel who have served in the current wars feel comfortable in the presence of gays and lesbians.
One of Zogby's most interesting results was that of the 23% of service members who said they knew for certain they were (or had been) serving in a unit with gay or lesbian comrades, 72% said it had no or a positive impact on their personal moral and 67% said it had no or a positive impact on their units morale.