After almost twenty years of being in place, “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” has finally been repealed. This is seen as a major step in gay rights and their movement for equality in laws and government. I am surprised that President Clinton, who was a strong Democrat, had signed this policy into action. However, times have changed and I’m glad that President Obama was finally able to repeal it. American soldiers have had to lie about their self identity and sexual orientation for years now and they are finally able to be their true selves. I don’t think that it was fair for a man or woman serving in the Armed Forces to have to hide the fact that they were gay. A person’s sexual preference isn’t what matters when making important decisions during combat. A soldier who is willing to risk their life for our country should not be discriminated against when they are risking so much. When you think about the qualities and characteristics of a soldier, you think about bravery, discipline, strength, and honor, not about whether they are homosexual or heterosexual. I don’t really understand how a person being gay would affect their performance in the military but many people thought that it would create a distraction during intense times.
“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” has been responsible for the discharge of at least 13,000 troops, according to a report in the Washington Post. Many people are considering this a huge step in civil rights because gays will no longer be discharged and discriminated against because of their sexual preference. President Obama had made repealing DADT one of his campaign promises and it is good to finally see him make good on it. The Senate voted 65 to 31 in favor of ending DADT and then President Obama was able to sign the ban into action. Many people have tried for years to get DADT repealed, even top officials in the military didn’t believe that it was an appropriate policy and realized that it didn’t benefit the military at all. This is a huge step in the path to gay rights and hopefully will open more doors in the time to come. President Obama summed up the repeal of DADT by saying, “It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed.”
“Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” has been responsible for the discharge of at least 13,000 troops, according to a report in the Washington Post. Many people are considering this a huge step in civil rights because gays will no longer be discharged and discriminated against because of their sexual preference. President Obama had made repealing DADT one of his campaign promises and it is good to finally see him make good on it. The Senate voted 65 to 31 in favor of ending DADT and then President Obama was able to sign the ban into action. Many people have tried for years to get DADT repealed, even top officials in the military didn’t believe that it was an appropriate policy and realized that it didn’t benefit the military at all. This is a huge step in the path to gay rights and hopefully will open more doors in the time to come. President Obama summed up the repeal of DADT by saying, “It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed.”
The article “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Finally Repealed,” written on July 25, 2011, by Francisco Cordova caught my attention because; this is one of the most controversial topics that continue to make the national news in one form or another. Cordova writes that after almost two decades the do not ask do not policy tell has been repealed; this is an enormous step in the movement for equality for our American soldiers. Our government has ignored this inequality long enough. I also am pleased that President Obama repealed this law. Cordova makes a valid point about the unfairness of the policy DADT forcing those who want to serve in the military to lie about their sexual preference. It is not the person’s sexual preference fighting on the front line; it is the American soldier with dignity, integrity, courage, and pride, and the desire to fight for our country. We need to recognize our soldier’s for their characteristics of selflessness, not for their gender identity.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama had campaigned on a promise to seek an end to the DADT policy, and Cordova writes it is good to see the President come through on the promise. With the enactment of the DADT repeal, a person wishing to serve their country will not have to lie or be dishonest about who they are, and all of the American soldiers can also receive the respect and honor they deserve. I agree with Cordova that, “hopefully this will open many more doors in the time to come.”
To know that the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy has been repealed is great news. The soldiers from our nation or anybody for that matter shouldn’t hide who they are. Francisco, when you speak about the characteristics of a solider, I definitely agree with you, people’s first thoughts are not “What is his or her sexual orientation?” Independently, from the characteristics you just described in your blog, people also think of their safety and what each soldier means to them. Hopefully, the fact that this policy has been repealed makes up for the soldiers that were discharged. It was not fair at all; this kind of discrimination is something that should not be tolerated. I do not know how huge of a step forward this abolished policy is; nonetheless it is a step closer to being able to have more freedom, and of course equality, which is what this country has always fought for. Even though this was not done sooner, it is amazing to know that little by little people are being treated as the citizens and humans that they are.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that you wrote last, makes me wonder though, is that chapter really closed? Yes, the policy has been repealed and soldiers are able to express themselves more freely, but there are still many people that do not tolerate those who are homosexual. I feel that the fight for treating everyone no matter whom they are, what their sexual orientation preference is, will continue. Now that the soldiers are able to be honest about whom they are; I feel that there might be a dilemma. What if their lives are at danger? I would not like to hear later on that soldiers are being harassed or beaten because they are showing who they are. As it is, there have been cases of people being hurt because of their sexual orientation. Though this is one of the best news for the soldiers and many other people, it is hard not to think about the consequences this might bring.