Saturday, December 18, 2010
Senate finally does the right thing!
The Senate finally voted to vote on the repeal Don'T Ask, Don't Tell...so gay and lesbian members of the military can serve openly without having their freedom of expression abridged! The signnificance is that this test vote passed 63-33 thus proving the legislation will pass. Hopefully, the Senate will vote on it today.
IT PASSED 65-31 at 3:30 today!!!!
Here is President Obama's statement:
Today, the Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend. By ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.
As Commander-in-Chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known. And I join the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the overwhelming majority of service members asked by the Pentagon, in knowing that we can responsibly transition to a new policy while ensuring our military strength and readiness.
I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. 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. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.
IT PASSED 65-31 at 3:30 today!!!!
Here is President Obama's statement:
Today, the Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend. By ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.
As Commander-in-Chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known. And I join the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the overwhelming majority of service members asked by the Pentagon, in knowing that we can responsibly transition to a new policy while ensuring our military strength and readiness.
I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. 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. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.
Labels: DADT
Thursday, October 14, 2010
How to Strengthen the Military
Judge Virginia Phillips ruled Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) unconstitutional in Log Cabin Republicans v United States the other day. DADT deprives gay and lesbian servicemembers of both their right to due process and freedom of speech, besides it was harmful to military readiness. She also ordered the military to stop enforcing the ban immediately.
It should not be that hard to follow this directive. Many accused of violating DADT were not discharged until their combat deployments were completed,thus, their service appears to have been crucial to the military. of the almost 14,000 servicemembers who have been discharged under DADT, many were translators, counter terrorism and military intelligence officers. Closeted and not so closeted gay men and women have been serving (and living) next to their straight comrades for years (see Randy Shilts' Coming Out Under Fire for an historical overview). The military is having such a hard time recruiting soldiers that the requirements have been lowered--education, physical and criminal-- moral waivers have been given to felons so that they may serve! Not to mention that we are recruiting more foreign nationals to serve, with the idea that they can fast track to become American citizens (BTW foreign nationals have always served in our military,too).
And, though the President, the Secretary of Defense,the chair of the Joint Chief of Staff, the House of Representatives and 70% of the American public think that DADT should be lifted, the Senate is delaying a vote and the Justice Department feels they might have to appeal this decision.
I believe that if you want a strong military defense it is only common sense that DADT needs to be lifted now. I suggest that the Justice department sit on their hands, President Obama issue an executive order (such as Truman did in 1949 integrating the military), and Senator Reid tell his fellow senators to do the right thing now for a real strong defense--that their inaction is just continually has been weakening our military.
It should not be that hard to follow this directive. Many accused of violating DADT were not discharged until their combat deployments were completed,thus, their service appears to have been crucial to the military. of the almost 14,000 servicemembers who have been discharged under DADT, many were translators, counter terrorism and military intelligence officers. Closeted and not so closeted gay men and women have been serving (and living) next to their straight comrades for years (see Randy Shilts' Coming Out Under Fire for an historical overview). The military is having such a hard time recruiting soldiers that the requirements have been lowered--education, physical and criminal-- moral waivers have been given to felons so that they may serve! Not to mention that we are recruiting more foreign nationals to serve, with the idea that they can fast track to become American citizens (BTW foreign nationals have always served in our military,too).
And, though the President, the Secretary of Defense,the chair of the Joint Chief of Staff, the House of Representatives and 70% of the American public think that DADT should be lifted, the Senate is delaying a vote and the Justice Department feels they might have to appeal this decision.
I believe that if you want a strong military defense it is only common sense that DADT needs to be lifted now. I suggest that the Justice department sit on their hands, President Obama issue an executive order (such as Truman did in 1949 integrating the military), and Senator Reid tell his fellow senators to do the right thing now for a real strong defense--that their inaction is just continually has been weakening our military.
Labels: DADT, strong defense
