Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
“Don’t ask don’t tell” was a law that was
made in 1993 banning all lesbian and gay service members from serving in the
military openly. (Lila Shapiro, 1993) Before I read the article Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Study Shows No Negative
Effects on Military One Year After Repeal I had no idea about the law
“Don’t ask don’t tell.” I couldn’t believe my mind; I was shocked that their
country betrayed a group that serves their country only for the best and out of
the goodness of their hearts. They couldn’t be real and open of whom they
really were just because of their sexual preference. Personally I don’t think
it matters if someone is gay or not if they are helping their country. Who are
they to judge?
“For almost twenty years, experts predicted
that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would harm the military.”
(Aaron Belkin, the founding director of the palm center and the lead author of
the study.) Who are these experts? Are they really experts? I may not be an
expert but I personally think that it doesn’t matter what the sexual preference
is, people shouldn’t judge. And I’m not the only one who thinks so because, a
year after the military started their new open-service policy there have been
no negative consequences! (Lila Shapiro, 2012)
I’m shocked that the military didn’t stand
up for them selves sooner, but I guess I see reasons why they wouldn’t. They
could have gotten a different outcome, people could have rebelled against the
repeal and made a huge deal out of it. The military could have been frowned
upon not everyone thinks the same. A big thank you to Barak Obama for making
the world a better place, from a Canadian. If it weren’t for Obama making the
repeal the military wouldn’t have this freedom. (Lila Shapiro, 2012)
References
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/dont-ask-dont-tell-study_n_1868892.html
Lila Shapiro, Huffpost Gay
Voices, 2012
Aaron Belkin, the founding
director of the palm center and the lead author of the study
-Lorie
At what point did sexuality become the deciding factor of an individuals other personal attributes? I fro one am having a hard time understanding how people's personal lives can have such a large impact on general society's thoughts on their performance in other areas? If an individual identifying with the LGBT community is able to pass basic training, have they not then proven themselves to be an equal to all other soldiers who passed basic training? When it comes to my freedom, I am proud to have members of the LGBT community stand up, and maybe we should offer them some of the same rights and freedoms that have been earned for the heterosexual community
ReplyDeleteLarissa C
I agree with both of you Lorie and Larissa, it makes no sense in my head why someone's sexuality should have anything to do with them enrolling in the military. Unless they are known to be physically or mentally threatening to other people no one should make a big deal about them enrolling. Everyone should be treated as equals. No matter the time or place.
ReplyDelete- Alexandra
I was shocked to read that some "experts" claimed that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would harm the military. Like you said, these people are no experts, only ignorant in my eyes. I find it's people who think in this way that compromise the safety of individuals (more specifically of the LGBTTQ community) and impede the positive advancement of our society.
ReplyDelete~Valerie
I read a lot of articles based on this and I am so glad to see that Obama is making a great change in the US allowing the LGBT community to not have to choose between choosing their sexuality, what they love, and serving for their country. Not all people might accept this change, but Obama made it so they have to and so that it will never be allowed to be brought back into discussion.
ReplyDelete- Elysha
If it happens in America it always seems to be big news. Even though this is a recent event for the United States, Canada’s order was challenged in 1992 by Canadian Forces member, Michelle Douglas, and repealed, thereby allowing LGBTQ people to serve in the forces free from discrimination or harassment. Canada’s military even saw its first same-sex marriage on Forces Base Greenwood in Nova Scotia in 2005. So yes, yeah Obama, but big pat on the back for Canada being a leader on this issue.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Sexual orientation has nothing to do what you are capable of doing for your country. This really angers me that they made a big deal of sexual orientation for military. I'm happy that Obama stood up for this and really helped them out. Glad to know that Obama stands up for his country.
ReplyDelete- Alyssa