Steven Rogers

Gays in the Military



Posted: Wednesday, September 30, 2009

by Steven Rogers

As a former Marine I am a member of several military groups that consist of former and current military members. It gives a unique perspective on the events and goings on in Washington. One topic that caught my eye was the "don't ask, don't tell" law for the military. Just in case you are not familiar with this, it is a law put on the books in 1993 and approved by then President Bill Clinton who, while campaigning for the Presidency, had promised to allow all citizens regardless of sexual orientation to serve openly in the military, a departure from the then complete ban on those who are not heterosexual. The actual policy was crafted by Colin Powell. It states in simple terms that a superior cannot ask if a person is gay, and likewise one who is gay should not let it be known. I know for some of you liberals and progressives who have absolutely no experience in military life beyond what you read or have heard from others like your parents or friends that sounds atrocious, but up until that point sodomy was illegal and the military put people out for it.

The subject has arisen once again as President Hussein Obama has declared that he would like to do away with the don't ask, don't tell law. While he has yet to say when he plans to get to this, he and his staff have made it clear that it is a part of his agenda. Polls that I have seen suggest 56% of Americans think that the law should be repealed while on leatherneck.com 78% say that it should not be. This is a big difference. Who should the government listen to. The polls of every day Americans or the polls of the Americans that the changes would affect? Lets look into this a little deeper. Why would the men and women who voluntarily put themselves in harms way to protect the freedoms of American citizens to worship how they want to worship, live where they choose, and screw who and how they please, want to exclude any particular group of people. Maybe it is a vast right wing plot against sodomy( I'm sorry gayness) No, that is not it. I would have got that memo. Maybe it is because Americans just aren't ready to see their "Queens" come home in body bags. No, that still doesn't sound right. I have spoken to my military friends and come to the conclusion that it is for the same reason that women are not allowed in combat specialties. Not because they can't do anything a man can do because we all know that they can, but because they are a distraction. When you are in harms way you need your wits and all of them. When you are trying to stay alive you don't need to have sex or home or your anything else on your mind. It is as simple an explanation as you can get. It is also one that someone with no experience would think of which is why president Clinton who has no military experience or training should not have done anything to change military codes or procedures and why President Hussein Obama should stay out of the affairs of the military. He is the commander and chief and as such should tell the military where to go for instance, but he has no right to the authority to tell them how to get there.

I would like to add to the list of presidential requirements that to direct the military you should have military experience. That is; survived boot camp, trained in combat and the art of war, and lived the life of a soldier. You cannot command the respect of men and women who have been to hell and back for their country without having walked a mile in their boots. I guess it really wouldn't matter if it were a requirement to our president as he has said that the constitution is dated and has yet to produce to the American people any real proof that he is constitutionally eligible to be president. I tears at my heart to see the constitution trampled on by the very people sworn to protect and up hold it. This is where I should say God bless America and while I pray that prayer everyday for now I will close with God Help America!!!
Steven is a self proclaimed right wing Christian extremist. He is a former Marine and currently work in the laboratory of a cancer research and treatment facility. He is the father of three and is referred to as genius by his wife (mostly as a sarcastic term of endearment!)

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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)
» left by Mark
from Philadelphia 2 years 239 days ago.
Interesting viewpoint. Though I am gay, and all for diversity, etc. I respect your viewpoint. I wouldn't want some pick-up truck driving, NRA supporting, god fearing republican hetrosexual at my place of work. I know I should be more open, but I just can't see it
» left by Steven Rogers 2 years 238 days ago.
20 fans.
allthough you think I am being judgemental I don't mean that, but the simple truth is that these men want to feel that their team is focused on the right thing when it hits the fan. I dont believe you as a gay man is any less capable as the next person and would be willing to allow gays a place in the military as an auxilary person much like the women in the armed forces
» left by Anonymous 2 years 238 days ago.
I think you and I are both a bit jaded here. Honest. And again, I am glad we live in a country where BOTH our voices can be heard, and I respect what you do. But the viewpoint does kinda' lean towards an exclusionary view where others are deemed a bit 2nd class/inferior...and deep down, that is probably not the case. Probably best that we agree to disagree.
» left by Steven Rogers 2 years 238 days ago.
20 fans.
Thanks for the comment but my point is not if it is right or wrong but that people who have had no experience in the military like Clinton and Obama have no right to change these practices because they can't understand why they do things the way they do them
» left by Nancy Daniels
 2 years 227 days ago.
Steven,
 
Having just returned from the graduation of my son from Ft Benning, I agree  with you and had the same thoughts you expressed when I was done there. 
 
My son was telling me about the shower experience which was rife with 'guy' stuff.   Were a known gay man part of the group, would they have so 'free?'  (My son never had the high school shower experience because that has now been banned in most schools, I think.)  
 
When my gay brother and I were young, we swooned over the same men.  Gay men get aroused when they see attractive men just like straight men get aroused when they see an attractive woman.  From my point of view, allowing known gay men in the military would be like have a man in a woman's shower.  I shudder to think how I would feel in that situation.  
 
Also, I agree that the comraderie men develop among their units would be different if homosexuals were part of the group. 
 
Thanks for a good point of view.
» left by Steven Rogers 2 years 227 days ago.
20 fans.
Thanks for your comment and thanks to your son for his service to our great country.
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