Today’s The Leaf-Chronicle has a delightful editorial in which they call for an end to the Don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy which allows gay and lesbian soldiers to serve as long as they’re closeted. Click here to read the article (This link will expire after 7 days, so hurry!)
It’s already generated quite a bit of response, and much of it is negative. The idea of opening doors to gay people is just downright offensive to people. Never mind that it makes sense.
The Don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy regarding gay and lesbian soldiers has proven to be a failure time and time again. Skilled soliders have been discharged far too often. Let’s not forget the high number of linguists that have been canned.
We all remember the tragic events surrounding the brutal murder of Pfc. Barry Winchell eight years ago. Soldiers have been otherwise harassed, beaten, or drummed out because of a deep anti-gay bias that prevails in the military.
Recent polls show that an overwhelming majority of the public supports an end to the ban on gay soldiers. Congress has even started a bill to that effect. Could this latest data of the financial impact of DADT finally be the last nail in its coffin?
US soldiers are serving with gay soldiers in Iraq since the UK ended their ban on gay soldiers a few years back. Let’s give our neighbors and fellow soldiers the dignity of serving their country with honor by letting them serve as who they are. Would it lower morale? American soldiers serve with their British counterparts with pride. So much for that idea.
Just imagine what would happen if we have our gay and lesbian soldiers serve with honor. Their fellow soldiers would be in a position to learn more about diversity, and finally put an end to ignorance and homophobia.
It would be a radical shift, yes. But as the editorial very skillfully points out, that’s how we helped put an end to racial bigotry; by forcing white soldiers to march side-by-side with black soldiers. In fact, it made us stronger. Just as an end to DADT will make us even stronger still.
Living a lie does no one any good. There’s never any good reason to tell a qualified, competent individual why they can’t serve or even die for their country.
Kudos to The Leaf-Chronicle for opening this critical discussion!
No related posts.
Having just seen the film, “Soldier’s Girl” last night in which a GI gets brutally mudered because of his relationship with a male to female transgendered person, they highlighted in the film how flimsy the whole “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is.
Don’t ask, don’t tell, but assume if you will and always assume that anything other than straight is deviant and dangerous.
Thanks David for your post.
Peterson
If you are a practicing homosexual, then you are not a true Christian. If you truly love the Lord, then you’ll stop the practice of the homosexual lifestyle. It is an enormous sin according to God: Is practicing homosexuality a sin? It’s in the Bible, Leviticus 18:22, TLB. “Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin.”
God loves us all and wants us all to be part of His kingdom, but He will not allow sin in heaven. If you continue to choose the homosexual lifestyle, then you will not be in heaven.
Can a practicing homosexual go to heaven? It’s in the Bible, I Corinthians 6:9, TLB. “Don’t you know that those doing such things have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who live immoral lives, who are idol worshippers, adulterers or homosexuals—will have no share in his kingdom.”
Turn from this horrific deed and sincerely repent now before it’s too late.
If you are a practicing homosexual, what should you do?
First acknowledge your sin. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 51:2-4, TLB. “Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again. For I admit my shameful deed—it haunts me day and night.”
Second, Ask forgiveness for your sin—God says you can start over again. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 51:7-12, TLB. “Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. And after You have punished me, give me back my joy again. Don’t keep looking at my sins—erase them from Your sight. Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. Don’t toss me aside, banished forever from Your presence. Don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You.”
Third, Believe that God has indeed forgiven you and quit feeling guilty. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 32:1-6, TLB. “What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record. There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. All day and all night Your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, ‘I will confess them to the Lord.’ And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Now I say that each believer should confess his sins to God when he is aware of them, while there is time to be forgiven. Judgment will not touch him if he does. You are my hiding place from every storm of life; You even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory.
Wow… “anonymous,”…
What can I say? Oh, wait. I can’t say much of anything. After all, it’s “anonymous.” If only you had the integrity to at least sign your name to a post that obviously took a lot of your time to write.
Oh well. I’m leaving this post up because it’s important for people to know that the love of Christ is available for all. It’s also important for my readers to understand that His love is available to those who would deny us that love.
So, “Anonymous,” thanks for writing. Jesus does indeed love you. And He will show you His love through those you despise. After all, if there’s hope for you, there’s hope for anyone.
Oh… by the way… I don’t have to practice my homosexuality anymore. After 34 years, I’ve pretty much got it down.
- David