sleepy jack

Yeah you're right. Outright discrimination is nice; I love the freedom they have in the military. You can't be open about something you can control but you can tell everyone you're fighting Muslims for God.

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Freebase Dali

I see what you're saying, but as with a lot of other things humans aren't getting right, it's going to take some time before we see a non-discriminating military.
At least there's somewhat of a middle-ground that allows homosexuals to serve in the military at all, albeit under a requirement to not be one's self.
But in that context, and I can tell you from experience, the military is the LAST place you'll ever be able to express any individuality whether it's sexual in nature or not.
I don't agree with the sexual part, but as far as everything else, it just wouldn't be a very effective military if it wasn't strictly controlled.

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sleepy jack

"We hunt people for Jesus.... That's what we do." | Slog | The Stranger

This isn't even something that's new. There's a deliberate attempt by evangelicals to create "military missionaries" and they've passed out more than bibles; there was one instance where they passed out comics of Muhammad burning in hell. They do all this in full US military uniform. One side of this war already is convinced this is a cosmic war and a crusade. We don't need guys in Jesus jerseys to vindicate this ideology. It's counterproductive.

That's not the point. Obama said he was going to abolish this pointless policy and he's already said he's staying out of this situation. I don't want to hear "oh that's just election talk" if he's going to claim to be the left's white knight he needs to stop talking about it and start acting it.

The individualistic argument strikes me as silly - you're allowed to be openly heterosexual but not openly homosexual? How is one more individualistic than the other? Because it isn't the societal norm? It's absurd to treat it like they're both anything more than biological conditions which can't and shouldn't be hidden and shunned in the corner based on what certain facets of society deem as "moral" or immoral."

Dan Choi Explains 'Why I Cannot Stay Quiet' - ABC News

There's more than that; it's not a simple case of keeping "I'm gay" quiet. As Choi points out you have to hide the fact you have a boyfriend, whereas heterosexuals can be as open as they want about their wives and girlfriends. It isn't fair in the slightest and Obama's pussying out shouldn't be excused.

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Bane of your existence

Gays shouldn't be in the military because they can't fight. They're weak. What are they gonna do, bejewel their camo?

Thrice

I know many *** men (and butch women) that would tear you up. I also knew many *** folk in the military that were getting kicked out after an attempt to represent a rainbow belt buckle or reasons alike. Do you do much fighting?

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Lew Harrison, who looked like an anarchist with his red eyes and fierce black beard, had been writing furiously in one corner of the room. "That's good—happiness by the kilowatt," he said. "Buy your happiness the way you buy light."

adidasss

Wasn't the main problem with gays serving in the military that their comrades might feel uncomfortable around them and such a distraction wouldn't be acceptable in a combat situation? For instance, someone is shooting at you and but you have to keep your back to the wall because that gay might stick a dick up your ass if you're not careful...:|

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“Think of what a paradise this world would be if men were kind and wise.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle.

Last.fm

Freebase Dali

Regardless of whether you're joking or not, that's the main reason for the whole policy. Unit cohesion is pretty highly valued by military leadership, and I'm sure that fact had a lot to do with it.

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IamAlejo

This.

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a man, a plan, a canal, panama

Thrice

The funny thing about that is in bootcamp in the Navy at least you shower together with 80 plus men. I dont see how one could feel much more uncomfortable than that.

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Lew Harrison, who looked like an anarchist with his red eyes and fierce black beard, had been writing furiously in one corner of the room. "That's good—happiness by the kilowatt," he said. "Buy your happiness the way you buy light."

djchameleon

what bootcamp were you in? There wasn't enough room in the shower for 80 plus men. more like ten at max.

I had one flamboyant gay roommate while in the Navy but you know how the stereotype goes that the guys in the Navy are gay, well I tended to find more gays in the Marines and Army


Oh come on, everyone needs to get off Obama's nuts....yeah he promised to do things but that stuff isn't going to happen over night....he has more pressing issues to attend to first