The above was the front page story of the Topeka Capital-Journal today. A nine year Guard soldier, good at her job, has been “seperated” from the military because she’s lesbian.
Sure, I know she’s not the first and won’t be the last. But to have one’s personal life splattered across a newspaper like this is disgusting. As Amy Brian said, she knew heterosexual soldiers who recieved disciplinary actions, but not discharges, for sexual misconduct. For crying out loud, this woman served in Iraq, and says he orientation was known, but then, later on, it sounds like someone had it in for her.
What is the military afraid of? What difference does one’s orientation make to the jobs we do? I don’t know, and I’m a veteran myself. (Just a three year hitch, and that was over thirty years ago, in more or less peacetime. )
Why waste a perfectly good soldier because of a hangup our Army has? Grrrr. And sorry there’s no profanity, I’m just not good at it. But this could change me.
Look homosexuals are obviously a detriment to the moral fiber of our fighting men and women overseas. What we want is a lean, mean, efficient fighting force that form close bonds with one another that is completely divorced from sexual undertones. What we want is a force similar to the Spartans. These rugged men formed the most powerful land forces in the Gre----what’s that honey? THEY WERE WHAT??? Why didn’t you tell me this earlier? Now I look like an even bigger asshole than normal.
Fuck it. I got nothing. If some of the most effective soldiers of the ancient world could be made up of a bunch of slavering troglodytes who gave one another the occasional hand job I think that’s a pretty good argument in favor of homosexuals being able to serve their country.
Yes, it’s Federal law. But it’s Federal law largely because the powers-that-be in the army have, over the years, kicked and screamed in protest anytime anyone has suggested allowing openly gay folks into the military.
The Army might, in this case, be bound by Federal law, but that law is the way it is largely because of the army brass’s own attitudes and opinions.
I say Army lesbians is O K. Especially if there’s pics. Same for Army gay men. I don’t want those particular pics, but some would so it’s win win.
Seriously this is fucked up. They’re telling someone who volunteered to put her life on the line fighting America’s battles to fuck off because of who she loves, or atleast gets the hots for.
Liberty and justice for some.
Edit: any way this could be fought in the courts? Sexual orientation isn’t a protected class, but gender is, and they’re saying only this gender can be with that gender, discriminating. I hope this makes sense.
Well, what I meant was that maybe it would make me cuss.
hangs head
I was already upset that a veteran like this would be thrown away, based on her orientation. I wonder what Fred and Co. are saying. (Shudder) They weren’t picketing the church I attend this morning, as they did last week.
One of the best quips I heard during the debate about Clinton’s Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell policy was “Alexander the Great was the best general in human history. But he’s not good enough for the U.S. Army?!”
Anyway, as someone born civilian I think it stinks to take an effective soldier who wants to stay and serve and protect my lazy cowardly ass and eject him/her because of irrelevant activities. I know it’s much more complicated inside the military, but the time for this kind of crap is over. IMNSHO.
I guess I can understand wanting to keep gay men out of your fighting force, because they’re fey and swishy, but lesbians? What’s scarier than a lesbian?
Since I’m Active Duty, I won’t comment on the current policy, but I will say that I’ll welcome with open arms any new policy originated in the President’s head.
Having said that, I really have zero sympathy for folks that get the boot for this kind of thing. I don’t care how great of a soldier/sailor/airman/marine you are–you knew the rules when you signed up. You knew the policy.
I don’t like speed limits, and I think many should be banned, but I don’t complain when I get a speeding ticket. I knew the rules, I sped, I got caught, so I take my punishment. This girl may not have outright told folks, but everyone knew because she made zero effort to hide it and protect herself. She even had a freaking Myspace page indicating she was gay. This is a sad result, but there are plenty of gay people that serve without getting kicked out because they understand there is a measure of protection required with their personal life.
Why yes, if Federal law dictated that any black guy eyeing a white girl and getting caught gets lynched. Can we stay away from the ridiculous hypotheticals?
Should there be a Federal law that you don’t agree with, would advocate not complying with it? If so, would you then advocate complaining about getting penalized for not complying? I don’t like paying taxes. If I don’t pay them, and I complain about getting fined, would I not sound like an asshole? How do you think that Pit thread would go: “I hate taxes so I don’t pay them and now the IRS is coming after me. Fuck them!!!”
I don’t think that is what happened here, flyboy. I think it’s more like “This law is immoral and its consequences are unacceptable to some of us”. I don’t believe the woman in question started this thread herself, do you? If she did, she’d probably be pretty quiet because:
