# Admiral Michael Mullen: the anti-pitting **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 2, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410 "2010-02-02T17:47:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/1 "2010-02-02T17:47:14Z")
Thank you, sir, for your brave and reasoned position! Moreso for not waiting until you’re retired to say this: > [@](#): > > Repealing the military’s policy banning the service of gays and lesbians in the military “would be the right thing to do,” Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was expected to say in prepared testimony. > > However, eliminating the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy will cause “some disruption” in the force, the nation’s top military officer said. > > **“I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens,” Mullen says.** > [@](#): > > Mullen is the first sitting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to advocate repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” according to a statement from his office. > > The policy bans openly gay people from serving in the military but also says that military officers should not ask members of the military about their sexual orientation if they are not engaging in prohibited behavior. > > **Mullen says allowing homosexuals to serve openly is "an issue of integrity — theirs as individuals and ours as an institution.** … I also believe the great young men and women of our military can and would accommodate such a change." ETA: Admiral Mullen is not just a currently serving Admiral in the US Navy, he’s also the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/2 "2010-02-02T18:04:46Z")
I agree with him. I also agree that there will be some disruption - let’s not pretend that this change that I also advocate will be painless. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/3 "2010-02-02T18:38:34Z")
Easy for him to support it. He is [in the Navy](. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBXu-iY7cw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBXu-iY7cw)), after all. 😛 Seriously, about damn time someone high up in the military was open about their support to end DADT. I knew some great soldiers when I was in the Army who were scared to come out. One woman was our unit’s soldier of the month 3 months in a row but had to hide her true self. What a waste. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/4 "2010-02-02T19:13:34Z")
“[Stand by what I said: Allowing homosexuals to serve openly is the right thing to do. Comes down to integrity.](http://twitter.com/thejointstaff)” –Admiral Mike Mullen ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/5 "2010-02-02T19:15:45Z")
Holy wrong forum, Batman. There’s already a thread on this in either MPSIMS or IMHO, I think. Reported. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/6 "2010-02-02T19:40:45Z")
Merged lissener’s thread from ATMB into this one. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/7 "2010-02-02T19:43:20Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > I also agree that there will be some disruption - let’s not pretend that this change that I also advocate will be painless. I’d bet good money the disruption will be very minor. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/8 "2010-02-02T19:55:09Z")
How much opposition was there to Truman’s integration of the armed forces? It was still the right thing to do. As is this. Opposition be damned. They are soldiers, they will do as ordered, then as now. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/9 "2010-02-02T20:06:04Z")
Just one question. When the ban is finally repealed, what will be the status of everyone that was discharged for being gay? Will they be eligible to sign back up if they want to? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/10 "2010-02-02T20:09:37Z")
The OP forgot to post a [linky](http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9DK71700&show_article=1). Good for the Admiral. Watch for him to get swiftboated now. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/11 "2010-02-02T20:40:29Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The OP forgot to post a [linky](http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9DK71700&show_article=1). > > Good for the Admiral. Watch for him to get swiftboated now. Man, I hope not. A man of conviction and honor needs to be defended and emulated. He should be made an example to all, not just current and former military but for all citizens. The only thing that would be better would be for a high-ranking, decorated active duty officer to come out of the closet. You know, some tough as nails, kick-ass, spit-shined hero. Imagine an R. Lee Ermey type, chest full of medals and chewing on an unlit cigar growling out that he is gay and proud. That would totally piss off the anti-gay crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/12 "2010-02-02T22:25:15Z")
Apparently McCain, who previously said he’d support an end to the ban, is [weaseling](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/02/AR2010020202588.html?hpid=topnews) on the issue now that the Joint Chiefs are calling his bluff. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/13 "2010-02-02T22:34:42Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > As is this. Opposition be damned. They are soldiers, they will do as ordered, then as now. I’ve mentioned this before, but I served in the Canadian Armed Forces when we lifted the ban on homosexuals. Yeah, it’s a smaller army - but it is every bit as gung ho, macho, and professional as the U.S. armed services. Before the ban was lifted, there was a lot of bitching and doomsaying. Afterwards? Nothing happened. The facts remained that A) It didn’t really change many people’s day to day experience of being in the Forces, B) People talk bigger than they act, and C) We were soldiers and you do what you’re damn well ordered to do, and the message from on high was - unambiguously - “This is the new policy, it’s law, and if you don’t like it get the fuck out.” That message worked. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/14 "2010-02-02T23:17:40Z")
It worked for integration too. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/15 "2010-02-02T23:55:59Z")
As I drove home, I heard some weasly elected official going on and on about showers and the young service members from conservative backgrounds who wouldn’t stand for this. But he didn’t have a real answer for the fact that there are gay servicemembers and they use the same showers, blah blah blah. I’m guessing said weasle never did time in uniform himself, but I can’t remember his name so I can’t look it up. Anyway, yay CJCS! Good for you for taking the right stand. I can’t help but think that life would be nicer if people didn’t worry so much about who was boinking whom… ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/16 "2010-02-03T00:54:16Z")
I’m afraid to check my Facebook. I have very diverse and opinionated friends, many military. I’m pretty sure my news feed is blowing up right about now. As others have stated, our military went through the same isolated cases of disruption with racial integration, and again with gender integration. Servicemembers, after all, are trained to adapt. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/17 "2010-02-03T01:56:25Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > As I drove home, I heard some weasly elected official going on and on about showers and the young service members from conservative backgrounds who wouldn’t stand for this. But he didn’t have a real answer for the fact that there are gay servicemembers and they use the same showers, blah blah blah. I’m guessing said weasle never did time in uniform himself, but I can’t remember his name so I can’t look it up. I heard the same interview - and while I am in some disagreement with Duncan Hunter on this issue you ought to know that he served two Marine Corps tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. Not that that makes his the last word on the subject - after all veterans disagree on this issue. Just that you ought not assume anything. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/18 "2010-02-03T04:17:19Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > I agree with him. I also agree that there will be some disruption - let’s not pretend that this change that I also advocate will be painless. When Truman forced the Army to meld blacks and whites ,it was probably a bit messy too. But like that, this is the right thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/19 "2010-02-03T04:19:08Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Apparently McCain, who previously said he’d support an end to the ban, is [weaseling](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/02/AR2010020202588.html?hpid=topnews) on the issue now that the Joint Chiefs are calling his bluff. What’s fascinating to me about the article is not that he’s weaselling now, but what his stance was then. He was in favour of dropping the policy _if the generals said it was okay to do so?_ Who the hell’s in charge? The government or the army? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410/20 "2010-02-03T04:33:25Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > I agree with him. I also agree that there will be some disruption - let’s not pretend that this change that I also advocate will be painless. Needs lube. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-michael-mullen-the-anti-pitting/527410.md?page=2)