# John J Sheehan, General USMC (Ret) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 19, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982 "2010-03-19T04:32:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/21 "2010-03-19T17:41:42Z")
How long before we find him in a restroom stall with another man or drunk driving on his way from a gay bar? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/22 "2010-03-19T17:57:41Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Ronald Reagan was a gay Dutch soldier? > > Well, his nickname was “Dutch”, wasn’t it? There are some things Nancy never put in her memoirs. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/23 "2010-03-19T18:00:32Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Ronald Reagan was a gay Dutch soldier? > > Well, his nickname was “Dutch”, wasn’t it? Win one for het Gipper! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/24 "2010-03-19T18:17:21Z")
Insert “finger in dike” joke here. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/25 "2010-03-19T18:27:02Z")
No. I most certainly will not! ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/26 "2010-03-19T20:32:18Z")
I hope he’s related to Cindy Sheehan because that’d be hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/27 "2010-03-19T21:09:21Z")
It seems he’s making us amazingly popular with our allies Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, had this to say ‘The remarks were outrageous, wrong and beneath contempt’ > **[Dutch lash out at gay link in Srebrenica massacre](https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62I1P220100319)** > > Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende attacked on Friday claims by a retired U.S. general that Dutch forces were overrun in Srebrenica in 1995 because of the presence of gay soldiers. Sheehan’s interview hurt my head so much trying to understand the leaps in logic he makes. What I can not get past again and again on this issue is how the right can continually make statements criticizing the armies of our allies. They keep saying how policies our allies have adopted make their armies weaker then expect them to fight side by side with our soldiers. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/28 "2010-03-20T00:58:20Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > …followed by three footnotes, but none of them actually support the claim that he said anything about attraction between men and women. He objected to gay soldiers having some sort of “special privilege.” The question was asked if there was any sort of rule against a straight soldier saying “I am straight” and he said no, then was asked if that constituted special privilege to the straight soldiers who are allowed to say that over gay soldiers who are not. He fumfuh’d and didn’t really answer. He then went on to claim that there would be a rise in sexual assault and rape if gays are allowed to serve openly, and was subsequently asked if he thinks that’s a problem for men and women serving together and he said it’s not a problem. Not only is he a jackass, he’s pretty fucking clueless about rape statistics in the military. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/29 "2010-03-20T01:11:00Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > ..then went on to claim that there would be a rise in sexual assault and rape if gays are allowed to serve openly, and was subsequently asked if he thinks that’s a problem for men and women serving together and he said it’s not a problem… There is no delicate way to discuss anything so repulsive, so: was he suggesting gay soldiers might rape…well, who, exactly? A _Marine_? Why not molest a grizzly bear? ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/30 "2010-03-20T02:39:47Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > He objected to gay soldiers having some sort of “special privilege.” The question was asked if there was any sort of rule against a straight soldier saying “I am straight” and he said no, then was asked if that constituted special privilege to the straight soldiers who are allowed to say that over gay soldiers who are not. He fumfuh’d and didn’t really answer. He then went on to claim that there would be a rise in sexual assault and rape if gays are allowed to serve openly, and was subsequently asked if he thinks that’s a problem for men and women serving together and he said it’s not a problem. > > Not only is he a jackass, he’s pretty fucking clueless about rape statistics in the military. Well, obviously. If you allow a relationship between people to be more open and honest, of course it’ll increase the chances of rape! Because gay people are gross. Duh. What a despicable jackass. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/31 "2010-03-20T02:52:54Z")
Who called this guy? Who asked he appear before the committee? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/32 "2010-03-20T04:31:33Z")
> [@niblet\_head](#): > > Who called this guy? Who asked he appear before the committee? It was not clear who requested him. He was introduced by Carl Levin(chairman, who often introduces people). I haven’t been able to find out how they even came up with that loon but here is a list of people who could have called him. [http://armed-services.senate.gov/members.htm](http://armed-services.senate.gov/members.htm) Unless it was some ploy to make DADT opponents look stupid(which he succeeded in) We can cross a lot of people off that list. I’m going to assume it was someone who’s history and current stance on the issue is in favor of keeping DADT. I’ve also taken the liberty to remove those who may oppose DADT at some level but have opted to let the military make that decision for themselves. Your likely candidates for requesting the jackass are: John McCain (Arizona) James M. Inhofe (Oklahoma) Jeff Sessions (Alabama) Saxby Chambliss (Georgia) Richard Burr (North Carolina) ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/33 "2010-03-20T05:14:47Z")
My guess, then, is Inhofe. That guy is a jackass AND a moron. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/34 "2010-03-20T09:46:46Z")
Oh, c’mon, they’re ALL morons. I’d say they all invited him, but that would be kinda gay, wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/35 "2010-03-20T13:39:14Z")
This individual formed his opinions over a lifetime spent in an environment where “_I outrank you therefore I’m smarter than you_” is rock-solid. I know we all laugh at our boss’ jokes, and do what he or she tells us to do, but that’s part survival, part social lubricant. In the Marines, it’s indoctrinated starting the first second of boot camp. Years ago, there were officers just like this who firmly opposed racial integration, until someone who outranked them _ordered_[ them to believe otherwise\*. There were officers who believed men and women serving together would be a disaster (and despite his testimony I don’t see why Gen. Sheehan couldn’t have been one of them), until someone who outranked them _ordered_ them to believe otherwise. These guys defend a democracy, but they don’t function in one themselves. Military hierarchies don’t lend themselves to creative thought. These are the same guys guys who in 1903, when they were given a new rifle that held 5 cartidges, insisted on it having a [cut-off switch](http://home.hiwaay.net/~kirkp/IMG_Mk1Left.jpg) on it that would make it like the old one that had to be loaded one cartridge at a time. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/36 "2010-03-20T22:02:36Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > This individual formed his opinions over a lifetime spent in an environment where “_I outrank you therefore I’m smarter than you_” is rock-solid. I’ve met people with that attitude - generals, bird colonels, captains, etc. While it is true that many officers are very intelligent, it is not by nature of their rank, they were probably (wild ass guess) highly intelligent before attaining high rank. I’ve also met some that I consider to be fucking stupid. It is interesting to note, the ones who ARE smart are usually not the ones with that attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/37 "2010-03-30T11:11:28Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Is the reaction in the Netherlands anything other than incredulity? In addition to the above mentioned statements by Dutch officials, the (apparently new) group Pink Army was preparing to start a class action suit against Sheehan for his remarks, but they dropped it since the General has apologized\* via a letter to former Chief of Defence Staff Henk van den Breemen (who he previously named as the source for his claim). - The exact contents of the letter appears to be unkown, one paper claims it was an apology, the other only states that the general “inaccurately remembered” their conversations. Links (Dutch): [http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article1364354.ece/Anti-homogeneraal\_haalt\_bakzeil](http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article1364354.ece/Anti-homogeneraal_haalt_bakzeil) [http://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3028467.ece/Sheehan\_stelt\_homo\_standpunt\_bij.html](http://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3028467.ece/Sheehan_stelt_homo_standpunt_bij.html) ETA: from the [Pink Army](http://pinkarmy.nl/) site: > [@Sheehan](#): > > I’m sorry that my recent recollection of those discussions of 15 years ago inaccurately reflected your thinking on some specific social issues in the military. and that he regrets involving van Breemen in a public debate. Pretty weak “apology” if you ask me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982.md?page=1)