It's Time To End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

by Justin La Grange

Don't Ask, Don't Tell, an antiquated policy which prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, has long lived past its shelf life in the 21st century and should be repealed. In an ironic turn of events, the very people I generally don't support in Congress are on the correct side of this issue. And indeed, certain elements that I'm more likely to support are seeking to block its repeal, insisting it would somehow disrupt the proper functioning of the military. The question before us is: Does a non-existent to small loss of military cohesion compensate for the egregious violation of civil liberties that shutting down free speech rights presents?

In an appearance on FNC's Sunday Morning Show, General Mike Mullen claimed to support the legislation, but then in wishy-washy fashion claimed the repeal needed a gigantic review in order to move forward, whatever that means:

"Ideally, I would like the legislation to wait until we've completed the review so we can look at how to implement it."

What is there to figure out how to impliment General? Are you going to institute "coming out" guides for military personnel compliments of the US Government? Are you going to create a new bureaucratic entity to ensure that the housing units of same-sex families have multicolored drapes? It's only now that the Republicans decide that a prolonged government taxpayer wasting sideshow is appropriate.

To repeal the prohibition of free speech takes no complex legislation or government largesse. It simply requires that every soldier be treated like any other under US law.

When this legislation was enacted under Democratic President and Resident Sex Offender Bill Clinton, it was thought that elements in the military were apparently too stupid, low class, and redneck to deal with another soldier's different sexuality. And wouldn't logic tell you that it's not like any homo soldier that was one to go into the military would be a Betty cross-dresser anyway?

In other words, Don't Ask, Don't Tell makes the military look barbaric and intolerant. The legislation degrades and insults our armed servicemen by making them sound like drunken boobs who would be inclined to assault "homos" for no good reason in an intolerant and misplaced rage.

Obviously, there are a few homophobic and vehemently anti-gay elements in the military that are going to create some problems. And yes, we are fighting two wars where full attention to duty is of the utmost importance, and the last thing we need is any disruption of military cohesion and "readiness".

The cost of keeping DADT, however, is far greater. What is the point of fighting for our freedoms and the freedoms of others around the world when they are not free in our own peacekeeping force? We fight to keep women out of the shadows in Islamic countries and yet we stick our own servicemen into the shadows in an ugly reverse parallel.

I know a lot of you have differences with the acceptability of homosexuality, and that is completely your right in the exchange of ideas in a public marketplace. However, DADT is about far more than just sexual preference -- it is about the outrageousness of the government legislating morals and prohibiting certain speech. Can you imagine the outrage if the government decided to prohibit the open worship of the Muslim faith in the military for the sake of unit cohesion? I can see it now, Don't Ask, Don't Allah. It is an extremely dangerous precedent for the government to silence speech and ideas in the public sphere.

Three quarters of the American population support the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. In nothing short of a gigantic irony, the extremely badass Israeli Defense Forces allow gays to serve openly. But this is not only about what is right, here, for this particular group. The New World and America was built upon the free practice and exchange of ideas, values, and goods -- and it is now, at this time, we are still fighting for those values. In America, those values must win.