The United States Military broke down numerous barriers to serving our country. Today blacks, women, and women with children can openly volunteer to protect America. Gays are denied this right.
Removing a prohibition isn't difficult, other than reprinting documents. The military already does outstanding diversity training. Adding homosexuals to the list of people to respect shouldn't be hard. Yet, it is.
Pentagon Chief Robert Gates asked to push suspension of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" down the road. More than 1,000 retired military officers urged the White House and Congress to maintain the restriction. They suggested dropping it would "eventually break the All-Volunteer Force."
Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer and other gay service members helped make the force what it is today. Poor management practices will break the force long before honoring contributions made by homosexual soldiers. Lowering recruitment standards, sending soldiers with PTSD back to active war zones, and contracting out everything (but the fighting soldier) risk the volunteer force more than allowing gays to freely serve their country. It's time for change and one class of soldier.
Removing a prohibition isn't difficult, other than reprinting documents. The military already does outstanding diversity training. Adding homosexuals to the list of people to respect shouldn't be hard. Yet, it is.
Pentagon Chief Robert Gates asked to push suspension of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" down the road. More than 1,000 retired military officers urged the White House and Congress to maintain the restriction. They suggested dropping it would "eventually break the All-Volunteer Force."
Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer and other gay service members helped make the force what it is today. Poor management practices will break the force long before honoring contributions made by homosexual soldiers. Lowering recruitment standards, sending soldiers with PTSD back to active war zones, and contracting out everything (but the fighting soldier) risk the volunteer force more than allowing gays to freely serve their country. It's time for change and one class of soldier.
