Today's Poll: Do you agree with repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy?

Here is a list of the countries who ALLOW gays to serve openly:

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bermuda
Brazil
Canada
Colombia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Peru
Philippines
Romania
Russia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Uruguay

Here is the list of countries who do NOT ALLOW gays to serve openly:

Iran
North Korea
China
Venezuela
Yemen
Cuba
Syria
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Greece
Jamaica
Pakistan
Serbia
Singapore
South Korea
Turkey

and the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Shameful...

I find that ironic that Greece is on the "no" list. I am not surprised that America is on the "no" list considering how the African American and Japanese Americans have been treated during previous wars.

I also understand that America is a Country built around freedom with growth but tolerance for things takes time.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0761909.html

I just can't decide how to vote. This repeal was passed with caveats that if the defense dept's study finds that allowing gay people to serve will harm the nation's ability to defend itself or will hurt recruiting efforts, then the study will take preference. Sounds like political manipulation of the respective base for either side, as opposed to trying to do what's right for the country, nothing new there. The study isn't due out until Dec.1, after the elections, go figure. FOr me personally, I don't like any sort of discrimination especially if it tries to say who can or cannot serve their country. On the other hand, while I don't think I'd have a problem having gay people in my unit, some may. The services don't need the drama. My military time is long over and I believe the generation now serving is much more tolerant of alternative lifestyles, so long as it doesn't interfere with the mission or endanger lives. So, I don't know. I'd like to see some other opinions before I vote. How about it, some of you younger veterans or current military.

Julie great post.

Why does it matter how any other country handles this situation? There is only one country on the first list I would look to for military models of behavior and that is Israel.

The following is a paper I wrote for my Political and civil rights course at GCC.

I served on active duty in the Marine Corps from May of 1996 until May of 2009.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
The military is a unique subculture in American society. It is comprised of people from all walks of life. You will find people from wealthy families, poor families, all races, every state and territory of the union and many countries from around the world. Diversity abounds in the ranks with the exception of sexual preference. That is to say members of the United States Armed Forces are forbidden from serving as a uniformed member while maintaining an openly gay lifestyle.
When something is different people naturally tend to fear it. Whatever it may be the color of someone’s skin, their country of origin, their Ideas, or their sexual preference. The military is not free of this type of behavior. The military has discriminated against many groups in the past, such as the segregation of African-American troops from the time of the Civil War all the way through to World War II, and the segregation of the Japanese-Americans who were eager to serve America during World War II. At present the main group that faces such discrimination is those that identify themselves as Gay or Lesbian. Since 1992 the United States Military has had a policy known as “Don’t ask don’t tell.” The policy effectively forbids the Military from asking members or applicants of the United States Armed forces what their sexual orientation is. At the same time the Military forbids members or applicants of the United States Armed Forces to say they are gay or engage in same sex relationships. If the service member is caught or turned in for engaging in a homosexual relationship they are subject to separation from the Armed Forces. The policy does in essence allow closeted gays to serve.
This policy has been staunchly defended by high ranking members from all branches of the military and the United States Government. It is said that to allow gays to serve openly would destroy troop morale and unit cohesion. Some people even fear that they will have gay troops hitting on straight troops in the fighting holes. A lot of these opinions I find ridiculous. I think the dishonest behaviors that service members subject to this policy are forced to engage in are by far more destructive to unit cohesion and troop morale. It is time that Military learns from their history of discriminatory practices. It is time that Americans who have an alternative sexual preference are allowed to serve their country with honor.
One can only guess at how much money is wasted by the Armed Forces with investigations into the sexual behaviors of members. The subsequent court martial proceedings and the money wasted in training the individuals who are eventually kicked out due to their sexual preference. Some members have served for many years before being caught. And there are many more that have been successfully able to hide their sexual behavior long enough to reach retirement.
Currently there is a push by opponents to the “Don’t ask don’t tell policy” to have the policy repealed. This is due to promises made by the Obama administration during his election bid and the most recent State of the Union address. Some of these groups have grown frustrated with the President claiming he is not living up to promises made. But you must keep in mind, Commander in chief or not, Mr. Obama faces a Pentagon that is more defiant than they are reluctant to repeal the policy.
Some people say that recruiting efforts would be hurt by allowing Gay or Lesbians to serve openly. How is that going to hurt? Will people who have such a hate for those that are different from them refuse to enlist out of protest? Well I say good riddance. That would be a solid step in the right direction for a truly diverse volunteer Military.
I served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps for thirteen years. Eleven of those thirteen years I served as a Non-commissioned Officer. I was in a position where I was responsible for not only mission accomplishment but troop welfare as well. One of the most important characteristics that I looked for in my Marines was honesty. I wanted them to be honest with themselves, their fellow Marines and with me as well. I could personally care less if that Marine liked boys, girls or both so long as they did their job to the best of their ability. When it comes down to it the person’s sexual orientation will not prevent an infantryman from pulling a trigger, an administrator from typing a document, a cook from making a meal, or a General from issuing a command. It is far past time for the Military to set the example for American society. Now they have to add this sad chapter to their history as they have in the past with other cases of discrimination.

Not bad, Marine.

The issue is probably too controversial to force on the military right now. What is acceptable to some is also disgusting to others. Our military is very busy and probably doesn't need this issue. Right or wrong, there will be some in our mighty warrior class who will become distracted over this when they must be squarely focused on defeating the enemy.

This issue is under study at the Pentagon. Our Service Chiefs have advised to not be hasty with changing the current status. We should support our Service Chiefs, as no one knows better than they do on what is best for military readiness.

There are a lot of things I find distasteful in this world. Gay people do not fall into that category. All they want is to be treated like anyone else, so I do that. If they are jerks, I treat them like they are jerks. If they are lovely people, I treat them like lovely people.

It's really not too difficult.

julie your lack of knowledge is frightening. I served side by side with both saudi and egyptian soldiers and if you cared to learn about their cultures male homosexuality is widely practiced in the middle east and not frowned upon at all. The military made the desicion not based on sexual orientation but based on Equal opportunity. There are gays and many lesbians serving and i had many in my unit the last 15 months but making it "open" would open so many doors and require so much adjusting of the UCMJ. as it stands now when deployed males and females can not occupy the same living quarters because of sexual tension. What do you do with homosexual soldiers? do you put the lesbians in the male tent and the gay males in the female tent? theyre allowed to be gay the same way im allowed to vote, protest, use freedom of speech. I am not allowed to do it in uniform just as they are not allowed to engage in homosexual behavior in uniform as in kissing and such just as i am not allowed to do it with my wife. should i start a non profit to get the DOD to change policies so i can kiss my wife in uniform? im so sick of democtrates and no nothing people reading an article on some blog site and thinking theyre expects on everything. This is america you have the right to your opinion but make a reseached opinion about something you know.

thank you jerry and your right the lower people like me on the ground we could care less gay straight bi muslim jewish catholic we dont care just put your uniform on watch my back and ill watch yours and the leaders dont need the headache either. let them worry about what matters like getting the soldiers vehicals that dont fall apart like a gremlin or body armour that actually stops bullets and doesnt weigh 87 pounds

For some reason my copy and paste of the portions of Mr. Bells comment that I am responding to won't adhere to this post. But, my response is as follows:

I'd be interested to know the details of your serving with these soldiers. Were they Middle Eastern American soldiers? And, have you ever traveled to Saudi Arabia? As a homosexual? Have you ever felt the need to do any research of your own on the subject? According to an article, The Kingdom In The Closet, in the May 2007 issue of Atlantic Monthly, homosexuality is on the rise in the Middle East. However, that kingdom's laws are still steadfast as ever in the carrying out punishment for the "offense" if caught. This ultra conservative form of Sunni Islam (Wahhabism) still holds a zero tolerance for sexual diversity of any kind and is punishable by death under Islamic Sharia law. The death penalty is usually carried out publicly by beheading. So, I highly doubt that they allow their beheaded gay citizens to serve openly in their military. According to ReligiousFacts.com five officially Muslim nations: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Mauritania , and Yemen carry out the death penalty for same sex intercourse. While under Taliban rule in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq the death penalty was also carried out. Other Muslim nations like Qatar, Algeria, Bahrain and Maldives the act of homosexuality is punishable by fines, jail time, or capital punishment. And, in nations like Egypt Turkey and Jordan same-sex intercourse is not forbidden by law but homosexuals have been accused of and victimized for laws against morality. Human rights laws have gone largely unchanged since the 2007 article was written.
You see, Mr. Bell, we gay people who travel for fun and new cultural experiences make it our business to learn about the laws relating to homosexuality in other countries so we know where NOT to visit.

Have you ever taken a psychology or human behavior class in college? This subject has NOTHING to do with being gay or really even about being male or female. Although, men do think about sex more than women do. Sexual tension is a HUMAN reaction/issue. Gay people don't have more sexual tension than straight people. And, if you put a tent full of "straight" men out in the dessert for months on end don't think for one minute that a little sexual tension isn't going to unfold and finding a few of them taking their comradery to a whole new level.
According to a story on Newsmax back in 2005 consensual straight sex runs rampant in the military. Not to mention the male soldiers raping their female comrades. In 2008 PBS did a report and found 1400 rapes/sexual assaults of female soldiers by male soldiers. And the slew that went unreported. It was also reported how the military is doing very little to address the issue. So, how would allowing gay people serve make things any worse than what they are now? I truly believe that a sexual predator is a sexual predator no matter their orientation. A gay rapist would be a rapist if he were straight and vice versa. This country's military needs good, strong, smart, men and women gay or straight, serving. You want to kick out or prohibit a class of people from serving, then start with the sexual predators.
First, gay and lesbian soldiers aren't asking to be able to publicly engage in a sexual act with their partner while wearing their uniform. They aren't asking to be able to have sex openly with other gay soldiers while on a mission. But, I guarantee that if you kissed your WIFE while in uniform no one would look twice, never mind TURN YOU IN for it. You're allowed to talk about your wife and family while in uniform. Hell, you're allowed to talk about screwing your wife 6 ways to Sunday while wearing your uniform. THAT is where it's unfair. Gay and lesbian soldiers aren't allowed to validate their relationships in ANY WAY. And, why is it that the straight homophobic people focus on just the sexual nature of our relationships???? As far as I'm concerned public displays of affection beyond a single kiss and an affectionate arm around the shoulder are inappropriate whether gay OR straight. Anything beyond that, go home or get a room.

yes as a matter of fact i have been to saudi arabia along with qatar iraq kuwait and india homosexuality is more widely spread in those countries then i have seen in our own country. all you ask for is equality and thats fine ever human should be treated equally but thats never going to be the case. our own government gives tax credits to buisness owners who hire minorities or females and homosexuals. you want equality then go for it. its bad enough females rant and rave about equality but then dont complain when it come to physical training in the army and only have to do half as many reps as the males in order to pass an army physical fitness test. equality means equality dont cry about it when its good for you then sit back an accept it whe you get special treatment. grow up equality is equal in everyway get over yourself your gay who cares its 2010 not 1950 we dont care you dont need parades and fesitvals just be you do i have a parade or festival for being a married catholic white male? so why should you want or for that matter need one again EQUAL get over yourself and stop looking for attention