Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Why it is Uniquely Unamerican

Over the past few days, the debate about the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy has come to the forefront. For those of you who do not know, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the policy that prohibits members of the LGBT community from openly serving in the United States Armed Forces. If members of the LGBT community are found to be serving in the military, they are often kicked out because "it would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability." In my opinion this policy is one of the most offensive policies that is on the books, jeopardizes the American military and is uniquely unamerican.

Whether or not you support LBBT issues and causes, the issue of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" must be looked at in a more global sense. If the American military is supposed to be going into countries, instilling democracy and democratic ideals, while still having a policy on the books that discriminates segments of its own population, that is a slap in the face to all the men and women who have fought and died fighting for this country. If we are going to be sending men and women to fight for the ideals of "freedom and justice for all" or "that all men are created equal" then we need to live up to that ideal, at the very least in the U.S. military. It is very hard to ask men and women to put on a uniform and risk their lives for the Red, White and Blue, when the same flag for which they are fighting for will not accept fellow Americans because of their sexual orientation. This is completely unacceptable in my view to say the least.

Furthermore there have been cases where LGBT members of the U.S. military who have unique skills have been dismissed because of their sexual orientation. Imagine a member of the U.S. military who speaks Farsi, or may be an expert in Muslim religion and culture being kicked out because of his/her sexual orientation. Well it has happened and as long as this policy continues to be on the books it will continue to happen. Countless lives may be in jeopardy as we speak because we do not have the best and most capable members of the American people on board, simply because some of them may be gay.

The American military is undoubtedly the most powerful, the most revered, the most awe inspiring and the most phenomenal military that exists today, and maybe in history. It is imperative at this point in history, when people want to destroy the ideas of America and what it stands for, that that military is a clear reflection of all that exists in American society. Every hue and color, every religion and affiliation, every education level and yes every sexual orientation should be included as well. If the military isn't reflective of the great mosaic of people that America has to offer then how can we seriously ask people to fight for this country. And furthermore how can we ask people to die for this country. It doesn't make much sense to me.

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