Comments on: Asking And Telling http://blog.jonolan.net/politics/asking-and-telling/ The eclectic ramblings of jonolan Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:56:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: DADT Repealed | Reflections From a Murky Pond http://blog.jonolan.net/politics/asking-and-telling/#comment-25693 DADT Repealed | Reflections From a Murky Pond Sat, 18 Dec 2010 23:28:53 +0000 http://blog.jonolan.net/?p=16317#comment-25693 [...] It’s past fucking time that Congress got something significant right. [...] [...] It’s past fucking time that Congress got something significant right. [...]

]]> By: Jay Burns http://blog.jonolan.net/politics/asking-and-telling/#comment-14275 Jay Burns Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:23:04 +0000 http://blog.jonolan.net/?p=16317#comment-14275 My opinion is the same now as it has been everytime this issue comes up; It is up to the servicemen in the field. Personally I don't think I would have a problem with it, but I didn't serve, so I couldn't say. It really does come down to trust. Can I trust that the man beside me in the trenches is firing at the enemy and not staring at my ass. That would only be an issue with a psychopath. I'd imagine that when all hell breaks loose saving ones own skin as well as your compadres takes over. But again, it should be up to the army itself. I'm not sure of the unconstitutional aspect. The army can discharge soldiers for all sorts of things that aren't nessecerily against the law, they are just "against the rules". I'm also not sure the military is subject to discrimination laws. Or at least it appears that way. If you are disabled the army will turn you down. Or blind, or whatever. It seems they discriminate all the time. Perhaps it's unconstitutional, but gays wouldn't be the first or only to face discrimination by the military. My opinion is the same now as it has been everytime this issue comes up; It is up to the servicemen in the field. Personally I don’t think I would have a problem with it, but I didn’t serve, so I couldn’t say.

It really does come down to trust. Can I trust that the man beside me in the trenches is firing at the enemy and not staring at my ass. That would only be an issue with a psychopath. I’d imagine that when all hell breaks loose saving ones own skin as well as your compadres takes over.

But again, it should be up to the army itself. I’m not sure of the unconstitutional aspect. The army can discharge soldiers for all sorts of things that aren’t nessecerily against the law, they are just “against the rules”. I’m also not sure the military is subject to discrimination laws. Or at least it appears that way. If you are disabled the army will turn you down. Or blind, or whatever. It seems they discriminate all the time. Perhaps it’s unconstitutional, but gays wouldn’t be the first or only to face discrimination by the military.

]]> By: zhann http://blog.jonolan.net/politics/asking-and-telling/#comment-14270 zhann Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:44:22 +0000 http://blog.jonolan.net/?p=16317#comment-14270 I agree that sexual orientation shouldn't play a role in military, or any other service, but I have never been in the military nor do I know many that have. However, this reminds me of an interesting feature from history. The Greeks are known for their promiscuity among both sexes. The Greeks, or more specifically the Spartans, had an interesting military contingent to this effect. Male lovers were paired together and sent to battle together in a single battalion strictly populated by pairs of lovers. It was thought that men would fight much more fiercely if their lovers were fighting by their side, in part to show their strength to their lovers, but more importantly to protect their lovers in battle. It is said that these contingents were extremely effective, however short lived in history. While I am not advocating such a thing in modern times, it would make for an interesting battalion of sorts. I am simply stating this as a brief history lesson, nothing more. I agree that sexual orientation shouldn’t play a role in military, or any other service, but I have never been in the military nor do I know many that have. However, this reminds me of an interesting feature from history.

The Greeks are known for their promiscuity among both sexes. The Greeks, or more specifically the Spartans, had an interesting military contingent to this effect. Male lovers were paired together and sent to battle together in a single battalion strictly populated by pairs of lovers. It was thought that men would fight much more fiercely if their lovers were fighting by their side, in part to show their strength to their lovers, but more importantly to protect their lovers in battle. It is said that these contingents were extremely effective, however short lived in history.

While I am not advocating such a thing in modern times, it would make for an interesting battalion of sorts. I am simply stating this as a brief history lesson, nothing more.

]]> By: jonolan http://blog.jonolan.net/politics/asking-and-telling/#comment-14260 jonolan Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:16:38 +0000 http://blog.jonolan.net/?p=16317#comment-14260 My experiences were quite similar to your own though a bit longer ago, Mike. We just didn't care one way or the other as long as you got your shit done and didn't get us killed. Indeed, I have only ever met one serviceman who had any real issue with gays serving, and once he got deployed to Iraq and actually had to experience combat he completely changed his mind and decided that, as long as they did their duty and helped to keep the unit alive, he didn't care about what they slept with either. My experiences were quite similar to your own though a bit longer ago, Mike. We just didn’t care one way or the other as long as you got your shit done and didn’t get us killed.

Indeed, I have only ever met one serviceman who had any real issue with gays serving, and once he got deployed to Iraq and actually had to experience combat he completely changed his mind and decided that, as long as they did their duty and helped to keep the unit alive, he didn’t care about what they slept with either.

]]> By: mike lovell http://blog.jonolan.net/politics/asking-and-telling/#comment-14257 mike lovell Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:49:54 +0000 http://blog.jonolan.net/?p=16317#comment-14257 While I can't argue your last question, while I served in the late 90s, I know of at least 2 gay servicemen, that while it wasn't "officially" known, all the guys around knew, but it never really bothered us to serve with them, save one or two guys who couldn't get past it, and couldn't say anything to anybody themselves under threat of harm to them. I have heard sotries of other major wars, like WWII, Korea and Vietnam where there were definitely gay members of the military, but all anyone cares about at that point is that the guy will man his post and protect the necks of the guys around him. While I can’t argue your last question, while I served in the late 90s, I know of at least 2 gay servicemen, that while it wasn’t “officially” known, all the guys around knew, but it never really bothered us to serve with them, save one or two guys who couldn’t get past it, and couldn’t say anything to anybody themselves under threat of harm to them.

I have heard sotries of other major wars, like WWII, Korea and Vietnam where there were definitely gay members of the military, but all anyone cares about at that point is that the guy will man his post and protect the necks of the guys around him.

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