Name: Carly
Posting: #2
Topic: Civil Rights
Title: “Don’t Ask” Showdown Looms in Senate This Week
Writer: Mark Thompson
Publication Name: Time
Publication Date: 11/28/10
Length: 727
http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/11/28/dont-ask-showdown-looms-in-senate-this-week/
There has been much debate on the issue of lifting the ban of gays in the military. This week, members of the Joint Chiefs will testify before the Senate, expressing their views on the matter. The main opponent to lifting the ban is John McCain, who says that there is no current problem, and getting rid of the policy will destabilize the military. He says that openly gay men and women in the military will hurt the morale of the troops, and therefore make them a less effective fighting force. Furthermore, he claims that this is all a result of President Obama’s lack of political experience. Those who support ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” say that this is a civil rights issue, and would in no way affect the quality of the military. In fact, recent surveys among the troops show that the majority have no problem with serving with gays. There have been plenty of gay troops for a long time. Letting them be open about their sexual orientation should not weaken the military.
Conclusion: The debate over “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is very heated. Opponents think that ending it will hurt morale and make the military ineffective. Proponents say that any person that wants to defend their country should be able to do so with honor. The results of the Senate vote will be out around next week.
Opinion: There is absolutely no good reason for gays to be banned from the military. All the arguments to uphold the ban are based off prejudice.
I agree that this is a civil rights issue and I do not think that the military would be weakened if this policy were to be reversed. Especially considering majority of soldiers are opponents of this policy and they are the ones who are most directly affected by it,there is no reason for this policy to remain.
ReplyDeleteI think that having the policy is good to protect the lives of soldiers for those who dislike homosexuality but at the same time it is helping those who are intolerant of this different sexual orientation. if you don't like gay people you either suck it up or you don't enlist. People need to learn how to become more tolerant and removing this policy would help a lot
ReplyDeleteI do not think the military would be weakened at all if some soldiers were openly gay. It just feeds untolerance of different sexual orientations and also since a majority of the soldiers are okay with it I dont think we should keep denying the gay soldiers their civil rights if letting them have them will have almost no effect on others.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very sensitive topic and people such as McCain should not make such huge generalizations. I believe that gay people should be allowed on the military because if they aren't, then that's just being prejudiced. I agree that allowing it may cause some conflicts but it is more important to be accepting towards gay people.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion don't ask dont tell is a policy which isnt really that bad. Although I myself am accepting of gay people it seems as though many soldiers are not and polls have shown that the majority of them would be uncomfortable with an openly gay person in their unit. I think this would affect their performance. I might not agree with what dont ask dont tell stands for but if it affects wars it should stay in place.
ReplyDeleteI am a serious advocate for equality for everyone, because i am an egalitarian. But at the moment I'm not sure what to think about this topic. In a way it helps keep the soldiers working well together. At least according to the army. But at the same time they are still telling people that who they are is wrong. They just want people to blend. Honestly i want to know more before i make my final decision but at the moment i want them to get rid of this, because it only promotes discrimination.
ReplyDelete