About time...and it's 'really' only a matter of time....

Having spent close to 22 years in the service I can tell you at times the 'witch-hunts' were nasty/brutal...ohhhhhhhhhh the stories I could tell.

As the late Barry Goldwater stated way back...'You don't have to be Straight to shoot Straight'...alls we'll say it's about time...honorable servicemen and servicewoman serving this great country and willing to pay the 'ultimate'...I'm sure a whole lot more to follow...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/us/politics/19cong.html

I didn't read your link K2 but I have been following the goings on with this issue. I can kind of relate to the witch hunts. I served prior to implementation of DADT. When I was in it was a policy of no gays in the military.That is not to say there were not gays serving,and I am not naive enough to believe or assert that argument. I am torn on this one. I feel a persons sexual preferences and proclivities are a private matter and should be kept to themselves wether straight,gay,bi,or other. I think this will serve to protect gays that are honorably serving under leadership that may be homophobic, but I wonder how this is going to effect the troop morale. You know as well as I do that if a commander decides he wants to remove someone from service they have many tools at their disposal to do so. If folks that are well qualified to serve but "come out" I fear they will subject themselves to hardships they could have avoided if they would have kept their preferences to themselves. Even though society at large has become more tolerant and understanding than in days past there still are large portions of society that are very hostile toward homosexuals and I have to wonder if this won't also lead to more friendly fire deaths in combat. I think their is a whole laundry list of unintended and unforeseen consequences that will play out over this issue that have the potential of having a negative effect on the services readiness and cohesiveness.

luv2fsh&hnt won't disagree...however IMHO honorable servicemen and servicewoman that are gay, lesbian, transgender will not come out. Why should they...I see possibly a small portion wanting to make a statement maybe early if this is totally repealed...but they are in the minority and just want to make a statement. And I'm sure they will get the boot for other numerous reasons...

Like I said the horror stories I could tell...getting and paying rent in a place one didn't live in just to have a seperate address...folks get'n married to other gay folks just to look straight even though everyone really knew...plain sad...folks serve with honor just like straight folks.

I only hope...been retired 11 years that this 'irrational fear' of a homosexual serving and in combat will be a minor footnote in the history books.

I hope you are right K2. I agree and share your hope about the irrational fear.

I have mixed emotions and thoughts about the necessity of repealing the Clinton policy.

However, I am of the opinion if you can die for your country at 18, you should also be able to drink at 18. Following the same logic, if you are willing to take a bullet for America, America shouldn't have a say in how you spend your "sexy time".

While I am glad DADT is dead and gone, I openly wonder why the Democrats waited until AFTER the elections during a lame duck session to pass this.

proutdoors wrote:

While I am glad DADT is dead and gone, I openly wonder why the Democrats waited until AFTER the elections during a lame duck session to pass this.

It was probably a bargaining chip of some sort knowing that Congress.