Up Next: Open Gays In The Military And Amnesty For Illegals

[jarhead]

OK, Jerry, I'm gonna be serious here---for once !! When I went to bootcamp in 1968 we had almost 20 recruits that got dropped (discharged ) from the platoon during the 8 weeks of recruit training. They joined so must of wanted to be Marines. Were they discriminated against because they washed out ? just because they couldn't physically run the obstacle coarse was that reason to kick them out? Should the non hackers be dropped to a lower level and formed a Battalion of  their own so as not to be decriminated against ??

[srkruzich]

OK, Jerry, I'm gonna be serious here---for once !! When I went to bootcamp in 1968 we had almost 20 recruits that got dropped (discharged ) from the platoon during the 8 weeks of recruit training. They joined so must of wanted to be Marines. Were they discriminated against because they washed out ? just because they couldn't physically run the obstacle coarse was that reason to kick them out? Should the non hackers be dropped to a lower level and formed a Battalion of  their own so as not to be decriminated against ??

Dang jarhead, that sounds just like our current educational system. 

[larryJ]

I think I saw some slam against the Army.  Was that you, Jarhead?

We all know the Marines are sent in first to wipe out the enemy.  They are trained killers and go in obliterating anything and everything in order to secure the objective.  Kinda makes ya wonder what kind of idiot wants to do that.

Then you got the Army who has to go in and do the job right and then put things back together again.  The Army rebuilds the infrastructure and gets things back to normal. 

So, in reading this thread to R.A.M.B.O., he is somewhat insulted along with me.  He is suggesting that we withdraw our application for membership in the bunker.  He has decided to cut his tanning bed time in half in order to begin digging his own bunker in our back yard.  I tried to dissuade him from this idea, but he is becoming determined to dig his own bunker.  That might take some time what with his small paws, but he says he can do it.

Larryj

[jarhead]

Larry, Tell R.A.M.B.O. to quit digging before he wears the polish off his toe nails and has to go get a pedicure. I DID NOT trash talk the army---I just left it so I could in the future if the need arises.
Great---that's just great !! Now R.A.M.B.O. decides not to live in my bunker !! After running a 220V wire to hook up his tanning bed he bails like a rat on a sinking ship. That's just peachy keen !!! Maybe it's better this way though because it aint really a tanning bed but just an old toaster oven I had laying around.

[Varmit]

Our troops have said that they don't want homosexuals in the ranks.  If we allow this to happen it will only serve to cause tension, and a breakdown of unit cohesion and essprit de corp.  As it stands homosexuals are not being discriminated against, they can serve just not openly, so long as Command doesn't ask and the gays don't tell.  It is no different than our troops not being allowed to have long hair or beards.   Not only that, but if this is forced on our troops against their wishes isn't that discrimination against them?

[larryJ]

I just can't imagine that many homosexuals would enlist in the military, but I guess there are those that do.  When I first moved to California, I was working for a company in Lakewood that had a branch in Hollywood, the main store.  All orders were called in to the Hollywood store.  That was my job.  I became friends with the guy on the other end of the line and later found out he was gay.  I was somewhat shocked because he was "normal looking" and not what I pictured a gay guy would be like.  I didn't have much to do with him after I found out, other than calling in orders on the phone.  I also found out that he was born in Canada and had been in the Air Force there before coming to the states.  He was a pilot (he said).  I was pretty naive at the time coming from a small town existence where people trusted each other.  What to believe?  I don't know, but I just can't imagine that many homosexuals would enlist and I CAN imagine how they would be treated if the guys in the unit found out they were gay.

As far as the bunker, it is too late.  On his daily walk yesterday, we passed by the local Home Depot hardware store and he hired several of the Mexican fellows who hang out in the parking lot looking for work.  R.A.M.B.O. says they work cheap and he will give them cervezas and papas for lunch.  I  was mistaken in that I thought he was going to do the work himself.  Silly me.  What with the 20 or so guys he hired, the bunker should be done soon.  In fact, R.A.M.B.O. has informed me that on our walk today, he wants to go into said Home Depot and pick out wallpaper.

Larryj

[Diane Amberg]

What is there about the idea of a gay male that makes you uncomfortable? Is it because you think they will come on to you? Just curious.

[jarhead]

No diane , I don't worry about a gay coming on to me but statistics show more gays test postive for HIV and other STD's than "straights". In a combat zone, or at least back in my days, no one had rubber gloves including our beloved Corpsmen. I HAVE put battle dressings on gun shot & Schrapnel wounds because one "Doc " couldn't be every where at once And I HAVE put bloody KIA's in a body bag like I'd imaginge any other grunt has done. Did I know if the WIA / KIA had "bad blood " . No !!!! But in the same situation if i knew the guy was gay, would I be as willing to get his blood all over myself ?? guess I'd have to do some soul searching to answer that or be put in the situation to see how i would react. but i think I would have reservations on being so willing to help.

[larryJ]

Back in the day, Jarhead, there was no HIV, or at least, we didn't know about it.  Must have not have been a problem as like you I handled enough blood. 

Diane, do I worry about gay guys coming on to me?  No, I don't.  The above mentioned gentleman did invite me up to Hollywood for dinner one night and after a few drinks, made a "pass" and I made it clear that I was hetrosexual and I was out of there.  He apologized and said he had got the wrong impression of me through our phone chats and invited me to go to a bar and have a few drinks.  I went along with it and to my surprise discovered that the bar down the street from the Hollywood store where I had gone for lunch and drinks with many male and female co-workers turned into a gay bar after 6 PM.  The only female present was the waitress.  However, my "friend" set them straight (no pun intended, or maybe it was) on my preferences and we all had a good time.  Oddly enough, one of the guys was a police department psychologist.  He helped cops who were stressed on the job.  A gay guy coming on to me is just plain disgusting, probably much like some nerdy, ugly, ill-mannered slob coming on to a woman.

Larryj

[Diane Amberg]

To you both, HIV in humans didn't exist back in the 60's. We didn't worry much about gloves back then either except for child birth. A number of times I reached into an open bleeder to pinch blood vessels closed. A nerdy slob I could handle, it's the girls that are sometimes a pain. I'm so old now I'm of no interest, but in a college town.... yes, there were a few tries. Being polite usually took care of it. One girl was hard to put off but she eventually settled down and we were able to be friends.