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

[Varmit]

Thats all well and good Cat, however, we are NOT being attacked, bombs are NOT flying everywhere, and if that were the case then I would expect everyone to pick up a rifle, not just our military.  Our borders are kept safe because of our military and their ability to function as a cohesive unit.  That ability is hindered when certain members of their ranks, that they don't want there, are forced upon them.  This is not about diversity or equality, which by the way doesn't work in certain situations, its about the troops.  You want to support our troops, then support their wishes.  And that is that as far as Don't ask Don't tell, things remain the same.

[pamagain]

  Isn't this really kind of a stupid argument to start with? THERE ARE GAY PEOPLE IN THE ARMED FORCES....do you seriously think the straight people don't actually know who they are?
  Personally I don't see the point in the big push to stand on the corner and holler hey I'm gay instead of just keepin on keepin on but then I don't get MOST peoples need to force what they are on other people. I mean good god I got eyes I just don't CARE what you are when you go home....I don't worry about sex when I'm at work...it really ain't the time or the place so why should they?
Can anybody explain the need to make a huge point out of what your sexual preference is? Somebody elses orientation doesn't really make me uncomfortable because I am comfortable with MINE. May not underSTAND it but it doesn't bother me. If a gay person was to make a pass at me or somthin I'd expect THEM to be uncomfortable because I just ain't interested Lol
  I understand what yall are sayin about HIV but they are already IN the forces, the potential threat of the HIV is already there too so it ain't like comin out in the open with it is gonna make it anyMORE there.
Hell I can answer my own question I guess...they make such a big deal out of it because they want somebody ELSE to tell them they are ok that way cause deep down THEY don't feel they are. The ones who are comfortable with who and what they are don't make a big production out of everybody havin to KNOW.
  Long story short I don't think sexual preference or male or female has anything to do with whether or not you can be a good warrior and do what needs doin when the fur is flyin.

[Diane Amberg]

So Varmit, what you are saying is that having gays is a weak spot for the military? All we have to do to rattle them is infiltrate a bunch of gay men into their units and they are less effective? Sorry, don't believe that.The troops aren't always able to have things as they want either. Just gotta suck it up and do the job. IMHO!

[Varmit]

Diane, you have never served in the military so you wouldn't understand.  And this is exactly the type of argument that arises when civilians try to dicate military policies. 

So for the sake of argument lets say that homosexuals are allowed to serve openly.  Would you be against allowing seperate shower and latrine facilities for straight soldiers that wanted them?  For the military command to do away with gender classification altogether and to tell every solider, salior, marine, and airman that in the interest of fairness seperate facilities will no longer be provided?  Hence, it does not matter wether or not females do not want males using the same showers at the same time as they do; or if a female does not want to share the same barracks room with a male.

[Diane Amberg]

The two situations are not comparable are they? Neither the men nor the women would be comfortable sharing showers at the same time. As far as barracks ,how different is that from female firefighters sharing the same bunk space as the men? The men, so I'm told, snore worse than the women...most of the time.
Really, I am not trying to dictate policies, but the nurses from Viet Nam managed well and were thrown into odd situations with the men on a regular basis. Big deal, they were all there to do their jobs! Are gay women separated from straight women in the military? Why would straight soldiers be insecure with gay male soldiers sharing showers? Isn't their plumbing all the same? What is the big deal.? (They could  already be in committed relationships and be not available, just as straight men could be and therefore not available.) What did they do during high school gym?

[srkruzich]

The two situations are not comparable are they? Neither the men nor the women would be comfortable sharing showers at the same time. As far as barracks ,how different is that from female firefighters sharing the same bunk space as the men? The men, so I'm told, snore worse than the women...most of the time.
Really, I am not trying to dictate policies, but the nurses from Viet Nam managed well and were thrown into odd situations with the men on a regular basis. Big deal, they were all there to do their jobs! Are gay women separated from straight women in the military? Why would straight soldiers be insecure with gay male soldiers sharing showers? Isn't their plumping all the same? What is the big deal.? (They could  already be in committed relationships and be not available, just as straight men could be and therefore not available.) What did they do during high school gym?

Oh come on diane, they are comparable.  Sheesh.   Same thing.  Why would any normal red blooded American male 100% straight want some gay looking at them when the fact their gay means they like sex with the same gender.  Women don't want men looking at them cause they don't like to be a object of sexual lust.  It same freaking thing.

[Warph]

Every so often, I read something written by other people that I wish I had written.  For instance, Thomas Paine observed over two centuries ago:
"To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, is like administering medicine to the dead."  

In 21 words, Paine perfectly summed up the frustration faced by a conservative every time he attempts to debate an issue with a liberal airhead.  Speaking of airheads, it seems our commander-in-chief, who's such a blithering idiot when it comes to our military and national security that he almost makes Bill Clinton look adequate, wants to allow women to serve on submarines and allow gays to serve openly in the military.  The Pentagon doesn't think these are particularly good ideas, but I understand that he's gotten two big thumbs-up from Iran and China.

Recently, someone sent me a message that was posted on the Internet by a retiring soldier that sums up the prevailing insanity:

"When I joined the military, it was illegal to be homosexual.  Then it became optional.  I'm getting out before it becomes mandatory."

That took all of 22 words, but Tom Paine couldn't have said it any better!

[Diane Amberg]

The two situations are not comparable are they? Neither the men nor the women would be comfortable sharing showers at the same time. As far as barracks ,how different is that from female firefighters sharing the same bunk space as the men? The men, so I'm told, snore worse than the women...most of the time.
Really, I am not trying to dictate policies, but the nurses from Viet Nam managed well and were thrown into odd situations with the men on a regular basis. Big deal, they were all there to do their jobs! Are gay women separated from straight women in the military? Why would straight soldiers be insecure with gay male soldiers sharing showers? Isn't their plumbing all the same? What is the big deal.? (They could  already be in committed relationships and be not available, just as straight men could be and therefore not available.) What did they do during high school gym?

[jarhead]

Great post WARPH

[Varmit]

The two situations are not comparable are they? Neither the men nor the women would be comfortable sharing showers at the same time. As far as barracks ,how different is that from female firefighters sharing the same bunk space as the men? The men, so I'm told, snore worse than the women...most of the time.
Really, I am not trying to dictate policies, but the nurses from Viet Nam managed well and were thrown into odd situations with the men on a regular basis. Big deal, they were all there to do their jobs! Are gay women separated from straight women in the military? Why would straight soldiers be insecure with gay male soldiers sharing showers? Isn't their plumbing all the same? What is the big deal.? (They could  already be in committed relationships and be not available, just as straight men could be and therefore not available.) What did they do during high school gym?

Oh my God...Seriously?  Not Comparable?  Both are having to shower with someone that may view them in a sexual manner.  Having to share a barracks room with somone is not the same as firefighters sharing bunk space.  When was the last time that firefighters viewed that bunkspace as "home"?  Or had to stay in that bunkspace for an extended period of time?  As far as men being uncomfortable sharing showers with women...if she is "hot" most soldiers wouldn't mind. 
As far as high school gym...if a guy caught another guy checking him out the offending party would have recieved one hell'va beating.