This page was last updated on February 5, 2010.
Do tell; Editorial; Beaver County Times; February 5, 2010.
Before I get to the core of the issue, why can’t people get their homosexual language straightened out? The editorial refers to “homosexuals and lesbians” and “gays and lesbians” in multiple places. This appears to imply lesbians aren’t “gays” or homosexuals. I always thought lesbians were female homosexuals and “gay” was a synonym for homosexual. Is this no longer true and the terms “gay” and homosexual refer exclusively to male homosexuals? Does the claim that “the list of countries that allow openly gay people to serve in the military has grown to 28 …” refer only to homosexual males since it referred to “gay people” and didn’t mention lesbians? This is the same lefty language gymnastics that results in news reporters referring to black Europeans as African-Americans. Done with one of my pet peeves, let’s move to the real issue.
As is usual, the Times demeans anyone who has a different opinion. We saw that in “Do tell” of 3/15/07. When the then-chairman of the JCS spoke on this topic, the Times told him to shut up. When the current chairman of the JCS spoke out, the Times thought it was great.
Before I proceed with my position, which I’ve provided in previous critiques, let me state I have neither military nor behavioral science experience or expertise. What I write below just seems to make sense. At the risk of being labeled ignorant and a sexist homophobe, here goes.
One of the reasons I oppose women serving in combat roles alongside men has to do with the sexual tension present in mixed groups and the potential effects on the mission even if full-blown romance doesn’t break out. There are a couple of other reasons, but this is the one relevant to this discussion. The fact non-pregnant sailors leave on an aircraft carrier but a number return pregnant makes it obvious sex isn’t checked at the dock.
When you have homosexuals serving with members of the same sex, how is that different from heterosexuals serving with members of the opposite sex?
Is this one of those cases where commonsense – at least to me – is wrong? I don’t know. As I wrote above, I have neither experience nor expertise in this area. Until we’re certain, however, I don’t believe our armed forces should serve as a behavioral science lab for politically correct social policies.
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