http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/10/10/2009-10-10_president_obama_tells_gay_rights_group_i_will_end_dont_ask_dont_tell.html

Good or bad?

Discuss!!!!!!!@!1

Good. It drives me up a fucking wall every time yet another translator is fired for being gay. The Fort Hood massacre only underscores why this is an incredibly stupid policy. I'm not sure why gays are more inclined to study Arabic, but they are, and there is a vanishingly small chance that they are some sort of Islamist double agent.

It wasn't abolished already?

I'd say it's good. In the same way other things were done to advance civil rights against fears it "wouldn't be safe."

The real issue however is that the Military Police is a joke. They cover up every incident they can because we live in a world of public opinion and anything bad will drastically turn public opinion against them.

Hence any crimes against gay people are likely pushed aside and silenced.

I know it's that way with women and rape in the military... and likely would be the same with gay people getting attacked on base by homophobes.


To protect the majority of good soldiers... they have to protect the assholes, because we live in a society where people getting what they deserve after committing a crime isn't enough.

So... don't ask don't tell should be repealed... and policing of the military should be divorced from the miliary and into it's own department.

it isn't a bad thing

Why would you say it isn't a bad thing? People fearing losing their jobs if anyone finds out about them isn't a bad thing?

Normally I wouldn't really care but this semester I'm studying abroad with a guy who is in the marines. He can't be openly gay even here because there's a chance it could get back to his base and then he would lose everything. His job, his college scholarship, etc.

So, Don't Ask Don't Tell is definitely a bad thing. I'm hoping Obama will hurry up and fix this messed policy.

I'm glad that don't ask don't tell is being abolished, it is a victory for gay rights. However, even though it hindered gay rights, it was still a stepping stone to supporting gay rights eventually. It was originally a compromise that could facilitate further developments down the line.

I'm glad it's gone, but I'm glad it was brought in, in the first place, too...

It's a good idea, but i could see that leading to tremendous conflict between the new "Department of Military Police" and the actual Military, since the group would essentially have to fight directly against military red tape and cover-ups

on topic: overdue. Well overdue

Ok. Here's your project. Go to Craigslist Korea and look up casual encounters and men seeking men. Note how many are located at the U.S. Army base.

Using this purely scientific method of research, I've concluded that 73% of U.S. Military personnel are gay. So this should be very good news for them.