On Sunday I ranted about progressives like myself backing off and taking half a loaf when there is no reason we can’t have the whole thing. No one issue shows this more than “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” the military compromise made in 1993 that basically gays and lesbians can serve in the military as long as they are pretty much celibate.
In the seventeen years since the law was enacted most of the worlds military have allowed gays and lesbians to serve openly and proud. These militaries have found that due to the rigid structure of the military the soldiers are told about the change and they say, “Sir, Yes Sir.” And in a few weeks they have totally adjusted to it.
The military has said that the law is damaging to troop morale when a soldier is discharged, only to be given their same duty as a consultant at 10 times the pay. Polls say 70 to 75% of Americans feel the law is stupid and discriminates against people who want to serve their country.
The votes are there for congress to repeal this stupid law and set up a timetable for the military to study it and get it done.
But instead we have a compromise. The law will be repealed, but it will stay in force until a study is completed, this study will have no timetable so it could never be finished.
I had thought that Obama was holding back on repealing DADT as a political strategy. Waiting until now just before the election so that Republicans would have oppose something 70% of the nation is in favor of, so they would look like idiots.
Instead he is compromising for no reason what so ever.
This might be tolerable if it didn’t have a real impact on people’s lives. It is discrimination plain and simple. Gays and Lesbians are people who have the same right to opportunity that everyone else has. Ending this discrimination by the Federal Government is one very small step towards giving them this right that every American citizen is entitled to.
This is one area that compromise is uncalled for.
