I spotted this in my headline feed for Ace of Spades HQ — the post is by-lined by Gabriel Malor, who is gay. It’s also in a post by Ben Smith at Politico. I don’t know if it first appeared at the milblog, Blackfive, but I link it below and if you follow the link, Uncle Jimbo there links all the milbloggers who signed the statement.
I am wary that the Pentagon is trying to slow-walk the repeal of DADT so it will appear to have died a natural death and no one has to take heat for killing it. So the part I like best about this statement is that the milbloggers note that the Pentagon will deliver the results of its study on how to allow gay and lesbian service members to serve openly on December 1 and that they call on Congress to act promptly to repeal. I have been criticizing the gay and lesbian Left for never setting a deadline for Obama to keep his promises to them. The milbloggers are smarter — they did. Here’s their statement:
JOINT STATEMENT FROM MILITARY BLOGGERS 12 MAY 2010
We consider the US military the greatest institution for good that has ever existed. No other organization has freed more people from oppression, done more humanitarian work or rescued more from natural disasters. We want that to continue.
Today, it appears inevitable to us that the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and law restricting those displaying open homosexual behavior from serving will be changed. And yet, very little will actually change. Homosexuals have always served in the US Military, and there have been no real problems caused by that.
The service chiefs are currently studying the impact and consequences of changing the DADT policy, and how to implement it without compromising the morale, order and discipline necessary for the military to function. The study is due to be completed on Dec. 1st. We ask Congress to withhold action until this is finished, but no longer. We urge Congress to listen to the service chiefs and act in accordance with the recommendations of that study.
The US Military is professional and ready to adapt to the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell without compromising its mission. Echoing Sec. Def. Gates and ADM Mullen, we welcome open and honorable service, regardless of sexual orientation.
Matt Burden- Warrior Legacy Foundation & BLACKFIVE
Jim Hanson- Warrior Legacy Foundation & BLACKFIVE
Blake Powers- BLACKFIVE
Fred Schoenman- BLACKFIVE
David Bellavia- House to House
Bruce McQuain- Q&O
JD Johannes- Outside the Wire
Diane Frances McInnis Miller- Boston Maggie
Mark Seavey- This Ain’t Hell
Michael St. Jacques- The Sniper
Mary Ripley- US Naval Institute Blog
John Donovan- Castle Argghhh!
Andrew J. Lubin- The Military Observer
Marc Danziger- Winds of Change
Greta Perry- Hooah Wife
I don’t think the December repeal will come in time to save the career of Arabic translator and West Point graduate, Lt. Dan Choi — I posted a video of him here speaking in October 2009 at the Equality March. Lately he’s been chaining himself to the White House fence. Since both the Right and the Left support the repeal of DADT, I hope the milbloggers and others on the Right also call for an immediate moratorium on all DADT investigations and stopping all discharges on the grounds of being gay or lesbian. There’s no sense in throwing away our nation’s investment in training these service members, to say nothing of the wanton destruction to the careers of those being discharged.
Am I the only one who finds it convenient for Obama that they’ve pushed it back to after the midterm election?
Attmay,
Yes, you’re right, the date obviously was set with both the November elections and Thanksgiving recess in mind. But I am cheered by the way the milbloggers seem to think that the Pentagon actually IS figuring out how to implement the repeal of DADT, rather than disappearing the issue into a study-group black hole. After all, they know the way the military works, so it sounds to me like they’re saying “figure out how to do this right, then do it immediately.” Wow.
Also, did you click the links? One of the milbloggers quoted himself from five years ago saying that if he were wounded and a gay medic came to his aid, he’d be praying for one of the buff ones that would be strong enough to carry him to safety because of all the time he’d spent in the gym. (!)
Cynthia
AMEN SISTAH!! From the straight-chauvanistic-douche-bag side of the rainbow. DADT will be repealed!! And then Marriage Equality will be next.
Subject change: Opinion on Illegal Immigration enforcement in AZ?
Lanny Short,
Thanks about DADT!
I think Arizona’s law regarding illegal immigrants is appropriate, tame and over-due. Why not use Mexico’s laws on illegal immigration as our model?
Also, I don’t think the problem of getting 12 million illegal immigrants to leave will be difficult or expensive if it is properly incentivized. For example, why not confiscate all the assets and personal property of illegals? If someone turns in an illegal immigrant, they should get 50 percent of the illegal immigrant’s assets and 100 percent of the vehicles titled in their name or aliases. I also do not think there should be any path to citizenship ever for the illegal immigrants currently here or any who have been deported and want to return. The bottom line is that they knowingly committed a crime by entering the country illegally and absolutely everything should be done to punish that and absolutely nothing should be done to reward it. America doesn’t need crooks and line-jumpers. It corrupts everyone because it shows only suckers obey the rule of law.
Another aspect of illegal immigration few people consider is that no one, anywhere, has to fight to make their country better since all they have to do now is get their backside over the U.S. border and then weep and wail about how unjust it would be to them to enforce our immigration laws.
I lived in a community overwhelmed by illegal immigrants — can you tell?
Cynthia
LOL!! I do as well. I’m sick and tired of ATX being known as a sanctuary city when my sister and brother-in-law have to compete with illegal aliens for blue collar work. Since these folk are not paid minimum wage, my sister and brother-in-law are too expensive to compete for the blue collar $$ here in ATX. Nonsense!!
Anywho: Good luck and Go with God!!
Lanny Short,
Thank you!
Does “ATX” means Austin, Texas?
Additional reasons citizens can’t compete with illegals is that citizens have to obey all our laws, including zoning laws — no saving money with overcrowding a dwelling — and laws requiring licensure, bonding and insurance. It’s not a level playing field.
Cynthia
I hope they, and you, are right. I haven’t spoken to any kids of enlistment age in too long and, even if I had there wouldn’t have been enough to make a general conclusion.
My fear, and it is only a fear, is that the country and small town kids who who join the Services may decide to do something else, instead. It already is a hard row to how keeping enlistments up during both a war and a Donk Administration.
I served my time in a Donk Administration and a war. Funny, except for the war there wasn’t any money for unimportant things like training and maintaining equipment. Ships were tied up to the docks because there wasn’t fuel, we didn’t have enough ammunition to keep our eyes sharp, aircraft sat in hangers and revetments. This, though, was during the time of the draft.
I will be pleased if I’m wrong because the end to DADT is coming. I can see me being wrong, I do not see that you believe you can be wrong on this. What if you are wrong and my fears come true? What then? The draft? More stop loss?
There are damned few infantrymen enlisting from Chicago, where Blackfive lives. There aren’t many coming from the suburbs of Washington, DC. They come from foreign places like the hills of North Carolina and Canton, Texas. What happens if they stop coming?
Peter,
In the past couple of months, from the generals in favor of the repeal of DADT to the milbloggers, they’re ALL saying they served with gays and it was fine and THAT’S why they are OK with the repeal of DADT.
Lesbians and gays also come from the hills of North Carolina and Canton, Texas — so the young people these days already know openly gay people. Plus, there are rather a lot of lesbian and gay teenagers who would LOVE to serve in the military to get the education and career training that the military offers. Think about it — it’s the gay and lesbian kids who are fighting to be allowed to serve! Also, this is an age group that gets thrown out of their family for their sexual orientation at a higher rate than straight kids get put out on their own, so having the option of going into the military and having “three hots and a cot” can look pretty good in comparison to their other options. I think recruiters are going to see enlistments increase AND that the quality of the gay and lesbian recruits will be fairly high.
I’m amused that the stereotype of the gay soldier has turned from that of an effeminate man to the more accurate one of a man who can be counted on to be muscular and fit because that’s what men find attractive.
Cynthia
I hope so, Cyn.
.-= Peter´s last blog ..Don’t Tell Nobody But Being Single Blows Chunks. =-.
Peter-
There may not be many enlisting straight out of Chicago, but the same can be said for pretty much any big city (which generally are far more leftist). Get about 70 miles from Chicago and Illinois is mostly a red state, believe it or not. For the record: I live in Rockford which is 75 miles northwest of chitown and have had the pleasure of hanging out and drinking with Matt Burden (Blackfive) on a couple occasions at blog meets. I have heard him state that opinion on DADT over Guinness (and several rounds of single malt) years ago, so it’s definitely not a johnny come lately PC thing. I also know Blake Powers (Laughing Wolf). Some seriously good folks on that list. Folks with military experience ranging from special forces, logistics, embedded journalists, ground pounders, tankers, you name it.
Nobody on that list would support the repeal if their experiences and knowledge led them to believe it would cause long term harm to our armed forces, regardless of their personal opinions.
I think it’s the right thing to do, but to be brutally honest do you want to know why I REALLY want DADT repealed??
I want to see Lesbian snipers.
The thought of Jihadis quivering in fear of having to explain to Allah how a gay woman gave them high velocity lead poisoning gives me the warm fuzzies 🙂
Graumagus,
Thank you!
As a teen, I earned the second highest rank the Junior NRA has, Expert Sharpshooter, and, funnily enough, if I ever served in the military, I would try out to be a sniper.
Are you having warm fuzzies yet? 🙂
Cynthia
Oh, and Cynthia:
I think your ideas on how to police illegal aliens are pretty damn harsh.
I like ’em! 🙂
Somehow though I think those ideas have about as much chance of happening as my idea of harvesting illegals for organ transplants does….
Graumagus,
I just re-read your comment and realized when you wrote “I like ’em!” that you like my incentive plan, not illegal aliens, so I’m deleting the rant I wrote when I thought you meant you liked illegal aliens. So — thanks! We don’t let bank robbers keep the money if they get out of the bank with it. Illegals should not be allowed to keep a penny of their ill-gotten gains. Since they are intentionally overwhelming our border patrol, immigration and justice systems, the incentive system I propose would turn the odds back in favor of the rule of law.
Remember, if no one has to stay in their own country and make it better, that corrupts the rest of the world. It is a terrible, terrible thing to do, utterly destructive. For example, Mexico is an oil-rich country with abundant natural resources and great beauty. It HAS the wealth to provide the necessities that would empower and prosper its citizens: potable water, sewers, roads, electricity, an education and law enforcement. No other nation can go there and impose order — it has to come from within. The people who have to go back to their native country will take with them the tools and values that will save their nations and make the world a better place. They are simply being barred from stealing a better life from other people, who are being irreparably harmed by the theft, and required to earn their better life honestly.
Cynthia
The liberal open borders idiots who whine about “lines drawn on a map by rich white men” piss me off to no end. After listening to someone at work spout this kumbaya nonsense I asked him where he lived, and how much beer he had in his fridge because I was going to stop by and help myself. After all, his property lot was just a line on a map probably drawn up by a rich white guy. And he better leave his door unlocked because otherwise I’d be justified in kicking it in. And that if he really wanted to avoid trouble, be should stock his fridge with my favorite kind of beer.
Naturally he just rolled his eyes and missed the point entirely.
When the mass layoffs hit and he joined the ranks of the non employed, I’m sure he blamed Bush.