the soldier that died in iraq today, sure hope he wasn't gay

[mopaul]

how ridiculous! they are discussing the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy of homosexuality in the u.s. military. is there really nothing more important to bother our minds with than this? i frankly don't give one flying damn wheather or not a man or woman fighting in 120 degree weather and getting shot at by snipers is straight or gay.
and i'm sure a gay man or woman can shoot a rifle and drive a tank or fly a jet as good as any hetero soldier. this is a no brainer.

shouldn't time be better spent getting to the bottom of why there are even soldiers dying at all over there? where are our frikkin priorities? what possible harm or evil can come from having a small percentage of homosexual soldiers in the ranks? it's like that tired old flag desecration amendment.....who gives a fuck anyway?

[RH]

1. who gives a ..

Can't even think why to give fuck as to who gives a fuck.

:hurts:

[IndianaGreen]

2. Gay partners of military personnel

even when they are civilian, do not have the support system that the heteros have, despite the fact that the relationship is as loving and strong as that of military wifes and husbands.

You won't see a couple of guys in uniform coming to the door of the gay partner to inform him or her that their soldier mate is dead. You won't see gay partners get a neatly folded American flag for the dead loved one.

The US is quickly becoming the only advanced nation in the world still adhering to sexual taboos of the Dark Ages.

[kentuck]

3. It doesn't matter to you or the vast majority on DU....

But it is a hot button issue for Repubs. It will drive them to the polls and they will be working on this issue and periphereal issues dealing with homosexuality, between now and election day. We have to deal with it. We can't ignore it.

[Robb]

4. It's the hate and fear angle

Pub reps get behind these issues that can't really matter to those pulling their strings (big biz, for example) to get their constituency all fired up because they believe (and are probably right) that people who fear the "liberal homosexual agenda being forced down our throats" will vote for them out of hate.

...and no giggling at all over lines like "liberal homosexual agenda being forced down our throats". :eyes:

But I feel "ignoring it" isn't a terrible way to go; not "ignoring" exactly, but making it clear that our candidate thinks it's a non-issue, only silly people could feel it was a question:

"What? Yes, of course we'll allow gays in the military. Next question."

...Make the asker feel like an anachronist for even asking. Even if they don't know what an anachronist might be....

[Iris]

5. It seems relevant

given the military has recently dismissed several Farsi translators because they are gay.