GOD, I hate DADT. Lt. Choi is an phenominal asset to American forces (he's an Arabic language specialist), but cannot serve because of one damn sentence.
i knew theyd screw him he must keep fighting this see obama talks about ending it but right now somebody is suffering because of it he should be stepping in here, hes the preseident... i hope dan takes this to obama to higher courts take them all teh way
And what's really funny to me is that the military talks about about not enough people signing up, not enough people in combat, not enough people experienced in certain fields (i.e. translators), etc. ... then we hear a news story about how dozens of Arabic translators were fired for nothing else but their sexual orientation. It makes me absolutely sick.
Someone who openly broke the rule in protest of it is getting in trouble for it! HOW ABSURD!! *rolls eyes*
I met Dan Choi and talked with him for a minute or two at the NYC Pride Rally (I even got to take a picture with him!). He is a very cool person; very smart and very determined. This guy's gonna win eventually.
oddly enough you can be a convicted felon and join but you can't be gay, and as for needing congress to end DADT thats only half true, you need congress to end it permantly, but Obama could issue an executive order that would end it like now, and it would last until he leaves office which would give him four years to overturn DADT, but he doesn't want to touch the topic he'd rather let congress do it so he can step back and say "i didn't do it, congress did" so he doesn't lose any face with other democrats
It's all about rateings not whats right. I just wonder how many people have died, indirrectly due to them dischargeing gays.
I read somewhere that a few people who are against DADT think that an executive order is a bad thing...the basically said that executive orders have been....abused...over the last 8 years and that it was better to deal with the issue 'properly' and democratically. An excuse for Obama...or a reasonable point? if someone is kicked out because of DADT...are they eligible to rejoin when it's scrapped?
it depends on the orders of your dishonorable discharge, if they bar you from re-enlisting, you got no chance, and executive orders have been abused for well over 8 years, but say you enact an executive order to override DADT, atleast no glbt military personal would have to worry about getting kicked out for the next 4 yrs. Cause say congress doesn't overturn in 4 yrs then what? oh well better luck next time and then say we get another republican in office, it'll be another decade before it ever gets overturned. and this is just me personally, but i think obama's nothi'n but talk. if he atleast issued an executive order he could say he tried, but to do nothing and say well were going to wait for congress to decide, is the same as taking the cowards way out to avoid the topic all together, sure he'll talk about it but until he actually does something it's all bull in my eyes
When Clinton was voted in, he was all Gung ho to remove the ban entirely of gay service personal, and went after it fairly early in his term, but it was bogged down with bureaucracy, and compromise and thus was born DADT. Traditionally things like this don't go over well early in a president's term, which means Obama may wait until after midterm elections, because believe it or not, this isn't the only issue the president wishes to address. Yes he could issue an executive order and it may be over turned in 4 years, but on the other hand he could "do it properly and democratically" and ensure an 8 year term. The rate at which very skilled, very in-demand people (such as linguists) are released by DADT is mind boggling. And the thing is the military is ready for it. Of the demographics generally enlisted (18-30 year old) over 3/4 have no problems with gays serving in the military. Further, there is already openly gay people serving in the military. And in many cases their peers and their chain of command don't care. But the whole thing is teetering on a balance, because if they cross someone, they could very easily blackmail them for it by reporting it. And in many cases where people were discharged, their chain of command didn't want to, but they really didn't have a choice because orders came from above. The thing is, it seems to be the crusty old guys from above that keep pushing DADT, even though they don't have any proof that it causes problems with unit cohesion, etc. So we may have to wait for slightly more open-minded crusty old people to be in charge at the top. If nothing else, I think the public outrage against DADT is increasing. The vast majority of people released under DADT are given hounerable discharges, and I suspect they would be allowed to re-enlist if DADT were repealed. Here's an interesting 55 minute piece on the experiences of Gay American Service personal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZqs-5z_y9Q
Dismissing him just adds more fuel to the fire and helps campaigners more. If he was not being dismissed then campaigners would have lost ground because of the exceptions being made. The victim card works very well for him and campaigners, and this decision just increases the momentum to get the ban lifted. It's a shame people have to suffer in the process but it only adds to the momentum.
Hopefully, he WON'T get kicked out... if we stand behind him all the way! United, like a front!!! (&&&) Okay... that's enough revolution talk from me today, i thinks