The head of the U.S. Marine Corps on Tuesday stressed that the integration of openly gay and lesbians into the military has gone smoothly.
“I don’t think there is a problem,” said Commandant Gen. James Amos during a National Press Club luncheon in downtown Washington. “I don’t see it. I don’t hear about it.”
Amos’ comments come nearly a year after the repeal of the Pentagon’s ban on openly gay and lesbian servicemembers officially took effect. He told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his 2010 confirmation hearing that he opposed the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” LGBT rights groups later blasted Amos for suggesting that openly gay and lesbian servicemembers would prove a distraction that would lead to further loses on the battlefield. He stressed, however, that the Marines would implement the policy if ordered to do so.
“We obey orders,” said Amos. “We do that better than anybody does and we have.”
He again noted that he doesn’t “even get a question” about openly gay and lesbian servicemembers from subordinates and other Marines.
“I don’t hear anything,” said Amos. “I’m not seeing anything at all, so I’m very pleased with how it’s turned out. I’m very proud of the Marines.”
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I think the reality is a direct counterpoint to the GOP and religious fundamentalist charge of 'forcing social experimentation' on the military. Whether the aforementioned wish to accept it or not, a plurality of this nation apparently understands that gay people exist, that they can be just as capable and patriotic as any other American, and frankly it's simply not an imposition or restriction on their lives and liberties.
I think that really, everyone already knew who was gay and who wasn't within their division/ troop/ department whatever in the military. That's why it didn't matter when the law changed. There is a scene from Family Guy thanksgiving 2011 that describes scenes I remember from the navy best. I can't find a video clip on the net, but I found the dialogue:
ReplyDeleteIt is the guy in the wheelchair's son that just showed up for thanksgiving after being believed dead speaking...
"Army life in Iraq
is what you’d expect,
what with the blistering heat,
the constant sense
of impending danger,
and the one gay soldier
awkwardly avoiding
the use of pronouns.
Man, I sure miss my
sweetheart back home.
I can’t wait to get
back to that person."
Everyone pretty much knew who was and wasn't gay. All this changed is now they don't have to "awkwardly avoid the use of pronouns".
Personofinterest stole my thunder. We already knew who the gay people were (or didn't), and the gays were not flaming activists. Everybody minded their own business.
ReplyDeleteI agree by and large, but this argument has also been used to support DADT.
ReplyDelete"Why repeal it when everybody pretty much knows who's gay?"
That's all well and good until the gay soldier wants to go out in public with their partner, or is injured in combat and wishes for loved ones to come to their bedside, or any number of issues that straight soldiers can take for granted.
That the services aren't experiencing any backlash from those who don't have the maturity to handle adult sexuality...doesn't come as a surprise to me...but it certainly takes some of the wind out of the sails of those who opposed repealing DADT.