Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Don't Ask, Don't Tell...

The United States Senate is about to consider repeal of the Don't

Ask, Don't Tell policy on gays in

the military.

The Senate is somewhat behind the power curve. California U.S. Federal District Court Judge, Virgina Phillips, has declared that the ban violates free speech and due process rights.

Some Senators like Senator John McCain, (Republican - Arizona) "Unambiguously maintains tha

t open homosexuality within the military services presents an intolerable risk to morale, cohesion and discipline." (From Earth Times - April 16th Letter from McCain to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network).

If that is so, the countries of Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,

Columbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and Uruguay disagree with him. All of the countries listed have successfully integrated homosexual and lesbian citizens into their armed services.

I am disappointed with my government. We used to lead the world in the liberties granted to our citizens. We now straggle along, not only in the area of gay rights, but in healthcare, education and standard of living. The country that used to be first, now places in these critical areas, below the top ten.

When we deny other citizens their rights we live with the potential that someday, someone, somewhere will pick on a minority group in which we hold membership and discriminate against us. They will only need to cite precedent.

It is time for all of us who value human rights to band together and lobby our congressional representatives and senators to immediately grant gay citizens all of the rights and privileges including service in the armed forces and marriage to the person of their choice. If we don't, who is next? Hitler also discriminated against gays.

I look forward to your comments and opinions. Come and visit my website at www.ackatt.com, my book blogs, www.ackattsjournal.blogspot.com and www.ackattsnips.blogspot.com. I also have a facebook page, a Yahoo and Live Journal Blog and videos on YouTube. My latest book is Shattered Glass, a story about gay rock musicians. It is available from Captiva Press at www.captivapress.com.