Saturday, December 4, 2010

Thoughtful comment on the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" dilemma

Caught it here,

"Gays serving in the military is a difficult issue. Many have served with distinction. If being gay was not cause for dismissal, then there would be less chance of blackmailing gays or having them compromise security to avoid being outed. In many jobs and situations it would not matter. In small, high pressure combat or other such units it could make a significant difference. Banning gays from those positions would be even more controversial as some would say they were escaping the most dangerous jobs and others would say they were precluded from serving in the most rewarding career building jobs. DADT is a terrible policy. Only problem is I am not sure there is a better one."

I think that most people are conflicted around this issue - only activist types have definite, unbending positions.

I recently read some material on the Berlin airlift. About 48% of the heroic crews who flew those relief missions were treated for syphilis. Members of our armed forces have always left "war babies" in other countries. So, the straight military is not the place to draw the line for sexual morality, if that is one's issue. As I've written before, we are talking here about the U.S. Army, not the Salvation Army.

At the same time, the operational concerns raised by those who don't want DADT lifted are real. The example of organizations like my own church denomination show that once you get an unfettered LGBT activist or two into the ranks, the group's mission, cohesion and well being will all be secondary to melodrama, media coverage and systemic manipulations for the entitled few.

Prayer for the Commander in Chief...

O LORD our Governor, whose glory is in all the world; We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness; and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. (BCP 1928)

...and for the members of our Armed Forces,

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and
keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home
and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly
grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give
them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant
them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP 1979)

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