This weekend was a big weekend for some people. The repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" came through and the President is due to sign. I often read and sometimes comment on our local paper's website. Some of the comments about this issue are astounding to me.
Here is the link if you would like to read all of the comments, but I am going to pick a few that really flabbergasted me.
"According to an article by the CDC (center for disease control) on August 24, 2009, that in the United States AIDS is fifty times more prevalent among men who have sex with men than the rest of the population. I have just one question. Would you want to be in a foxhole, or in a tank with someone that has a 50% greater chance of giving you AIDS if he gets hit and his blood goes all over you?"
" This just opens the way for fashion shows on every US base round the world."
"...homosexuals have always served but now bedroom antics and pink uniforms can become the mode of the day."
My answer to these comments:
"It makes me sad to read here that some believe that being gay is about AIDS, HIV, wearing pink and fashion shows. Ignorance.
Gays have been serving in the military since the military has been in existence. This appeal allows them to serve without worrying about having their jobs at risk, their benefits, retirement, EVERYTHING stripped from them just because they are gay.
I truly believe the ONLY thing that is going to change is that there will be no more wasted time on investigations on whether or not one of our military is gay or not. What a sad waste of time and tax payer money.
Anyone who is currently in the military or will one day be in the military is not there to make it a platform for their sexual preference...they are there for the same reason as everyone else. To serve.
Some other comments have already made excellent points in retort to the HIV/AIDS issue...but I do want to point out that there was a HUGE issue with HIV/AIDS and various other sexually transmitted diseases from soldiers back in Vietnam days whom had sex with prostitutes (FEMALE) while serving overseas. This has been an issue for quite some time and is STILL an issue. I personally know of one soldier, married, who came back from the Philippines this year with a lovely gift of herpes for his wife. He admitted to sleeping with multiple prostitutes while serving in the Philippines.
It all comes down to the morality of a person and being gay does not lower ones morality."
What I didn't include, because it had been said in other comments, is that military is tested for EVERYTHING, including HIV/AIDS, so I would say the chances for becoming infected with HIV, while fighting in a foxhole, is slim to none .
There was a later comment about HIV/AIDS and that my timeline was wrong. It is not. You can do basic research to find that many Vietnam vets contracted HIV/AIDS, in various ways, opium (heroine) use was one of them as well, and just because they didn't know what to CALL the disease, does not mean the disease was not contracted.
Commenter said, "1975:Last Americans Evacuate as Saigon Falls..." "1979:Gay men in the US and Sweden..."
I guess four years made all the difference to that commenter.
The ignorance in that statement alone is disconcerting. Apparently, this commenter believes that vets in Vietnam were immune to the disease because they didn't know what the disease was called!?! Also, HIV/AIDS was not "discovered" until 1981 and didn't have a name until a few years after that. However, HIV/AIDS existed WAY before that time. It has, so far, been traced back to the 19th century (1801-1900).
Certainly none of us want to consider the fact that our heroes came home from war with HIV (and various other sexually transmitted diseases), but if you are going to bash gays in the military, and use HIV/AIDS as one of your bashing points, then you cannot exclude the simple facts.
I am reminded that it wasn't too long ago that blacks had separate water fountains, places on buses and schools, women were not allowed to vote and last, but not least, I live in the South...these types of prejudice are a long way from disappearing.
I would appreciate your thoughts, positive or negative, agreeing or disagreeing. I like to keep an open mind about these things and DO understand SOME of the concerns, though it appears that people are entirely too focused on the STEREOTYPE of being gay than actually understanding the overall importance of this issue.
15 comments:
I have seen blurbs here and there about arguements against repealing DADT. They are infuriating.
I hadn't seen anything yet about HIV/AIDS. This is also infuriating. Thanks for putting the facts out there.
I'm hoping that with the repeal of DADT these stereotypes will dispelled. Now that those who were hiding due to fears of losing their jobs can live openly if they choose.
My understanding is that there are strict uniform codes. Yup, they are missing the point, but I think in the near future they are going to feel silly.
I am a little worried that there will be an increase in violence against those that choose to serve openly....
Squirty - I don't think it will have any effect at all on the stereotypes. People love labeling and that will always be around; but that is OK - you can't solve ALL the world's problems! HOWEVER, when people are putting forth an opinion about [insert subject here] stereotypes should be set aside.
I also do not believe there will be any increase in violence. They are trained to be a unit, to serve with each other, to respect each other, themselves and what the military stands for. IF there was such violence to break out, I cannot see the military standing for it as it breaks the basic code of keeping one's self together in ANY situation.
In the same aspect, I do not anticipate any gay person making it widely known they are gay. I don't go around to every person I meet and tell them I am gay. I don't talk about it at work. When I am at work, I am working. When I am out, I am going out. It isn't exactly on my agenda to talk about my life in such detail.
The great news for our men and women of the military is that they can now go to the grocery store together without red flags being thrown and the entire 9th brigade down their necks wondering "Who was that "friend" you were with?"
Jess, you have to remember that the kind of folks who hang out regularly on a discussion board like that could get into an argument about whether kittens are cute. They seek to be inflammatory, and I don't think they are representative of the wider world. The repeal of DADT is a huge hopeful sign for me (and a good reminder of why I didn't vote for McCain). Take heart, girlie-girl, it's getting better. Even I can feel it.
And just to brighten your day, word ver. was ca ching!
MAW - I totally agree, things ARE getting better. I just can't believe these fucktards are living around me! It most likely means that I have had beer with them...maybe even spoken to some of them...and I KNOW they wouldn't have the same opinion if they were to sit down and discuss it with someone, (with an intelligent mind of course, not their dog Ol'Blue, or best friends Bubba and Buck), instead of hiding behind a forum.
Ca-Ching is RIGHT!
I don't see what the fuss about gays in the military is all about but I do take exception to Unmitigated Me's position on kittens being cute. Where does she get off? The Bible is very clear on this position. How dare she use this fine God-fearing blog to spread such lies!
Trooper - I hope you can understand that I cannot control the rubbish that some people put in my comment section. I like to maintain that comments stay free and open (like my legs) in order to get a well rounded view of people's ideas. It is pretty well known, world wide, that kittens are of Satan and will steal your soul. I appreciate your input on this and will contact the Southern Baptist Convention about putting a boycott on Unmitigated.
I agree with both Trooper and MAW which is currently giving me a headache.
Capt - it's a crazy world! :)
You guys live in a weird country. In New Zealand it has been legal for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons to serve in the military since New Zealand's Human Rights Act 1993 ended most forms of employment discrimination against lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. New Zealand military leaders did not oppose the end of military service discrimination. Our police force also actively recruit gays so the force is representative of the community. Times like this im happy to be a Kiwi. Actually, im happy to be a Kiwi pretty much all the time. Glad the US has finally seen the light. Our military didn't fall to pieces with gays being out, yours wont either
Pen - you aren't telling me anything new!!! Weird is the nice way to put it. I conmpletely agree with you though...our military won't break down, there won't be any riots...thank for your comments
Very well said! Unfortunately, I don't think discussion boards are a great way to go... just because there are people who spend all of their online time trolling. Those inflammatory people populate news comment boards and pages all over the internet, and for reasons unbeknownst to the rest of us, they feel that their pseudonymity or anonymity gives them to right to express their most ignorant views. They would never express their views in real life, because they'd get squished, but they're okay saying it on the internet.
Riley - I 100% agree with you. It is still unfortunate to read that people even have the nerve to post some of what is said!
You know my views on this well. I would say that 90% of enlisted soldiers could give a flying fuck about if one of their brothers in arms is gay. The other 10% are just assholes.
Yep, yep...though I don't think anyone will be jumping out of the closet to shout Ta-DA! anytime soon. Give it about 6 months to a year I think.
Kat - yes, yes I do. And you are awesome...as usual!
Lilli - but wouldn't that be a sight if they set up some kind of curtain...like a cabaret show and it was for our gay military to jump out of and go TA-DA! AHAHAHAAAA! Oh, it makes me giggle.
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