Posted by
Playful Walrus on Monday, December 13, 2010 3:08:36 PM
Joe Siler of Seal Beach
wrote in to the Orange County Register with a letter that is a very good representation of my own thoughts on DADT.
Clearly, homosexuals deserve the same rights as everyone else.
This is very important. I sincerely believe that every citizen deserves to have his or her rights defended by the government rather than infringed upon by their government. Every person, heterosexual or homosexual, should have the same opportunity to use their resources in voluntary exchanges with others. Nobody should be assaulted or have their property vandalized. Nobody should be unduly bothered by government agents. But what about government employment, specifically in the military?
But this military stuff is complicated. The military is 24 hours a day, with common barracks and showers. Youthful hormones and sexual tensions are at a peak. We acknowledge this by separating the men and women. But what about gays? Do we put them all together in a fun barracks? Or do we scatter them around so a few “couples” can carry on in each barracks? Some straights fear being ogled in the shower.
Here is a good test of your view. Should military men and women share the same barracks and showers? If you answer “yes,” you may have a lot of young military support. If you answer “no,” how is that different from the gay situation? Maybe, “don’t ask don’t tell” is very wise.
That's a very good letter.