By: J

The United States military is probably the most technologically advanced and trained force in the history of mankind. It has sustained this status because individuals have volunteered to yield portions of their rights for the protection of our country. They have volunteered to submit to standards that go against the grain of me first and promote group think and team cohesiveness.

I know this first hand because I am a third generation soldier, a former USAF Capt. I signed the dotted line knowing certain aspects of my life were going to change and I was to obey lawful orders. I knew that I could be called in at anytime, on my day off, from my vacation, and deployed at a moments noticed. This is the world that any soldier voluntarily signs up for and that is why I am against having gays openly serving in the military. Others knowing your sexuality has no place in this rigid environment. Sexuality and ones religious practices are personal and don’t have to be broadcast on the job. This is just a couple of ideologies that should be fully expressed in your off time. The military cannot change the core of any individuals beliefs, but it has to be rigid and bland to create an environment that the majority will conform to.

“Don’t ask don’t tell” should have been enough because the military loosened up a little and allowed one to express that choice of lifestyle but with limitations. The military is full of standards and limitations on all types of lifestyle choices, so the small number of homosexuals in our elite force were not being treated unfairly. I am tired of everyone submitting to the notion that homosexuality is a genetic predisposition, when that has not be proven. As an African-American I laugh when their struggle is compared to any minorities. No one should be bullied, threatened, beat up, or discriminated against, but don’t mention our struggle and theirs in the same sentence. There are a number of individuals that have chosen to retract their choice and live a heterosexual lifestyle and they are looked at as living a lie. How come their voices are never broadcast on such a world wide platform? We need to stop being deceived and adhere to the standards God has established. That standard is men with women.

This is a poor decision and leaves the door open for more ill advised changes to the greatest fighting force this world has ever seen.