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Arkansas Times

August 05, 2010 News » Letters

Assigned reading

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Bob Marrs

Eureka Springs

From the Blog

Readers of our Arkansas Blog had much to say recently after only U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder and Sen. Blanche Lincoln among the Arkansas delegation expressed support for legislation repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prevents military service by acknowledged gays and lesbians. Some of the comments:

Would it be fair to turn back the clock to 1948 and vote on black integration in the ranks? Gosh, I wonder what the vote would've been then? And what about women getting equality in the military? Should we perhaps put that up for a vote? It never was, you know. It was an order.

— Sistertoldja

Let's see if I'm getting this right: Some people are saying that the military—the "Pentagon"—should be deciding civil rights policy?! I've been under the impression for a long time that it's the role of congress to establish civil rights policy. Was I asleep when this responsibiilty was passed to the military?

— SkyPilot

What did y'all expect from child Pryor who hangs out with The Family, who coddles those who want to execute suspected gays in Africa?

— Eureka Springs

When it comes to the military, the question first and foremost should be how our military achieves its highest level of success when defending our country.

I can't help but believe that if women and men were both allowed to serve side by side in an infantry setting, that men might put protecting the women ahead of achieving their objective. I also think men would be more distressed to see women lying dead and injured on the battle field than they would other men. I could very well be mistaken, but I think those are real points to consider.

With regard to DADT, I am not saying that it is right or wrong, but I do think that it could be a real issue for some soldiers. Doesn't mean that I think that those soldiers are right who discriminate, but it is a real issue. I agree with Senator Pryor and his position to hear what the military has to say on the subject.

— JohnQCitizen

A LGBT person can pull the trigger on a gun just like any other person. I don't discuss my sexuality at work, and during my time in the Military I never discussed it once, I came to my office in the morning and was gone when it was time to 10-98. Sexual orientation has nothing to do with the tasks and assignments that one has to complete in the military. Nowhere on your dogtags does it list Sexual Orientation. It's dumb for the military to kick someone out because of sexual orientation, and at the same time it's stupid for anyone to think that their sexual orientation is of any business to their fellow solider.

— wordonthestreet

It seems to me that the Little Rock Police Department has demonstrated that gays and lesbians can serve well and in harmony with the group as a whole in extreme situations. The notion that fighting men are going to get all bent out of shape about a person who fights when push comes to shove, but is not acceptable because of his or her sexual orientation, is another of those flat earth theories that "everbody knows."

— williecardnickel

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