It's Time We Changed The Rules

In case you don’t know, I’m a 20 year veteran of the USAF.  I’m a conservative and I make no bones about it, so what I’m going to say here may come as a bit of a shock to some of you.

Major Margaret Witt is a homosexual and she was discharged from the USAF Reserve for being a Homosexual, or more to the point, for engaging in homosexual activities.  It isn’t against the rules to be a homosexual; you must actually have relations with someone of the same sex.  That’s what’s against the rules and the rules in this case are the Uniform Code of Military Justice or UCMJ as it is usually referred to by military folks.

Major Witt should be reinstated with full rank and back pay.  This is one of those few times that I agree the ACLU.

President Clinton refined the rules to a “Don’t ask, don’t tell policy.  In other words, if you keep it to yourself, the service will leave you alone.  I think I’ve always been in agreement with that, long before Clinton became President.  I knew several homosexuals, both male and female, in my time and none of them were what I would term problem troops.  In my 20 years, I never had a problem with serving with folks who were what we call “gay” today.  However, I've come toI think "Don't ask, don't" tell is a lousy rule.

As far as I’m concerned, homosexuality or being in a homosexual relationship should no longer be a bar to military service.  Years ago, a homosexual was, in fact, a security risk.  Today, there isn’t the same stigma that went with being “outted” like there was 20 years ago.

It’s time we changed the UCMJ.  The rules on public displays of affection, fraternization and adultery need to remain and be strictly enforced.  There are good reasons for them and everyone, gay and straight alike, should be held to the same bar in applying those rules.

Thanks to The Blue Star Chronicles for Open Track Backs!

VW

Comments

[ck]

It's good to see that there are people on both the right and left can agree that this issue should be laid to rest.

Let's focus on people's behaviors that really impact unit cohesion. Having a lesbian partner obviously did not impact Witt's work or management.