Homosexuals in the Military

I was in the service in the 60s. I served with homosexuals. I knew they were homosexuals. When you're living in a barracks, using communal shower and toilet facilities, you know. They knew I knew, and I knew they knew I knew. Know what happened? Nothing. Homosexuals have served in every army that ever existed since the first army was formed. I know of no record of any war being won or lost on account of it.

In polite heterosexual society, it is understood that a gentleman never, ever, discusses his intimate relationship with a lady with others. Any man who does so is deemed not a gentleman. Any man who would ask is not a gentleman. To me, it is the very reason Bill Clinton was an ass to agree to testify before congress, why they were out of line to ask him the questions they did, and why he was within his rights to lie. Maybe this way of thinking is considered 'old school' today, I don't know. I don't care. To me, it is right.

If you were to ask me what goes on in my bedroom, I would tell you it was none of your concern. If I were to ask you what goes on in your bedroom, I would expect the same answer from you. But I would never ask you. The reason I would never ask you is not because I am too polite, or too old-fashioned. The reason I would never ask you is that I really, honestly, do not care.

The “Don't Ask Don't Tell” legislation was passed during the Clinton administration. Since, when I enlisted in 1964, nobody asked me what went on in my bedroom, and since while I was in, nobody told me what went on in theirs, I never saw the point of the law. It didn't cost me anything though, or constrain my behavior in any way, so I didn't care what the law said. I guessed it fixed something that wasn't broken in the first place.

Today, 15 years later, the law is in the headlines again. The NYT calls the law “odious.” At this point my curiosity has gotten the best of me. What could possibly be wrong with a law that directs us to mind our own business? I began reading the news articles. No matter how many I read, though, I couldn't find any that spoke in plain English. The scourge of Political Correctness has sapped our ability to communicate with one another. I am left to speculate as to what is wrong with the law.

The only recurring thread I can find in the articles is the repeated use of the word 'openly.' The term is never defined, and there is never enough context to deduce its meaning. Guessing would be a bad idea, since the range of possible definitions is broad, indeed. I can only hope it does not mean that soon, we will be required to learn the most intimate details of the private lives of others.

When heterosexuals tell others about their experiences in the bedroom, we call it indiscretion, and consider it to be in bad taste. When homosexuals tell others about their experiences in the bedroom, we call it 'coming out,' and treat it as if it was an act of bravery. Who sold us this double standard? Why did we buy into it? Are we totally unable to think for ourselves? It's time we cut the crap, got real, and stop treating homosexuals as if they were 'special people.'