Don't Ask Don't Tell

by

John L. Messina

I have never been in deadly combat where people are trying to kill each other.  If I ever were, bullets flying around me, I hope I would not be concerned if my fellow soldiers were black, white, male, female, straight or gay. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) was a creature of the 1990's, when America was first coming to serious grips with the rights of gay people.  It was an attempt to keep gays in the military as long as their sexual orientation was kept secret.  If they were open about it, they were discharged. That policy is still in effect.

Who wants to be rid of it?  The Commander-in-Chief (Barack Obama), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Admiral Mike Mullen), former Secretary of State (Colin Powell), and a majority of the American people.  Sounds simple enough; just get rid of it. 

When the Defense Spending Act of 2010 was introduced, it had a provision for repeal of DADT.  That seemed reasonable and an appropriate part of the defense bill.  Others saw it differently.  A minority of Senators (43 of 100), by using the odd and outmoded tactic of the filibuster, refused to let the bill come to the floor for a vote, which would have passed it.  The time has come.  Get rid of DADT and recognize that those willing to put their lives on the line for the rest of us deserve to be allowed to live their lives in dignity and with the choice provided by our Constitution.