I don’t necessarily want them to over turn Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Now, before you freak out, hear me out. I know that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is supposed to “protect” gays and lesbians in the military by “allowing” them to serve and maintain a “sexuality free” service. We all know why I used quotation marks around all of the “principles” behind DADT. We all know that gays and lesbians will be persecuted in the military no matter what, regardless of so-called “regulations” that should be preventing it. We all know that gays and lesbians that are of the “obvious” persuasion (i.e., you can tell without them telling), are always in danger of being beaten up, or worse (see Barry Winchell’s story to understand how “successful” that was; yeah right), and this policy does nothing to help that, it is just persecution.
So basically, I get that DADT is supposed to protect gays and lesbians on the inside, by keeping them quiet about their sexuality, and thus “hidden” from the others that want to hurt them (or at least, that is how they spin it to make us feel more comfortable, when we all know it is blatant discrimination because it is based on the notion that we are the ones that are “different”, and should just conform); or, more importantly and more discriminatory, it is supposed to keep all the other GLBT out of the service, right? Well, I honestly say, while I don’t think that this policy is doing any of the proposed “protective features” of the first part, and is in fact, just perpetuating hate (and for the record, that definitely needs to be reformed or removed all together; although, with such a homophobic bunch going into and serving in the military, is a policy really going to change attitudes and behaviors? Um… no); I personally am FINE with the second part. I say, if you don’t want us, we don’t want to serve.
Now, to some of you that know that I am the biggest “out and proud”, “let’s not be second class!”, “we are all equal” person out there, but in this case, I just don’t give a shit. I obviously am speaking FOR MYSELF, so before you shit a brick, and start pacing up and down the sidewalk (hopefully not at the same time), hear me out. I don’t agree with war. A lot of people know that about me, so that isn’t a shock. So, is it so much of a shock to draw the line between me not agreeing with war, and me not wanting to serve in a war? Now that you are following me, keep up; not serving a war because the government hates you and doesn’t want you to? Does that sound like a perfect out or what? I say, since the government says “fuck all” to me all of the time with basically every aspect of my life and in regards to ALL of my rights, I don’t even want to sit back for one second and consider serving in the military. Period. I don’t think that you can tell me I am second class, and then expect me to step up and “do my duty”, THAT is being a hypocrite.
I don’t see my position as hypocritical, though; I see it as practical. I fight for my rights. I fight for my freedom. But this is one thing that I am willing to let slide. Nothing less, nothing more, so don’t read into it anymore than is there. I just don’t see this as a burning issue for ME, so that is where I stand on it. YES, I think that DADT is BULLSHIT! and should be struck down NOW. But, will I be sad if I can’t serve in the military for a war I don’t believe in, because there is a law that persecutes against me? Hell the fuck no. For once, I don’t mind drinking from the “homosexuals only” fountain, and when I say for once, I mean, only this once. Don’t say you hate me, and then expect me to serve my country, because it ain’t gonna happen.
Now, you may all rip me to shreds, because I know that you think that I am hypocrite, even though I so eloquently stated that I am not.
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