Gen. Wesley Clark On Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal: “Let’s Just Get On With It”

video

by Nisha Chittal | 4:00 pm, December 5th, 2010

» 112 comments

Today on ABC’s This Week, Christiane Amanpour played host to a spirited debate over DADT with a panel of military experts, insiders, and veterans on both sides of the issue. The panel included Lieutenant Colonel Bob Maginnis, of the Family Research Council, and Elaine Donnelly, founder and president of the Center for Military Readiness, both of whom oppose the repeal of DADT. Supporting the repeal on the panel were Clarke Cooper, an active Army reservist and executive director of the group Log Cabin Republicans, Tammy Schultz, director of the national security and joint warfare at the Marine Corps War College; and General Wesley Clark, the former NATO commander.

It was General Clark who perhaps most accurately summed up the back-and-forth debate over DADT that has taken place for the last several months, if not years: “…honestly, it shows the effects of six, eight months’ politicization, continuing coverage in the media, and some of it is just people in the military saying, just leave us alone and let us do our job. They come down on one side or the other of this. Let’s just get on with it,” he said.

Watch the video of the full debate below:

And part 2:

ABC This Week, bob maginnis, Christiane Amanpour, clarke cooper, dadt, don't ask don't tell, elaine donnelly, Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, tammy schultz, This Week, Wesley Clark

Atticus Draco

“Let’s Just Get On With It”

sounds gayish to me
cjd ohio 1

other issues do need to be addressed, shower and laterine, barracks, room assignments , do you want to room with a gay or transgender roommate, marriage and benefits
Elaine B

cjd, you sound very homophobic, are you hiding in a closet too!

The service men and the generals all say “GET RID OF DON”T ASK DON”T TELL” It should not be legal to discriminate against ANY one in the services nor for that matter anywhere!

Get over it! Let’s move on this is the 21st century not the dark ages.
CaptainFabulous

cjd ohio 1 said:
other issues do need to be addressed, shower and laterine, barracks, room assignments , do you want to room with a gay or transgender roommate, marriage and benefits

Newsflash — they’re ALREADY taking showers, using the latrine, and sharing rooms with gay and lesbian soldiers. So no, nothing there needs to be addressed as nothing will change.
cjd ohio 1

homophobic? by asking questions, you are a fool, i dont support DADT, but combats arms soldiers and marines dont want it repealed, close minds like the last to post are the problem
cjd ohio 1

should a soldier be allowed to ask for a new roommate because his/her current one is gay or transgender?
skyfet

This is a man that was on the front line, unlike the phonies who ran away from draft and commenting on what’s goo or not good for the troops. You know who you are, p.s.
Elaine B

wow cjd, you really are homophobic! Why do gay’s scary you so much?
BFD

cjd ohio 1 said:
should a soldier be allowed to ask for a new roommate because his/her current one is gay or transgender?

Nope.

They should provide all solders with a questionnaire when they enlist…

“Please list the people you are not comfortable rooming with:”

Blacks
Gays
Hispanics
Asians
Idiot Homophobic Conservatives
cjd ohio 1

lol, you people are so fucking stupid, you live in fanstasyland, shit just doesnt happen, rules and regs need to be put in place, now asking questions are wrong lol unreal
Elaine B

lol Good one BFD!
cjd ohio 1

BFD, you forgot gender and religion, what a dumb fuck you are
Elaine B

Boy, BFD that went right over cjd head!!

Too funny!
Just4thefax

Fact: When there is a gay parade involving the military you always see the Gay Wesley Clark leading it!
cjd ohio 1

no dumbass i know sacrasm, you people are just to stupid to answer questions, you just call names, shows how little thought process you have
Elaine B

Fact: Just4fox pulls his facts out of his butt
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

I think Gen. Clark should bed and shower with the First Pansie Division. We won’t ask ane we won’t tell.
Clark is a idiot.
Elaine B

Fact: cjd is a homophobic
cjd ohio 1

lol
Elaine B

Fact: Gordon has cyst on his ass like Rust Lintball, that is how they both got out of the draft.
The Count

AH AH AH AH AH !
SarahP

gordonbloyershow said:
I think Gen. Clark should bed and shower with the First Pansie Division. We won’t ask ane we won’t tell.
Clark is a idiot.

You are the first pansie division. You have showered with Rush right?
cjd ohio 1

lol elaine
cjd ohio 1

he comes the name calling, no answers to any questions lol
SarahP

Elaine B said:
Fact: cjd is a homophobic

I disagree. He’s simply asking questions that people in the military are asking. The devil is in the details as the saying goes.
cjd ohio 1

thanks sarah, us army 83-93, i had a squad leader that was gay, good soldier and a good leader.As i stated above i am against DADT, but tough questions are going to be asked
Elaine B

Ok… but it does sound like

cjd ohio 1 says:

combats arms soldiers and marines dont want it repealed, close minds like the last to post are the problem

From what I have head from the recent polls from the service men and woman that is not the truth. The majority of he DO want it repealed.
SarahP

cjd ohio 1 said:
thanks sarah, us army 83-93, i had a squad leader that was gay, good soldier and a good leader.As i stated above i am against DADT, but tough questions are going to be asked

Thank you for your service!
Elaine B

Thanks cjd for that input, it does change how I interpreted your post.
cjd ohio 1

combat arms soldiers, elaine, do you know what combat arms soldiers are?
Elaine B

ditto on thank you for your service!
cjd ohio 1

look, before you leap next time, but its cool
Elaine B

the ones out in the field doing the dirty work
Elaine B

point taken and will do! Yes SIR!
cjd ohio 1

sgt, i worked for a living lol
cjd ohio 1

i am more a middle of the road guy, so sometimes i do like to play devil’s advocate to see other peoples views,
SarahP

cjd ohio 1 said:
sgt, i worked for a living lol

Regardless, you are asking good questions, tough and relevant questions.
Just4thefax

Fact: All people need sensitivity training into dealing with other peoples gay mental disorders! I always wondered why the gay in the military needs special rules unless they aren’t fit enough to serve a just a man.
SarahP

Just4thefax said:
Fact: All people need sensitivity training into dealing with other peoples gay mental disorders! I always wondered why the gay in the military needs special rules unless they aren’t fit enough to serve a just a man.

What are you talking about, you are not fit to serve as a man.
Elaine B

Justthatstupid:

Fact: You are a racist, bigot, Hippocratic, small minded wacko.
Patrick Henry

Elaine B said:
Fact: Just4fox pulls his facts out of his butt

Uh, no, that would be you.
Just4thefax

SarahP said:
What are you talking about, you are not fit to serve as a man.

Fact: You want what? Me to fit you and serve it to you like a man? wow talk about DADT!
Elaine B

Oh might Anil one! you crawled out of your hole early today.
Just4thefax

Fact: It’s real hard not to respond to you know who because I don’t want 50 babble post in a row here!
stoogedudes

cjd ohio 1, I too thank you very much for your service. I’ve always considered, as we all do, that those who sacrifice as you did for their country are the best this country has to offer, even if I may not agree with them all the time ;)

Yes, I’m sure questions will be asked and are being asked, but I think the report by the Pentagon shows that it’s just not that big of a deal allowing openly gay soldiers to serve their country.

DADT will be repealed. It may not be this year, or next year even, but it will be repealed, and the gay soldiers who have hidden who they are to serve the country they love dearly will be able to do so without fear of retribution.

By the way, to those making the homophobic statements on this thread, shame on you.
Elaine B

lol chicken!
Patrick Henry

Elaine B said:
Fact: Gordon has cyst on his ass like Rust Lintball, that is how they both got out of the draft.

How many denigrating comments about others can one person make?
SarahP

Just4thefax said:
Fact: You want what? Me to fit you and serve it to you like a man? wow talk about DADT!

Fact: no chance of that…let me get my glasses.
Elaine B

Patrick Henry says:

Elaine B said:
Fact: Gordon has cyst on his ass like Rust Lintball, that is how they both got out of the draft.

How many denigrating comments about others can one person make?

You really need to get to know Gordon and then I think that will answer your question.
disenlightened

Atticus Draco said:
“Let’s Just Get On With It”

sounds gayish to me

Looks at his freakish eyes. There’s something seriously wrong with the man, besides just being a Democrat. There’s been all kinds of rumors since they flushed him out of the military.
The Real Royal King

skyfet said:
This is a man that was on the front line, unlike the phonies who ran away from draft and commenting on what’s goo or not good for the troops. You know who you are, p.s.

Are you talking about Trent Lott, Newt Gingrich, Lard Limbaugh, Big Dick Cheney, Basil Marceaux, I mean Gordon Blower or someone else?
The Real Royal King

gordonbloyershow said:
I think Gen. Clark should bed and shower with the First Pansie Division. We won’t ask ane we won’t tell.Clark is a idiot.

Your affectation about communal showers is a bit kreepy. That’s not right. It’s really kreepy. You know the German water for shauer (hygiene, not meterology) is douche. I bet that really gets you excited about showering in te Bundeswehr. But, you would have evaded the military option in compulsory national service and been a Kandy Striper, I suppose.
CosmosDan

cjd ohio 1 said:
other issues do need to be addressed, shower and laterine, barracks, room assignments , do you want to room with a gay or transgender roommate, marriage and benefits

How do you think these things were handled during DADT, and why would you expect a significant change?

Serve openly doesn’t mean you tell everyone first chance you get. It means you can’t get fired if people find out. Gay men and women have been handling all those things for decades now and straight men and women have been sharing showers, latrines, barracks, and room assignments with gays for a long time.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

Elaine B said:
Fact: Gordon has cyst on his ass like Rust Lintball, that is how they both got out of the draft.

There you go lying again. We all know about you. You hide behind a phony name and photo. You lie all the time and no one pays attention to you. YOU are a joke. Try using a new name to fool us again.
Elaine B

So your the gordon on the gordon bloyer show?

I am not and don’t lie you idiot! You can check out this link for yourself cyst of ass, like you.

http://www.snopes.com/military/limbaugh.asp

Also your really wacked out of your mind. Every one on this blog uses different names, are you crazy or something?? You haven’t noticed that?????

I am a joke! lol your insane!!!!
skyfet

@gordonbloyershow
You have no place calling the General an Idiot. He made it to the rank of General, you couldn’t make it as a private. There are loads of you in that list, you know, ahhhhh.
Rusty Shackelford

Remember when Clark was running for president and he tried for the gay vote by appearing on the cover of some gay magazine in a tee shirt……talk about creepy.
jamesalfred

He is a liberal, this is what they are supposed to say, I am not suprised in the least bi. Yes, he is a patriot for his service but he gets his talking points from the same places all the libs do.

Another lib blow hard trying to make himself relevent again. Do us all a favor and stfu Gen. Clark, regurgitating talking points does nothing for the debate.

http://crazyconservative.wordpress.com/
CosmosDan

cjd ohio 1 said:
lol, you people are so fucking stupid, you live in fanstasyland, shit just doesnt happen, rules and regs need to be put in place, now asking questions are wrong lol unreal

Rules and regulations about behavior are already in place. No new ones are necessary.
Elaine B

Jamesalfred,

I am a liberal, I don’t get taking points from anyone Liberals don’t need them. What we do is quite simple, we read, listen to logic (that leaves fox out) and search for the underlining truth. Then we put it all together and make our own decision whether or not we like it. We have never been very good at walking in lock step, never will be either! Were like herding cats and were all proud of that!

I just thought I would give you a little true insight of a liberal, not the fox version.

Any one else out here have a bit to share with good old James here?
CosmosDan

Just as with most social issues the social conservatives , like those two on the panel are wrong wrong wrong, and will be proven wrong once DADT is repealed. Same with same sex marriage. You’d think they would look back at history and realize that.
the real john t

cjd ohio 1 said:
lol, you people are so fucking stupid, you live in fanstasyland, shit just doesnt happen, rules and regs need to be put in place, now asking questions are wrong lol unreal

cjd ohio 1 said:
no dumbass i know sacrasm, you people are just to stupid to answer questions, you just call names, shows how little thought process you have

cjd ohio 1 said:
he comes the name calling, no answers to any questions lol

Sure seems like cjd did his share of name calling while accusing others of name calling.
George C

I wasn’t aware that The Bread and Puppet Theater performed road shows, who knew.
the real john t

Elaine B said:
Any one else out here have a bit to share with good old James here?

Yeah, does he realize that’s why Air America failed, because liberals don’t need someone to tell them how to think. And that’s exactly why Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck is up there in the ratings. The RWers need an idol to tell them what to think.
nrgetick

LOL @ LOG CABIN RETHUGS! Thats like being a jewish nazi. “Conservatives may to want to see me hanging from a tree and get great pleasure at the thought of me burning in hell….but i do like their fiscal policies” ha ha they must be rich and would rather take the tax breaks and deregulation than expand equality
Elaine B

John real or not,

Air America failed due to bad management. Lintball, Insanaty and Wacko Beck are still out there because they are being paid by and are delivered they talking points daily by the corporation that support them. They are corporate shills. Nothing more and you sure are buying it all hook line and sinker
the real john t

Elaine B said:
Nothing more and you sure are buying it all hook line and sinker

Maybe you’d better read my comment again and try to comprehend it.
the real john t

BTW Elaine especially the last sentence. “The RWers need an idol to tell them what to think.” I am no RWer by any means.
cjd ohio 1

ok cosmos, does a soldier have the right to feel uncomfortable with a roommate that may be sexual attracted to him or her
Elaine B

Ok but they failed because of bad management :)

Thanks, I did read it this time all they way through. I was rushing, cooking dinner, my bad!
jhkjhnbhgj

======\\\ http://www. betterwhol es al er.us///===========
handbag $33

AF tank woman $17

puma slipper woman $30

90X Extreme Fitness System ONLY ONLY 42$$$$$$$
the real john t

gordonbloyershow said:
Clark is a idiot.

Here Gordo Blowhard, go read about General Wesley Clark and tell me what you’ve accomplished in your miserable life that surpasses his accomplishments. Then we’ll see who’s the idiot.

http://www.nato.int/cv/saceur/clark.htm
The Real Royal King

My good friend Basil Marceaux, I mean Gordon Blower, told me that Wesley Clark is a GINO, a General In Name Only.
The Real Royal King

The Real Royal King said:
My good friend Basil Marceaux, I mean Gordon Blower, told me that Wesley Clark is a GINO, a General In Name Only.

But, he’d still enjoy taking a shower with Wesley Clark or any other GINO.
cotchie1967

I am a conservative and I think DADT is a non-issue. I also could not give a rat’s ass if gays want to marry [ or not]. Let them serve openly if they are qualified. If you want to exclude people for so-called moral issues then you would have to boot every serviceman/woman who has cheated on their spouse, had pre-marital sex and told a lie. So to all of my conservative brethren….RELAX….and to the libtards…once that tingly feeling is gone for good, let’s get serious.
the real john t

cotchie1967 said:
.and to the libtards…once that tingly feeling is gone for good, let’s get serious.

Well I was agreeing to your comment until you had to throw out that insult. Do RWers ever give a comment without having to insult the left?
Elaine B

Ditto to what The real John said. You seldom here anything out of the reps with out a insult attache. But you sound like your a reasonable person. Maybe next time you can just say what you feel without the insult.

Maybe we should have a class on how to communicate effective with each other so we can openly share our thought with out being insulted.

Their our thought and we first should just respect each other opinions. If we don’t agree, say so. If we do we just say so and what parts we agree with.

It would sure be nice if we could communicate here on the blog without always being on the defensive.

Brovo The real john t!! Great idea… lets try to re enforce this mutual respect and try to remove the insults.
Elaine B

You seldom hear anything out of reps without an insult. (typo’s correction :) ) before I get chewed out for it….
the real john t

Elaine B said:
Great idea… lets try to re enforce this mutual respect and try to remove the insults.

You can’t be serious are you? You’ve seen the comments by Just4the Fax, Gordon Bloyer, etc,etc. That’s what they live for. They’ll come on and their first comment will be to insult someone.
Elaine B

Yes The real John T I have not only seen them but I had to deal with then sense I started blogging about 4 or 5 days now.

I am serious, I am going to try not to respond to their insults (I did say try) I think the guys you listed really have deep seated problems in communicating with people and this may help them become nicer and better people if they leaned to communicate, heck it might even get them a date or who know get people to like them.

It maybe like taking away their pacifier at first but hey will start feeling better about themselves bit by bit.

Oh well, you maybe right but I am going to give it a try. I am just tired of all the insults and hatred I have felt from this blog. And it is not by all it is a few who just don’t have any class whatsoever.

Time for me to hit the hey… have a good night!
Just4thefax

SarahP said:
Fact: no chance of that…let me get my glasses.

Fact: Good idea that way you can watch in the mirrors how I make you dance around my stripper pole! I hope Wesley Clark runs again what an ass! Two blogs at once liberals.
Just4thefax

Elaine B said:
Jamesalfred, I am a liberal, I don’t get taking points from anyone Liberals don’t need them. What we do is quite simple, we read, listen to logic (that leaves fox out) and search for the underlining truth. Then we put it all together and make our own decision whether or not we like it. We have never been very good at walking in lock step, never will be either! Were like herding cats and were all proud of that! I just thought I would give you a little true insight of a liberal, not the fox version. Any one else out here have a bit to share with good old James here?

Fact: babble babble babble…. Fox news they are out to get me…. babble babble …. Fox News the devil…. babble babble…. I’m stupid liberal please please listen…. babble babble…. can’t sleep fox news…. babble babble…
Just4thefax

the real john t said:
Well I was agreeing to your comment until you had to throw out that insult. Do RWers ever give a comment without having to insult the left?

Fact: Insults. You are a insult.
skyfet

@Just4thefax
Not giving you help to insult people, but it should be an insult not a insult.
By the way why do you start your day with this kind of attitude? did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or this is you full time? Perhaps you are having nightmare in your sleep.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

the real john t said:
You can’t be serious are you? You’ve seen the comments by Just4the Fax, Gordon Bloyer, etc,etc. That’s what they live for. They’ll come on and their first comment will be to insult someone.

Is calling you a LIAR an insult? If you didn’t lie so much it wouldn’t happen.
Just4thefax

skyfet said:
@Just4thefaxNot giving you help to insult people, but it should be an insult not a insult.By the way why do you start your day with this kind of attitude? did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or this is you full time? Perhaps you are having nightmare in your sleep.

Fact: again quit posting about my post. post to someone you can relate to you like sarah p stupid or elaine b stupid.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

skyfet said:
@gordonbloyershowYou have no place calling the General an Idiot. He made it to the rank of General, you couldn’t make it as a private. There are loads of you in that list, you know, ahhhhh.

Benidict Arnold was a General and he was a hero. He was still a traitor.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

Elaine B said:
Every one on this blog uses different names, are you crazy or something?? You haven’t noticed that?????

Many people here use their real name. So you just follow others because they use phony names?
Face it, you are a coward and you are afraid your ignorant comments will make people want to beat the crap out of you.
skyfet

@gordonbloyershow
I’d prefer a strong leader to one who ran away from battle. That’s an act of treason, which used to be a death penalty. It’s a punishment for cowardice, a coward is still a traitor as well.
skyfet

@Just4thefax
Ducking like a duck, when called out on. ahhh, cool.
skyfet

@gordonbloyershow
Beating people up?
gordonbloyershow is encouraging violence again. What’s with you and violence anyway?
CosmosDan

cjd ohio 1 said:
ok cosmos, does a soldier have the right to feel uncomfortable with a roommate that may be sexual attracted to him or her

Of course , a person can’t control how they feel , but they are responsible for how they deal with those feelings.

What if a soldier was racist and got bunked with a black guy? Both the gay and straight soldier have rules of conduct they have to follow. The gay soldier would have to control any attraction he felt or face consequences, and the straight soldier would have deal with any “that’s disgusting” feelings he had.

In the clips Wes Clark says soldiers don’t like each other for a lot of reasons, and the NCOs have to deal with that, but the discipline is to accomplish the mission when deployed, and petty differences have to be set aside.
Cecelia

CosmosDan said:
What if a soldier was racist and got bunked with a black guy? Both the gay and straight soldier have rules of conduct they have to follow. The gay soldier would have to control any attraction he felt or face consequences, and the straight soldier would have deal with any “that’s disgusting” feelings he had.

Agreed. It’s time for “don’t ask, don’t tell” to be set aside.
Judge Mental

Elaine B said:
cjd, you sound very homophobic, are you hiding in a closet too!

Elaine B said:
wow cjd, you really are homophobic! Why do gay’s scary you so much?

Elaine B said:
Fact: cjd is a homophobic

Elaine B said:
Fact: Gordon has cyst on his ass like Rust Lintball, that is how they both got out of the draft.

Elaine B said:
Fact: You are a racist, bigot, Hippocratic, small minded wacko.

Elaine B said:
Oh might Anil one! you crawled out of your hole early today.

Elaine B said:

Also your really wacked out of your mind. Every one on this blog uses different names, are you crazy or something?? You haven’t noticed that?????

I am a joke! lol your insane!!!!

Elaine B said:
Maybe we should have a class on how to communicate effective with each other so we can openly share our thought with out being insulted.

Their our thought and we first should just respect each other opinions. If we don’t agree, say so. If we do we just say so and what parts we agree with.

It would sure be nice if we could communicate here on the blog without always being on the defensive.

Brovo The real john t!! Great idea… lets try to re enforce this mutual respect and try to remove the insults.

This is too rich to ignore.
cjd ohio 1

race and sexual orientation are apples and oranges , people compare the too but it not the same, men and women are seperate in the military what is the reason behind that?
Elaine B

Judge Mental says:

Thanks! This is my reminder on NOT being insulting. Bravo Judge mental so your also going to let people comment with out he insults?

Good for you!

Cheers!
CosmosDan

cjd ohio 1 said:
race and sexual orientation are apples and oranges , people compare the too but it not the same, men and women are seperate in the military what is the reason behind that?

You’re right, it’s not the same, but the point is that you don’t get to choose your bunk mate based on whether you feel comfortable or not. I just saw a report on Afghanistan where a young lady was on the front lines and on patrol with men. I don’t know exactly how they handle that do you? But they do.
It’s actual behavior that counts not whether you feel perfectly comfortable or not. If a gay man or woman is overtly coming on to someone that’s behavior that will be addressed. If a straight is openly hostile to someone he knows is gay, that will be as well. Gay men and straight men have been sharing showers and barracks for decades now. There’s no reason for it to affect discipline. Keep in mind that repealing don’t ask don’t tell, doesn’t mean people have to know. It just means they can’t get fired if others find out.

You probably won’t make it as a Marine if you panic because you think some guy in the shower checked out your winkie.
cjd ohio 1

not argueing about the job, do you think that young lady showers with the men on patrol,
cjd ohio 1

and you probably wont make it as a marine if you panic because you think some guy in the shower checked out your tits ,right cosmos
CosmosDan

cjd ohio 1 said:
not arguing about the job, do you think that young lady showers with the men on patrol,

Probably not but you haven’t explained why that’s relevant. Since gay men and women have been showering with straight men and women for decades in the military why would you expect it to become an issue because of the repeal of DADT? It’s already been dealt with and there are already very specific guidelines about behavior and discipline. I just don’t see any reason to think a repeal of DADT is going to be any major issue.
If you watched the video you’ll see that UK forces changed their policy and nothing happened.

I doubt anyone would object if you decided you’d rather not shower with a gay man or woman, as long as it didn’t affect the job or discipline. When in the filed in combat I’m pretty sure people have to be less squeamish and focus on the job.
cjd ohio 1

if nothing is going to change why repeal DADT, so people can be open about who they are that is why, these are just questions that are going to be asked. These are tough questions, but just to dismiss them like you do does not address them sir. sexual attraction is why we seperate men and women, and young men and women dont always have the discipline us old folks do
cjd ohio 1

close quarter living does come into the equation, that is just a fact, that is why male and female have seperate facilities
CosmosDan

cjd ohio 1 said:
if nothing is going to change why repeal DADT, so people can be open about who they are that is why, these are just questions that are going to be asked. These are tough questions, but just to dismiss them like you do does not address them sir. sexual attraction is why we seperate men and women, and young men and women dont always have the discipline us old folks do

If you watched the videos or have seen this issue discussed on other shows those questions are answered. There are several examples of people who were excellent soldiers , highly trained and valuable who have served for years, with excellent records who are dismissed from service when it’s discovered they are gay, because those are the current rules. Who loses in that case? They lose a career and the military loses an excellent person it spent money training and their skill set.

I’m not sure if they plan on keeping the Don’t Ask portion , but IMO there’s no reason to ask anyone about their sexual orientation unless there’s a specific incident. I’ve heard lots of soldiers testify that they knew a certain person was gay , but it didn’t matter as long as they did their duty. Once again, you haven’t really addressed the reality that gay men and women have been sharing showers and barracks for decades. Is it just better to share one with a gay man when you don’t know he’s gay.
You’re right that sexual attraction and discipline is an issue but do you think that gay people can’t control themselves. They have been for a long long time. Do you think sexual attraction didn’t exist in the past or under DADT? If hetero, or same sex couples can’t control themselves and are sneaking off, it has to be dealt with, just as it has been. I still can’t understand why you think a repeal will change anything because of sexual attraction. Is it just that you think a straight person shouldn’t be subjected to being looked at with gay lust?
CosmosDan

cjd ohio 1 said:
close quarter living does come into the equation, that is just a fact, that is why male and female have seperate facilities

Right, and it’s also a matter of our culture and adjusting to changes. It never occurred to me in high school or college to wonder if any of the guys in the showers were gay although chances are someone was. Rather than living in fear that someone might find out or being looked on as sick or perverted , we need to live with the reality of a small % of our population being gay and treating them as equals.

When I began to have gay friends it just never mattered to me, and if some dude hit on me I just said no thanks. It was really that simple. At some point we need to grow up.
cjd ohio 1

i am asking should there be seperate facilities, for those with different sexual attractions
pakattak

I don’t know why whether a soldier is gay or straight even IS an issue. When all is said and done, if a soldier comes on to another soldier, whether male or female, isn’t that sexual harassment? Not to mention the fraternization policies that the Army has.

And as CosmosDan said, this isn’t a call for all gay soldiers in the military to suddenly bust out the ascots and pink uniforms. This is simply a call for the army to stop discharging good, loyal soldiers from service simply because the fact that they’re gay becomes discovered.
CosmosDan

cjd ohio 1 said:
i am asking should there be seperate facilities, for those with different sexual attractions

I’ve been trying to figure out what you’re getting at but you haven’t answered my questions.

Are you assuming that after a repeal everybody will know who’s gay and who isn’t? I wouldn’t assume that.
I think the % is far too small and the problems far to insignificant to warrant separate facilities.
Nachi

Indeed. The masses continue to follow the Cro Magnon mind set. “We no change nuthin!!”
cjd ohio 1

why not be open about it, why hide it then, i have nothing against it…………if you dont want to be open about why repeal DADT, but please answer my question sir………………i hope i explained myself
cjd ohio 1

or are you thinking that they should be able to hide their attractions if they want,,….. their choice
CosmosDan

cjd ohio 1 said:
why not be open about it, why hide it then, i have nothing against it…………if you dont want to be open about why repeal DADT, but please answer my question sir………………i hope i explained myself

The choices aren’t DADT or everybody knows who’s gay and who isn’t. When you meet people they don’t include gay or straight as part of the introduction do they?
It’s already been explained. You repeal it so that troops who serve honorably and well aren’t forced to lie just to keep their job,but that doesn’t mean it has to come up. You repeal it so you don’t have to discharge highly trained valuable personnel when you find out they are gay.

It’s not a matter of hiding it, more that it doesn’t need to come up at all when troops are doing what they should be doing. Occasionally people will figure it out, or maybe honestly admit it, but it shouldn’t make a difference.

cjd ohio 1 said:
or are you thinking that they should be able to hide their attractions if they want,,….. their choice

As I said before, you deal with specific behavior. I don’t hit on every woman I find attractive for a lot of good reasons. Gays aren’t going to start hitting on other troops just because DADT is repealed because that behavior would be unacceptable to the rules of conduct. So, I think they’d have to have some self control if they want to join and remain in the military.
cjd ohio 1

well, cosmos, men and women are seperate in the military , rooms and facilities, hell when i was in if you had a female in your room you had to leave the door open. Garrison duty and free time do play a role in this to.Its not fear, its questions that are going to come up. I was trying to make the point that some people(soldiers) dont like to dress and undress, shower in front of people that might be sexual attracted to them, hell if it wasn’t a problem everything would be uni-sex in the military. thanks for the dicussion, no insults ,name calling .cool