Monday, October 10, 2005

Young conservatives support end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" gay military ban

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According to an article on 365gay.com, an overwhelming majority of young conservatives say that ending the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gays in the military would have no effect on their decision to enlist, just as a bill (with 90 bi-partisan sponsors) to end the policy sits in Congress. According to the article:
Pressure is mounting for the repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell', the law which bans gays from serving openly in the military. A poll conducted by the University of California at Santa Barbara and released Monday shows that only 21 percent of young conservative males who were potential recruits said they would be “less likely” to join the armed forces if the ban were repealed. Two percent of respondents said they were “more likely” to join while the vast majority - 77% - said allowing gays to serve openly would have no impact on their decision to enlist. The poll would seem to disprove the Pentagon's contention that if the law were repealed moral and military cohesion would suffer. "It is the exclusion of qualified talent, and not the presence of lesbian and gay patriots, that poses the greater threat to our national security,” said Sharra E. Greer, director of law and policy for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund. The Pentagon is scrambling to find recruits after acknowledging it will not meet its recruiting goal this year for the first time since 1999. Nevertheless, a study released in July shows that if 'don't ask, don't tell' were repealed the military would gain some 41,000 new recruits.
To read the full article CLICK HERE ====== The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is one that needs to go. Plenty of militaries around the world allow gay citizens to serve openly and honestly. British recruiters even marched in Manchester's gay pride parade. The military is hiding behind this "troop morale" thing, but everyone knows the real problem lies in prejudice, discrimination, hate and religiously-based bigotry. Once again (how many times have I said this before)... It is time for America to reach for the ideal sit set for itself in 1776... that all men and woman are created equal and deserve to be treated with equity, liberty and justice. Also, as just food for thought, is a gay or lesbian American really a full citizen if he or she cannot aid in the protection and defense of their own country? Post edited 4:54: correction in 1st paragraph langauge

8 Comments:

an overwhelming majority of conservatives are in support of ending the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy

No, an overwhelming majority sait that it would have no impact on their decision to enlist, which is completely different. Beyond that, only 53% were Republicans, which is a far cry from being an "overwhelming majority".
Ok.. maybe you are right about the "in support" thing, but I did say conservatives, and so does the article, you can be conservative and a Democrat (the survey's target, to my understanding, was young conservative males)
posted by Blogger MHC at 10/10/2005 04:53:00 PM  
And on a second read of the article, Democrats weren't even surveyed.
posted by Blogger MHC at 10/10/2005 04:57:00 PM  
53.1% + 29.8% only equals 82.9%... did the rest just not respond to a party, or are we missing one?
Even still, I think parties matter less here than how people identify. No matter one's party, a person can identify as being conservative... look at Sen. Byrd for an example.
posted by Blogger MHC at 10/10/2005 08:17:00 PM  
I found an article about this on NavyTimes.com, http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1164761.php

17% of those surveyed were Democrat
posted by Blogger MHC at 10/10/2005 08:31:00 PM  
You cite a poll conducted by the University of California as evidence for your position. Most Americans think of California as way out in left field. Hardly mainstream. In addition, polling university students—anywhere hardly reflects the nation’s opinion. No offense, but most university student have not yet encountered the real world. You’ve been living in your protected academic bubble; mostly dependent on the generosity of Mom and Dad to support you, and have not yet faced the real responsibilities of earning a living and taking care of a family. I appreciate your believing you know everything—most of us did at that age—but of course the rest of us cannot dismiss your lack of experience. I mention this not to be mean spirited—but because sadly, you demonstrated the very point by citing a poll of Californian university students. Honey, the real world doesn’t think that way!
posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 10/14/2005 10:28:00 AM  
First of all, I didn't cite a study, the article did. Second of all, just because the University of California did the study does not mean that the study was just of UC students... if it were it would not have been a very good story.

Lastly, I live in no such thing as a "protected academic bubble" and have experienced more of the "real world" than you probably think. First of all, i haven't any contact with my father, whatsoever, since 2000. Also, my mother's annual income is only about $3000 and many times I have to end up helping to pay bills and other financial arrangements from the job (yes I work, a lot) I must have in order just to eat and have gas to go to school and to work. On top of that, the only reason I am attending a university is because of loans (no grants, no scholarships, only loans). I think you should be more careful about the words you throw out about other people who you do not know.

Tell me I have no experience, a boy who had to work since age 13 because of the financial situation created after his mother separated from is abusive father; a boy who helped to raise his three little brothers and baby sister; a boy who exists almost completely (financially and emotionally) on his own.

You, my friend, are inexperienced with life and know nothing of and care not about the experiences (plus you never asked about my "real world" experiences) of other people.
posted by Blogger MHC at 10/14/2005 02:13:00 PM