Don't Ask Don't Tell

Congress could be receptive to President Barack Obama's pledge to end a 16-year-old policy banning gay people from serving openly in the military, a top Democratic lawmaker said. The Pentagon also signaled openness to a change.

Speaking at a human-rights dinner in Washington Saturday, Mr. Obama pledged to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which allows homosexuals to serve in the military as long as they don't disclose their sexual orientation or act on it. The president, who made a similar pledge during the campaign, didn't provide a timetable for reversing the policy.

Source

I honestly do not understand why removing "Don't Ask Don't Tell" from the law books is such a big deal. I fail to see how someone's sexual orientation has anything to do with their ability to serve. This policy is even more disturbing when you consider the fact that Blacks and Latinos are kicked out of the military the most because of "Don't Ask Don't Tell". The life of a double minority in America is already tough. The last thing people who fall into that category need is occupational discrimination.

"Don't Ask Don't Tell" is an antiquated policy that should have been discontinued a long time ago. I understand why President Obama didn't immediately make "Don't Ask Don't Tell" a thing of the past. Paradigm shifts require a lot of political capital and months/years of "negotiations". I trust that Barack will do the right thing. Homosexuals, like everyone else, should have the right to openly be themselves without societal ridicule and discrimination.

I want to thank you for letting me be myself again