Image from: http://gaysnohomish.org/images/LetThemServe_sldn_org.jpg
GOT EX-CONS?
I read an article in the BBC news on the US military recruiting more ex-cons. Now get this, according to a congressional committee, 861 people were granted waivers for their criminal records to enlist, that's more than last year, of 457 in 2007. The waivers include crimes on assault, sex crimes, manslaughter, and burglary, but yet there are no waivers for being gay, lesbian, or bi-sexual. So the U.S. government means to me that a civilian can commit sex crimes, burglary, car thefts, drug offenses, bomb threats, and manslaughter, be given a waiver to join into the US Armed Forces but not an openly lesbian (or any other sexual minority), who has no criminal record at all, not serve? So if you wanted to serve, who would you want to have your back when in combat, someone who has been convicted of rape, child molestation, burglary, or manslaugher, where trust and security is lagging, or a gay man who is competent, loyal, and most importantly, hasn't had any felony convictions against him, not done time or been on COPS? Hmmmmmmmm. Gee, That's a hard question.
Is there something with this picture? In America, we preach we are a people of freedom, that we are champions of freedom, to fight for our freedoms and for others, but how the hell can we fight for other people's freedom when we can't even establish our own people's freedom. One of the most basic rights of America, to serve freely and open within the Armed Forces, is denied to those that are sexual minorities. And yet these sexual minorities are American citizens that pay taxes like everyone else, and money, millions of dollars, is spent to uphold this "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that is costing ALL U.S. citizens their tax dollars. For each officer and enlisted service member discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces for being gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, engaging in any homosexual activities, or just being suspected of any in the above, money is lost to replace them and for all of their training (Arabic interpreters anyone?). DADT policy is way past expired.
From:http://www.sldn.org/templates/press/index.html?section=230&video=16
No comments:
Post a Comment