Is this the death knell for our military or just another page in history? by Don Goins
(libertarian)
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
There has been quite a bit of banter flying around about the repeal of the Defense Deptartment's policy on homosexuals serving in our armed forces. Numerous polls supporting both sides of the argument have been put forth. Polls seem to be like opinions and a certain part of your body; everybody's got one. That said, I'd like to offer my take on the repeal of DADT.
First, the United States is not the first nation to deal with this issue. The list includes 38 nations, but let's focus on the countries that are most like the U.S.
Canada lifted their ban in 1992. Prior to the repeal, a poll showed that 62% of male soldiers said that they would refuse to share showers, undress or sleep in the same room as a gay soldier. But a 2000 report by the Palm Center showed that the effects of allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military was pretty much a non-event. The report concludes that Canadian Military effectiveness was not compromised and outof the 905 reported assault cases from 1992 to 1995 none were found to involve gay bashing.(1)
The United Kingdom repealed their ban in 2000. Openly gay soldiers have been serving in combat units in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Like Canada, the U.K. has reported very little effect from allowing homosexuals to serve in the military. Col. Mark Abraham, the person in charge of Diversity for the British Army stated in an interview with People Management Magazine that "Allowing openly gay soldiers had no negative effects." (2) Another report from the British Ministry of Defense also reached the same conclusion stating the new policy had a "marked lack of reaction" and claimed allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military was "hailed as a solid achievement." (3)
Next, I've seen claims that the military will be overrun with homosexuals. Not one of these claims offer any supporting data, so let's do the math.
The population of the United States is about 300 million. 1.5 million Americans serve in the Armed Forces. That's about half a percent. The total number of homosexuals in the country is about 1%or 3 million. If half a percent ofall homosexuals join the military that equals 15,000.(4)
Once assigned to bases and ships throughout the world the population of homosexuals per unit would be 1 or 2. That just doesn't seem to add up to a takeover of the military.
Finally, there's the Christian opposition. As a Christian, I understand this objection, but bringing religion into this debate violates the Constitution. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
Let's, for the moment, say that Christian values were allowed to guide military doctrine. Should the U.S. have a "don't ask, don't tell policy for Jews? Hindus? Shiites?Obviously they do not follow the teachings of Christ. With all of the fervor raging against Muslims, why are they allowed to serve openly? It's because we are a republic ruled by laws, not a theocracy.
In years past, many opposed blacks from serving alongside whites. Women could not be in a combat role. Those two issues have passed without damaging our military readiness. This is just another page in our nation's evolution.
(3) Ministry of Defense. 2000e. "A Review of the Armed Forces Policy on Homosexuality".October 31, 2000.
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