home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
ShareWare OnLine 2
/
ShareWare OnLine Volume 2 (CMS Software)(1993).iso
/
infor
/
famag2r.zip
/
FA-6
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-03-23
|
7KB
|
131 lines
BAN-GAY
an Editorial about the
Balm to Soothe Homophobic Prejudices
by Wm. E. Collins, USN, Ret.
An "Interim" order to stop asking questions concerning sexual
orientation and discharging personnel from the military due to homosexual
or "gay" orientation was signed and Congressional review will follow, as
will hearings and debate.
What is there to debate? The intent of the order is to eliminate the
discrimination against gays within the military. Why should there be
further discussion, debate or controversy? Discrimination is discrimination.
There are no gray areas. People are being discriminated against due to a
personal and private activity between consenting adults.
To date, I've heard no argument that even suggests that this
discrimination is reasonable to continue. There have been arguments about
indiscriminate sexual provocation of one military member by another of the
same sex. Are we to believe that the human animal is unable to control his
or her sexual behavior? Are we really animals without thought or control of
our libido? If this is such, then release all the rapists, legalize
prostitution, and forgive all the men and women accused of sexual
harassment! Ignore anything that happened in a hotel involving a bunch of
pilots.
If we are so unable to control our actions regarding sexual
activities, then these activities should not be a crime, for then you could
show them to be "naturally" occurring. With this thinking we are not
responsible for our sexual activities, thus, not culpable for our sexual
vices or any "sex crimes" we might commit.
Fortunately for us humans, we are able to control our sexual
activities, albeit, some are better at this than others. The prejudice
against gays in the military stems from the ego, mostly male.
Though many would believe they are lusted after by the opposite sex
they come in contact with, they would be shocked to hear that they
are NOT lusted for, but rather thought of as an asexual entity within
someone's sphere of life. Now they are horrified to think that
another person of the same sex could be "lusting" after them.
Women, since time immemorial, have lived with the comments, looks
and "lusting" of the men around them. Now the shoe's on the other
foot, and it doesn't like the "style."
An argument against the president's Executive Order to rescind
the ban on homosexuals within the military is mainly that there
would be objection, dissention and fear by the "troops" to have gay
personnel around them while they take a shower and similar activities.
Well, I will have to say, that is already the case. Whether they
know it or not. Are they NOW attacked on a frequent basis? Do they
get lewd comments? Are they fondled? Do they receive propositions?
Why do these and other similar arguments keep cropping up? Here are some
other times where these "dissention among the troops" argument was used to
further prejudice and discrimination:
- Allowing Blacks to serve in combat rather than just the more
menial tasks the military such as, cooks, fire stokers,
stewards, cleaning chores and, in some instances, cannon
fodder.
- Desegregation of White and Black personnel within the
military.
- Allowing our Filipino service members to serve in other
rates than those deemed appropriate for their "station."
- Not allowing women onboard ships. (Still argued for women
in combat.)
- Allowing Non-White students to attend the service Academies.
- Allowing Women to attend the service academies.
There are other abuses, though these will serve to illustrate
my point. Whether a prejudice by one group against another should
allow discrimination against that group and be tolerated. My
answer is an emphatic NO! This is especially disgusting within the
United States government. The military is part of the United
States government. As such, it should display, by example, the ideals and
behavior expected by the Constitution of the United States of
America. Discrimination in any form should not be tolerated, nor
ignored. The discrimination against homosexuals within the United
States military is due to be toppled. The current and past members
of the military should wake up and smell the roses. It's time to
come out of the closet and confront reality.
What are they really afraid of? Do they fear seeing a
soldier, sailor, airman, or marine walking arm in arm with another
of the same sex? The showing of affection between service members
while in uniform is already a punishable offense. What more do you
need to reduce the amount of these shows of affection between
service members while in uniform?
Another argument has been put forth concerning the banishment
of discrimination against gays. This is, that the incidence of AIDS
will rise within the military due to this disease. AIDS is * not * a
homosexual disease! It afflicts both homosexual and heterosexual
people without regard to their sexual proclivities. True, it is
thought to have been brought to this country by a homosexual. It
still is rampant within the homosexual community. But a heterosexual
partner is just as likely to be infected as a homosexual partner.
After allowing homosexual personnel to enter the military, there
* may * be an increase in AIDS infection. However, being homosexual does
not mean me and you have or will have the disease. Selection of your
partner and whether you practice safe sex applies equally to the homosexual,
bisexual, and heterosexual communities. It is even possible for one who
abstains from sexual activity to be infected by AIDS. A rise in infections
of AIDS has more to do with personal behavior than actual sexual contact.
What will be next? Will we forbid gays to use the same bathrooms as
the rest of us? Will we require them to step to the back of the bus, lest
they attack or infect other, more "decent," people? Will they be forbidden
to work or hold the same jobs as heterosexual people? Where does it stop?
Where does it end? By allowing it to continue, it is a signal that gays are
less than the remainder of society. Do we just allow personal prejudices to
continue the discrimination against certain groups of people? Do we
continue to allow discrimination because it will avert the complication(s)
of dissention by some of the troops?
It is time to call for action. Whether we are for or against gays in
the military, we have to come to terms with reality. There are gays in our
society. Thus action needs to be taken to bring them within the fold of our
society. If you are against gay activity because of a moral conviction or a
prejudice, consider the effects of prejudice - and imagine * your * group *
being * its * next * target.
=X=X=X=