Gays in the military... and in the US

I think really the only time that homosexuals bother me is when drag queens expose themselves to me on Halloween. This is, in fact, totally reasonable, and kind of makes me envious. Personally I get in trouble when I expose myself, Halloween or no.

That was my disclaimer, obviously not legally binding in anyway. This morning I was reading an opinion piece from an openly gay airman about his view of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8495793.stm

There are really only a few arguments being made against gay rights and for this policy. Against gay rights: it's against God, it's gross, it's unnatural, it ruins the sanctity of marriage. Against gays in the military: see previous,it erodes morale, and the system works.

A few bullet points:
- Homosexuality is against God's law: To be frank, I don't care, this has never bothered me. And continuing this frankness, neither do the people who say this. The only people who can honestly make this argument are Orthodox and Hasidic Jews, or Orthodox Christians. So many of the old testament rules, laws and practices have been entirely eroded away or ignored by the amalgam of Christianity that it is impossible to take them seriously, or at least, by a reasonably informed person. God's law also says don't kill, don't steal, etc. These get ignored all the time and they are the big Ten. "Man shall not lie with man as he does with woman" falls into the same parts of the old testament as: you can't shave, cover your head, get circumsized, don't eat pork or other rules and laws that "good Christians" ignore 24/7. And finally, no law in a secular society where "freedom of religion" is held sacred should be based off the morals or dictates of one particular faith.

-It's gross: Why? how? There was a comedian I heard a few years ago; I have no idea who anymore, who said (I paraphrase) "My father asked, 'what do you guys do?' and I said 'all the things you've been trying to get mom to do since you got married'". I love it. But this is opinion, and for all the forcefulness of it, that is not a good reason for law, discrimination, or really anything. (I am guilty of this, obviously, as I have a blog that does nothing but rant.)

-It's unnatural: So what? So is Viagra, steel belted tires, automobiles, glasses, TVs, airplanes, and anything else mankind has ever thought up. Also, it's obviously not, because other species practice same sex relationships and coupling. If it were unnatural, it would require some kind of mechanism to be produced to even be possible, not just two or more consenting people.

-It ruins the sanctity of marriage: I think it reinforces it. These are people who are willing to commit themselves to a binding contract out of love, attraction, and commitment. There is no pregnancy obligation, no "because it is expected of me" obligation. And if they want to adopt children, then let them. At least those kids will know that someone wanted them, to love them and raise them. There are plenty of accidental births and kids whose parents never wanted them but got married or gave birth regardless. Those are unhappy families and unhappy children all over the world, obviously the sanctity of marriage is just a sound bite anyways. From the same people who talk about the bible, which I might remind you says polygamy, underage brides, marrying sisters and having concubines are acceptable forms of marriage. Even if someone is arguing that "society defines marriage as a man and a woman," then it can be pointed out that "society" once defined a black man as three fifths of a white man, or that "society" once defined Jews as "untermensch," or that "society" called opium a wonder drug. Society is wrong all the time, and has been since the word was conceived.

-It erodes morale: This is a direct response to the military policy, but directly correlates with the previous point. Mixing the races in units used "erode morale." The truth is, it erodes the morale of the ignorant and the intolerant, and both of those are affected with familiarity and information. Not solved, mind you, just affected.

-The system works: Obviously not. Even if I were to support this policy, it would need serious overhaul so that people cannot be "outed" by a third party member, or be discharged due to activities out of uniform, off base, or in private life. Homosexuality is not a mental disease or a crime anymore, stop treating it like one.

I honestly think I have covered my bases here. Leave me a message if you have a question.