DADT does not discipline preconceptions

The one and only argument against the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell that even vaguely approaches validity is a flawed one that was echoed in Monday’s article by Todd Jeffreys.  That argument boils down to the point that there are a lot of people within the military unable to work with homosexuals because of their religious/moral attitudes, and this would affect unit cohesion.  Because of this, the solution offered by DADT is not to discipline those who are unable to work past their bigoted preconceptions with their fellow soldiers, but rather to expel those who become known as GLBT, whether they come out or are outed.  It is currently the case in the military, hopefully, that those with racist or sexist attitudes who are not able to quell those attitudes and cooperate are the ones who are disciplined.  The only reason that GLBT individuals are treated differently in this regard is that it is something that can be hidden with a greater degree of success than race or sex, without regard for the negative psychological consequences of doing so.  The idea that we have to appeal to the whims of the ignorant and intolerant in order to keep military cohesion is deeply misguided.

Paul Brothers

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