This is apparently two weeks old, but I just now discovered it. Keith Olbermann, who has previously championed the cause of gay rights on his show, tackles the subject of President Obama’s commitment to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” requirement that openly gay members of the military be discharged from the armed services. He actually said, “The president is goddamned wrong on this” on the air.
In a nice bonus, columnist Dan Savage weighs in on the topic during the interview. Check it out:
Have either of them been a gay serviceman?
I have mixed feelings on this issue.
While I strongly support gay rights, I am torn between having openly gay members in the military. As a former Marine and combat vet, I feel that in a combat situation the troops could be thinking of their own insecurities instead of what they should be thinking of, their surroundings. That of course means that mistakes will be made, and in turn, lives will be lost. This is a touchy subject with me. Openly gay cook, motor transport, or even armory, I think that in time it could be ok, but a combat unit or perhaps even a combat support unit, I just don’t know. It would have me worried.
I am a vet too, but I was an Army JAG officer. The issue lies in the lower combat arms ranks, but “forced” acceptance might be necessary. Just like a racist recruit who might be forced to rely on a minority in the trenches. When young people come into the service, they are already being challenged in their past beliefs and behaviors. Commanders would have to take an affirmative approach in stopping homophobia in their units. I defended many sex crimes in the Army, and only one was an instance of forced male-on-male contact, and it was ultimately dismissed.
[...] from Keith Olbermann before, first about his opposition to Proposition 8 and later about his opposition to our military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. He’s not merely a straight-ally advocate for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender [...]