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janewishon
janewishon
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Mar 31 2009, 8:29 PM EDT | Post edited: Mar 31 2009, 8:29 PM EDT
From Service Members Legal Defense Network:

Dear Jane,

"Let's push that one down the road a little bit."

That's what Defense Secretary Robert Gates said this past Sunday when a Fox News anchor asked him about the timetable for repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

With all due respect, Mr. Secretary, let's not. Our military, and our service members, can't afford to.

Write a letter to President Obama telling him why we can't wait:

http://www.sldn.org/dontwait

Here's my own take on why we can't wait.

We're fighting two wars, and we need the most qualified people possible to wage them.

In fact, President Obama recently announced plans to send an additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, more than 800 hundred mission-critical service members -- including linguists and intelligence analysts -- have been fired under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Almost 13,000 service members have been fired since the law took effect in 1994.

The longer the president and Pentagon delay the issue, the longer the military will keep firing service members because of their sexual orientation. And because intelligence experts and people who speak Arabic, Urdu, Pashto and Dari aren't exactly easy to come by, we'll have fewer people to call on in the fight against terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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janewishon
janewishon
1. RE: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Mar 31 2009, 8:29 PM EDT | Post edited: Mar 31 2009, 8:32 PM EDT
What's your take on why we can't wait? Write to President Obama here:

http://www.sldn.org/dontwait

Sec. Gates said the administration has a lot on its plate right now. No one's denying that. But repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is doable this year.

It just requires leadership. Please join me in telling the president why we can't wait for that leadership.

Thanks for your support.

Aubrey Sarvis
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

Talking Points:
President Obama has announced his intention to send 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

At the same time, 800 mission-critical service members, including linguists, have been fired for being gay.

Almost 13,000 service members have been discharged for their sexual orientation since the the law was first passed in 1994.

Intelligence experts and people who speak Arabic, Urdu, Pashto and Dari aren’t easy to replace.

DADT gives us fewer people to call on in the fight against terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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Goombah
2. RE: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Mar 31 2009, 10:51 PM EDT | Post edited: Mar 31 2009, 10:51 PM EDT
My take is NOT to wait any longer . The longer this is delayed the more time it gives the other side to built support. But I will continue to trust that Obama will keep his word and repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
It may take longer than we wanted but I do expect it to happen within the next two years.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/02/01/obama_seeks_assessment_on_gays_in_military/

In an overlooked YouTube video posted on Friday, a spokesman for Barack Obama said the president-elect is committed to ending the policy that bars openly gay men and women from serving in the U.S. armed forces.

Barack Obama is committed to overturning "don't ask, don't tell," his spokesman, Robert Gibbs, says.

In a response to a question on the Web site Change.gov asking whether Obama would get rid of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said: "You don't hear politicians give a one-word answer much. But it's 'Yes.'"

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/14/obama.gays.military/ 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
pngwnz
pngwnz
3. RE: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Apr 6 2009, 4:55 AM EDT | Post edited: Apr 6 2009, 4:55 AM EDT
There are a lot of things that happen instantly these days, and some things that take a little more time (and that can be okay, too). Yes, I would like "don't ask, don't tell" to have been repealed already - but I do trust that it will happen.

Right on - Goombah! I agree with you - I trust Barack Obama and I still believe that he will take care of this.

We need to give him some more time on this - to make sure that the repeal is done in a way that will stick and still protect lgbt rights to serve in the military without fear and WITH dignity.

So far I think he's doing a great job - with all that he's been able to accomplish so far. Time will tell, and I think that time will tell some really good things - if we just give it a chance. : ) 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
usetheforce
usetheforce
4. RE: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Apr 7 2009, 9:46 PM EDT | Post edited: Apr 7 2009, 9:46 PM EDT

I really hope this does get taken away. It affects people I know and care about. I don't want them to be hurt by this silly "law."
I just fail to see why this is even an issue. What does being gay have anything to do with fighting? I can't wait until this nonsense
is over and Don't Ask Don't Tell will no longer be needed.
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