The Sniper

WASHINGTON – It’s time to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and allow gay troops to serve openly for the first time in history, the nation’s top defense officials declared Tuesday, with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff proclaiming that service members should not be forced to “lie about who they are.”

However, both Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen asked for a year to study the impact before Congress would lift the controversial policy.

Personally, I think it’s a good idea. I know I’ll get the torches and pitchforks for taking that stance, but so be it. I understand that it won’t be an easy transition and I know that there are some out there that want to to use this as a political agenda to force national gay marriage rights, etc., etc. but the bottom line is that they’re already there, they’re already serving, and if it weren’t for the policy there probably wouldn’t be too many problems with it. Will there be disciplinary problems? You bet… but the same argument was made when blacks (let’s face it, nobody called the “African-American” at the time) and women were integrated into the armed forces. So if you have a valid concern that can doesn’t pretty much mimick the arguments used when those two demographics were brought into the fold, feel free to vent. If it’s the same argument rehashed I’m not interested.

I really don’t care if the guy giving me an IV while I’m bleeding out from a compound fracture and several bullet wounds is gay, straight, or humps kangaroos… just as long as he can do his job and save my ass (pun?). As Uncle Jimbo from Blackfive and In The Crosshairs said, “If I am lying by the road bleeding, I don’t care if the medic coming to save me is gay. I just hope he is one of those buff gay guys who are always in the gym so he can throw me over his shoulder and get me out of there.” And you don’t get much more butch than Jimbo.

And look at the advantages of having TehGheys in the military:

The Army might finally get some uniforms that look good.

The Marines might finally get rid of those ridiculous onionskin PT short shorts for fear of fraternization.

The Air Force might look more macho.

The Navy… well, pretty much status quo there.

I understand that there will be issues regarding “over the top” behavior, but I’ve seen that in straight troops before and they were dealt with accordingly. These violations may range from individual uniform violations…to more serious group infractions that would shake the very foundations of our time held traditions…but they will be few and far between and they will be dealt with like similar issues were dealt with when integrating African-Americans and women caused problems. The US Military will survive a repeal of DADT. In fact, they’ll come through it faaaabulously.

P.S. To any Marines out there, please don’t burn down my house and lynch me because of the pics. I was just illustrating a point.