Going off topic with the religious discussion from page 11 and onwards will net you a 2 day ban at least. Stay on topic pretty please, with minerals on top.
The United States' ban on homosexuals in the military is finally officially repealed as of tomorrow, September 20th. In a statement made 59 days ago, President Obama stated that the American military is ready for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The military service branches were given 60 days to prepare for the enactment of the repeal. The bill had been signed into law 17 years ago by a then-newly elected President Clinton.
The repeal has been in the works for quite some time, giving the military branches time to prepare and provide education to service members.
One important thing to be noted is that federal benefits to same-sex couples are still restricted by the so-called "defense of marriage act." Those benefits include base housing, health insurance, certain death benefits, legal counseling and access to base commissaries and other stores. This is but a step in the right direction for equality in the military services.
By officially repealing this policy, the United States joins approximately 42 other countries with non-discriminatory policies on gays in the military. List of countries which allow gays to serve openly: + Show Spoiler +
Albania Argentina Australia Austria Bahamas Belgium Bermuda Canada Republic of China Colombia Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Republic of Ireland Israel Italy Japan Lithuania Luxembourg Malta The Netherlands New Zealand Norway Peru Philippines Poland Romania Russia Serbia Slovenia South Africa Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand United Kingdom Uruguay
While this repeal does not affect me personally as I have no desire of joining the military, I sincerely hope that those currently in the service and those considering joining may do so without fear of discrimination based upon who they are.
This is presumably a scan of the official notice declaring the repeal, to be released tomorrow. + Show Spoiler +
Please keep all discussion on topic, and not about whether or not the USA should be fighting the wars it is, etc. Start your own thread on that should you choose.
EDIT: Apparently HBO is airing a documentary entitled "The Strange History of Don't Ask, Don't Tell" tonight at midnight and Tuesday night at 8 pm. Here's the trailer for it: HBO link
It says a lot about American culture that a policy was controversial in 1993 because it was too accepting of gay people and is now being repealed because it's considered too restrictive toward them.
On September 20 2011 07:43 Duban wrote: It says a lot about American culture that a policy that was so controversial because it was too accepting of gay people is being repealed because it's now considered too restrictive toward them.
Quite the improvement it seems, if nothing else. ;D
On September 20 2011 07:43 Duban wrote: It says a lot about American culture that a policy that was so controversial because it was too accepting of gay people is being repealed because it's now considered too restrictive toward them.
Could reiterate what it says about American culture plz?
On September 20 2011 07:43 Duban wrote: It says a lot about American culture that a policy that was so controversial because it was too accepting of gay people is being repealed because it's now considered too restrictive toward them.
Could reiterate what it says about American culture plz?
It says that collectively americans are becoming more tolerant on social issues.
On September 20 2011 07:43 Duban wrote: It says a lot about American culture that a policy that was so controversial because it was too accepting of gay people is being repealed because it's now considered too restrictive toward them.
Could reiterate what it says about American culture plz?
It says that collectively americans are becoming more tolerant on social issues.
Oh that makes more sense. Then again, you have to understand that American culture is more assimilation than say Canadian culture is tries to accept diversity (especially when there are two major provinces of differing laws and language).
On September 20 2011 07:43 Duban wrote: It says a lot about American culture that a policy that was so controversial because it was too accepting of gay people is being repealed because it's now considered too restrictive toward them.
Could reiterate what it says about American culture plz?
In 1993, the policy was enacted. According to the cultural norms of a mear 18 years ago it was a big deal that homosexual people could legally join the US Military so long as they stayed closeted. Now, just a shot time later, the same law is being repealed because according to our cultural norms the fact that they have to remain closeted is too restrictive. It says a lot about the shift in American's acceptance of homosexuality.
Honestly, it's nice that openly gay people can serve in the military but I think it's an even bigger cultural victory than it is a legal one.
On September 20 2011 07:43 Duban wrote: It says a lot about American culture that a policy that was so controversial because it was too accepting of gay people is being repealed because it's now considered too restrictive toward them.
Could reiterate what it says about American culture plz?
In 1993, the policy was enacted. According to the cultural norms of a mear 18 years ago it was a big deal that homosexual people could legally join the US Military so long as they stayed closeted. Now, just a shot time later, the same law is being repealed because according to our cultural norms the fact that they have to remain closeted is too restrictive. It says a lot about the shift in American's acceptance of homosexuality.
Honestly, it's nice that openly gay people can serve in the military but I think it's an even bigger cultural victory than it is a legal one.
I definitely agree. Cultural victories, at this point, are probably at least if not MORE important than legal ones.
The guy in the room across from me in the barracks was gay, and literally everyone who knew him knew he was gay, and it didn't really cause any problems so long as he didn't explicitly state it. It certainly didn't affect anything like "unit cohesion" or any of that BS, so I suspect repealing DADT will have practically no affect on the armed services.
Personally, I would not care whether or not there were gay soldiers, but if this leads towards legalization of same-sex marriages, I am completely opposed to that notion.
On September 20 2011 08:03 amazingxkcd wrote: Personally, I would not care whether or not there were gay soldiers, but if this leads towards legalization of same-sex marriages, I am completely opposed to that notion.
This topic gave me hope for American culture and society.
On September 20 2011 08:03 amazingxkcd wrote: Personally, I would not care whether or not there were gay soldiers, but if this leads towards legalization of same-sex marriages, I am completely opposed to that notion.
this is why the general forum cant have nice things.
On September 20 2011 08:03 amazingxkcd wrote: Personally, I would not care whether or not there were gay soldiers, but if this leads towards legalization of same-sex marriages, I am completely opposed to that notion.
It obviously leads to that because it gives homosexuals equal rights and opportunities since regardless of the sexual orientation, they are still Americans and people.
On September 20 2011 08:03 amazingxkcd wrote: Personally, I would not care whether or not there were gay soldiers, but if this leads towards legalization of same-sex marriages, I am completely opposed to that notion.
What has marriage to do with anything?
I'm glad that this finally got repealed. No idea how such large scale discrimination could have taken place in 2011 anyway...
I don't understand why people who are opposed to it religiously can't separate marriage into two things.
There is "Marriage (Legal): a union between two people" and "Marriage (Religious): a union between a man and a woman".
Done. Legally, people should have the same rights. However, YOU don't have to acknowledge those marriages as religious ones.
If I am a man and get married to a woman and swear my oaths to Satan, is that really better? That's a marriage under LAW, and somebody swearing their oaths under God if they're the same sex isn't?
On September 20 2011 08:03 amazingxkcd wrote: Personally, I would not care whether or not there were gay soldiers, but if this leads towards legalization of same-sex marriages, I am completely opposed to that notion.
What has marriage to do with anything?
I'm glad that this finally got repealed. No idea how such large scale discrimination could have taken place in 2011 anyway...
That's the reason religious people are opposed to gay rights. They think it is a slippery slope that leads to same-sex marriage.
Oddly enough, they're right too... but it isn't a bad thing like they think it is.
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/az282.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0kcyy.jpg)
