DON'T ASK; DON'T TELL

Ex-Secretary of the Army, Alexander, spoke tonight on the Rachel Maddow show. He was very frank about how undemocratic the policy of 'Don't ask; Don't Tell' and destructive to the Armed Forces as well as the entire country. On CNN,
updated 10:57 p.m. EST, Mon November 17, 2008 104 retired military brass against 'don't ask-don't tell. "The center points out that Larson, a four-star admiral who supported the measure in 1993, has changed his view on the policy. "There were a lot of witch hunts and a lot of people were turned out on that basis," he is quoted as saying in a Palm Center release."

A few years into the war in Iraq, media reported that the translators of Iraq language program was in jeopardy because many of them were gay and had to leave the service. Today, many believe the policy is hurting the country because of losing so many talented and trained people.

Now the military is finding it difficult to recruit. Standards have been lowered dreadfully to make up for the 13,000 that have been discharged for their sexual preference since 1993 as well as that there is no end in sight. The impetus to give one's life to keep our country safe is really not what is seen by most as a goal in Iraq. As it was during the Viet Nam war, many face will prison time for there illegal behaviors if they don't sign up for military duty. Does no one consider the value systems or judgment of those making that choice?

Unfortunately, discrimination based on ignorance should not be determining life and death issues for so many people.