Monday, October 5, 2009

Don't Ask Don't Tell: Failed Policy

This from the nyt.com yesterday, Oct. 4, 2009, this op-ed was published, advocating tossing out Don't Ask Don't Tell policy because it does not help unit cohesion:

The author of the essay, Col. Om Prakash, effectively demolishes the primary, wrongheaded rationale for the law: that unit cohesion would be harmed if homosexuals served openly. Several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Israel and Britain, have lifted bans on homosexuals serving openly with no adverse effects on military performance or readiness.

Colonel Prakash argues that the law has undermined unit cohesion, in part by compromising the integrity of homosexuals who have to dissemble and by posing a moral quandary for commanders — look the other way or risk discharging a valuable service member. He judged the policy a “costly failure” because of the lost manpower and the administrative costs of recruiting and separating homosexuals. He urged the Obama administration to examine how to repeal the ban.

We agree strongly with Colonel Prakash, and urge the Pentagon to press ahead with changes in its regulations to make implementing the “don’t ask” law more humane. Ultimately, Congress must repeal the 1993 statute. We are not confident that the Senate has enough enlightened members to overcome a filibuster. But if the military can show an open mind, surely lawmakers can summon the courage to end this sad chapter in history.

Click here for more.

BTW: Don't Ask Don't Tell doesn't work among clergypersons, lay leaders, religious leaders, etc., because it simply reinforces people lying and failing to live life as God intended: in the freedom of being who we were created to be as men and women.

Pace!

B

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