As more and more stories are published demonstrating that a majority of Americans support the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and that the experience of other countries reveals no disruption by the repeal of bans against gays in the military, it's hard not to wonder what the Hell is wrong with the U.S. Congress which seems to have - pardon my French - its head up its ass on the issue. A new CNN poll shows majority support for the repeal of DADT. Meanwhile, a new report released by the Palm Center shows that U.S allies did not experience any of the horrors predicted by lunatics like Elaine Donnelly. One can only ask: why is Congress so afraid of repealing DADT? First some highlights from the Washington Post on the newly released Palm Center report:*
As the U.S. military begins a major review of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy banning gay people from openly serving in the military, leaders may want to consult an updated study set for release today that reviews how 25 nations lifted similar bans with relative success.
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The Palm Center at the University of California Santa Barbara conducted the extensive review of foreign militaries, including Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Israel -- widely considered major fighting forces by military experts. In each case, the countries successfully lifted any ban in a relative short period of time after vigorous debate and concern for mass resignations by other service members.
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No consulted expert anywhere in the world concluded that lifting the ban on openly gay service caused an overall decline in the military," the study concluded. Researchers also found that the 25 nations implemented repeals of a gay ban within four months.
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"Swift, decisive implementation signals the support of top leadership and confidence that the process will go smoothly, while a 'phased-in' implementation can create anxiety, confusion, and obstructionism," the study said. That conclusion runs counter to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' stated preference for up to a year to implement a repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." And lest you think, "Who cares what other militaries do?", the study said the Pentagon has a long history of studying the experiences of other armed forces.
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Some other interesting conclusions:
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• The study also found that none of the 25 countries established separate living facilities for gay troops or established rules that treat them differently than heterosexuals.
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• Lifting gay bans did not result in a mass “coming out.” Gay and lesbian troops serve at all levels of the armed forces of Britain, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Israel in combat and non-combat roles as enlisted members and commanders.
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• There were no instances of increased harassment of or by gay people as a result of lifting bans in any of the countries studied.
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Read the full study here.
As the U.S. military begins a major review of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy banning gay people from openly serving in the military, leaders may want to consult an updated study set for release today that reviews how 25 nations lifted similar bans with relative success.
*
The Palm Center at the University of California Santa Barbara conducted the extensive review of foreign militaries, including Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Israel -- widely considered major fighting forces by military experts. In each case, the countries successfully lifted any ban in a relative short period of time after vigorous debate and concern for mass resignations by other service members.
*
No consulted expert anywhere in the world concluded that lifting the ban on openly gay service caused an overall decline in the military," the study concluded. Researchers also found that the 25 nations implemented repeals of a gay ban within four months.
*
"Swift, decisive implementation signals the support of top leadership and confidence that the process will go smoothly, while a 'phased-in' implementation can create anxiety, confusion, and obstructionism," the study said. That conclusion runs counter to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' stated preference for up to a year to implement a repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." And lest you think, "Who cares what other militaries do?", the study said the Pentagon has a long history of studying the experiences of other armed forces.
*
Some other interesting conclusions:
*
• The study also found that none of the 25 countries established separate living facilities for gay troops or established rules that treat them differently than heterosexuals.
*
• Lifting gay bans did not result in a mass “coming out.” Gay and lesbian troops serve at all levels of the armed forces of Britain, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Israel in combat and non-combat roles as enlisted members and commanders.
*
• There were no instances of increased harassment of or by gay people as a result of lifting bans in any of the countries studied.
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Read the full study here.
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In addition to the report that makes mince meat of the Christianist visions of disaster, a new CNN poll indicates that the Christianists are losing the battle in their effort to depict gays as abnormal and deserving of un equal treatment as citizens. One can only hope that the trend continues and that more and more voters will see anti-gay discrimination for what it is: religious based discrimination that mocks the promises of the U. S. Constitution. Here are highlights from The Atlantic:
In addition to the report that makes mince meat of the Christianist visions of disaster, a new CNN poll indicates that the Christianists are losing the battle in their effort to depict gays as abnormal and deserving of un equal treatment as citizens. One can only hope that the trend continues and that more and more voters will see anti-gay discrimination for what it is: religious based discrimination that mocks the promises of the U. S. Constitution. Here are highlights from The Atlantic:
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CNN has a poll out this morning that shows more resounding support for letting gays and lesbians serve openly in the military, which, in itself, is nothing new: CNN's poll results--69% support for "permitting people who are openly gay or lesbian to serve in the military," vs. 27% opposed--fall within the range of other major pollsters (CBS/NY Times showed 59% support/29 opposition; ABC/Washington Post showed 83% support/15% opposition).
But what CNN's results do illustrate, in a nice side-by-side comparison, is that letting gays serve openly in the military is popular with some people who think homosexuality itself is wrong.
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The above phenomenon in CNN's results probably furthers that point--personal opposition to "homosexual relationships" doesn't mean opposition to letting "people who are openly gay or lesbian" serve--but it's hard to see CNN's results not expressing a willingness, on the part of some, to put aside personal moral feelings in their support of a Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal.
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I can only conclude that Obama and the Congressional Democrats needs to grow some spine - not to mention some balls.
CNN has a poll out this morning that shows more resounding support for letting gays and lesbians serve openly in the military, which, in itself, is nothing new: CNN's poll results--69% support for "permitting people who are openly gay or lesbian to serve in the military," vs. 27% opposed--fall within the range of other major pollsters (CBS/NY Times showed 59% support/29 opposition; ABC/Washington Post showed 83% support/15% opposition).
But what CNN's results do illustrate, in a nice side-by-side comparison, is that letting gays serve openly in the military is popular with some people who think homosexuality itself is wrong.
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The above phenomenon in CNN's results probably furthers that point--personal opposition to "homosexual relationships" doesn't mean opposition to letting "people who are openly gay or lesbian" serve--but it's hard to see CNN's results not expressing a willingness, on the part of some, to put aside personal moral feelings in their support of a Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal.
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I can only conclude that Obama and the Congressional Democrats needs to grow some spine - not to mention some balls.
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