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[cj]

Traditionally, conservatives are against allowing gays in the military and liberals are for equal opportunity to serve the country though military service. I heard this argument from a liberal.

The only way you can get out of the military is by being gay.

If you do something criminal, the military has its own prisons they send you to. If you act crazy, then you end up in a military hospital because they can't let someone who's insane out into the general population. You can't ask nicely to get out early; you're just stuck.

But if you're gay (or if you can fake it well enough) you can get out. If they allow gays in the military, then there's no way out before you'd normally be released. And with stop-loss, who knows how long some members will be kept.


Is that a reasonable argument to continue excluding gays from the military assuming no new ways to escape after enlisting are introduced?

[Matrix ∞]

Well, considering that the draft hasn't been put in place in America since Vietnam (and probably won't unless a major world-wide conflict erupts), then if you join the military it's because you made a choice and a commitment and shouldn't have an easy way out if you change your mind. Of course, it sucks if you reach the end of your four years, want out, and have your time extended because of stop-loss. But as long as you're aware that can happen and agree to it when signing your contract, you can't just say "okay, guys, this was fun but I want out now" and leave.

Plus, the benefits that someone who's gay lose to the don't ask don't tell policy when they join the military still carry the weight of the argument, in my opinion. Especially since I don't imagine too many people use being gay (or pretending to be gay) as an excuse to leave the military in the first place.

[Maki, Commander Blade]

Consider this. Back in the day, people would go as far as to shoot themselves in the foot.

Now, they kiss a man, and they're golden. LOL.

[Garth]

I'm not sure if this sets it in stone or not, but it would appear that some major advancements have been made regarding this topic.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/27/congress.military.gays.policy/index.html?hpt=T2

Although, it looks like some Democrats are not so sure about it, either.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/30/webb.dadt.sotu/index.html

I really don't get what all of the hullabaloo is for, to be honest. With the exception of homosexuals being able to be more open about their sexualities, I don't see a big, substantial change at all. It's fair to say that those in the military were fairly open, I would think, about their sexualities and whatnot with those close to them before a repeal of DADT was every seriously considered, and it managed to not be an enormous issue.

Of course, pulling the 'gay' card was my easy-out if the draft was ever reinstated. Now what?

[noobslayer5889]

EDIT: I shouldn't have even posted in this thread. Sorry. My post has been edited.