From my experience: Just because I have met filthy, screaming lunatics yelling at Bush or Vietnam or whatever and they’ve turned out to be terribly angry, hateful people doesn’t mean I think most anti-war people are that way. Being in academia, I deal with somewhat normal liberal zealots each day, and some of them shower quite regularly.

Anyway, I give soldiers even more of a wiggle space because they’ve chosen to do something so great for this nation. Warts and all, the armed forces are literally the only thing keeping this country sovereign.

I buy that there are bigots in the military, but I’d caution all of us to remember that by and large, the military makes up the same groups as our citizenry, and most of them wouldn’t kick a veteran out of the military because he’s gay.

I’m no veteran. I would never be able to serve my country via the military. I concentrate my efforts at helping the US here in my home town in non-violent and productive ways. Not just the awesome job I was lucky enough to get, but also in being involved in local politics and things like ACS walks, etc. I am proud of many of the soldiers and military men I’ve met who have served my country, but every once in a while I run across one like the man above. I feel the same as the person you quoted, Red, though I don’t always express it as harshly (unless I’m talking to you, of course, because you really piss me off sometimes). I have walked away from conversations with zealously christian, anti-gay, pro-white soldiers and have been satisfied enough at just shaking my head and thinking to myself, “Wow, they don’t even know the country they are serving.” They don’t. If they did, maybe they wouldn’t serve, because they would then have to know that they are defending everyone’s right to be Christian or not be Christian; to be gay or to be straight; to be equal amongst others or to walk with their noses up. Because that is America, the very opposite of what they think they are fighting for. Welcome to the melting pot, folks, come what may.

I think many people miss the boat on who is really to blame for these rulings, and the reality of some parts of this situation.

Its unfortunate, but its the other male soldiers that keep this policy alive. Frankly, showering and all that with other men isn’t a big deal until one of them might be checking you out. At that point, men find out why men’s and women’s restrooms are separated. Its just a comfort thing, right or wrong.

The man is a veteran, and its a horrid shame that he’s being discharged for being gay, but the board isn’t really to blame, and neither is any one man anywhere. Its a whole mentality in the military, and those minds need to be changed before the policy changes.

As for Obama making this okay, forcing gays into the military is probably not a great idea. That said, the gay friendly community has pinned a ton of hopes on this guy, and it’ll be interesting to see if he steps up to the plate. I hope he doesn’t, because making our male soldiers deal with things they don’t want to isn’t the way to run an army, in my opinion. I think the President should respect the wishes and needs of the military on matters like this.

One more thing:

“Are you serious? Thank god your time has past as you race to your death bed. The world will be much better off once the ignorant bigots like you are gone. I should probably respect you for serving in the military; but I just cannot respect people that think like this. Did you miss the whole point of the Civil Rights Movement or you just don’t care? So pathetic. How old are you 60-70? Pathetic. Do you have your KKK card still you could show us?”

This is classic. This is unfiltered hate towards another American, a veteran no less, because he believes differently than you. Pretty sure in your fight for equality you forgot that you need to consider other points of view, or at least be marginally civil. Of course, while you spew ichor, you are accusing the other man of being the dispenser of hatred. Thanks for playing, fool.

It is for this reason that I support President Obama when he finally stands up to his promise and strikes down Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; such bigotry has no place anywhere, military or not, and giving those who would be bigots a lawful vehicle upon which to place their hatred is against the central tenets of this country.

I too served with all types of people since 1957 to about 2000 as a military member and as a DoD Civil Servant before I retired. Most of the people I knew did not try to stir the pot with their personal agendas, we got along fine, and we conducted our mission together. We actually can all get along if we show respect to each other. Choi was very disrespectful.