The Engine Is Warm Now

As it was with racial integration, so it is with recognizing and validating the service of homosexuals in today's military.  It took a while to overcome the military opposition to racial integration.  But once it became policy, once the order was given, the military attacked the issue until it was essentially a non-issue.

I would expect that we will see the same thing now that people may serve openly in our armed forces.

Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos — who strongly opposed the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell last year — told NPR’s Morning Edition yesterday that he is “very proud” of how the Marines have handled the repeal of the policy last month. “I’m very pleased now,” Amos said and explained that his previous statements in support of the ban were expressing the hesitancy for change within the Marine Corps.

A very long time ago, I was the house mouse in my barracks in a training command.  We had a guy who had apparently been hanging out with some gay folks.  He mentioned that he felt more comfortable in their company to a doctor at the hospital.

And that was all she wrote.

This kid was strong.  He was tough.  He was a former Golden Gloves champ in his hometown.  He was also smart enough to get into a pretty elite electronics training program in the service.

Looking back, the most ironic part of that experience was from the Sergeant running the barracks.  He is the guy that taught me the phrase "Dear Mom, Today I are a technician.  Yesterday I couldn't even spell it!"  He was a pretty smart guy, but like a lot of men from the southern states, he could pretend to be something else if the occasion called for it.

His comment to me implied that it was terribly stupid for that young Marine to say such thing.  The problem was not in hanging around with gay folks.  The problem wasn't necessarily in being gay.

The problem was in letting the cat out of the bag.

The bag is gone now.  Mostly.

The order has been given.  Watch how long it takes the military to become one of the better places for homosexuals to make their careers without having to hide their orientation.