It was just a vote to proceed with the discussion of the National Defense Authorization Act. But apparently any talk of repealing the 17-year-old Don't Ask Don't Tell policy would make the Senate choke on its words. And so, the United States Senate defeated the proposal to discuss the bill on a 57-40 vote.
It's ironic that lawmakers in Washington are afraid to have a discussion about a measure that affects servicemembers in the U.S. military. Many of them LOVE to talk about these patriotic men and women who put their lives on the line for freedom. And God knows I feel as though we've talked and studied to death the ramifications of a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. No, this vote was pure politics. Gutless, anti-American, fear-based politics.
The natural course of action would be to appeal to the President to do something, but it seems unlikely that Obama will act on this issue, other than to defend the policy as it goes to court again and again and again.
My heart goes out to the men and women in uniform who are more mature than the average member of Congress, and have stated unequivocally that they are able to handle serving side-by-side with someone of a different sexual orientation. I pray for the troops who are gay, and their loved ones, as they continue to lead closeted and double-lives just to keep serving the country and protecting the freedoms they don't get to enjoy. And I weep for our nation which continues to stand divisible with liberty and justice for some. We may think we're under God, but we aren't achieving the kingdom with this kind of crap!
1 comment:
It indeed was very stupid and as I heard about it I thought, why don't the gay service persons just all come home and let the rest of them do the saving of the world. Why should we bother.
Peggins
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