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Loading ...Military courts HS dropouts while banning college trained gays
08.27.2008 12:08pm EDT
(Washington) The U.S. Army, eager to fill its ranks amid wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is turning to high school dropouts, opening today a prep school to enable prospective enlistees to gain the GED.
The military has turned six World War II-era buildings at Fort Jackson, South Carolina into a mini-campus of spartan classrooms and barracks. Under the yearlong pilot project, classes of about 60 soldiers will enter the monthlong program every week.“It’s academic immersion,” Col. Jeffrey Sanderson, chief of staff at Fort Jackson told The Associated Press. “Our studies show that with only three out of every 10 people of military age being capable of joining the Army, we are going to have to do something different.”
Last October, Army officials said they intended to expand the force by adding 74,000 soldiers by 2010, with the active duty force growing to a total of 547,000.
But while the military reaches out to high school dropouts the number of gays drummed out of the armed forces under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” continues to grow.
Under DADT two people every day are dropped from the military for being gay.
In the 15 years that DADT has been in force more than 10,000 personnel have been discharged as a result of the policy, including 800 with skills deemed “mission critical,” such as pilots, combat engineers, and linguists.
The number of gay men and lesbians turned away by military recruiters is unknown.
A study conducted last year for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network concluded that the U.S. military could attract as many as 41,000 new recruits if gays and lesbians in the military were able to be open about their sexual orientation.
A growing number in Congress support repeal of the controversial policy even though the military supports the ban.
Last month the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee held hearings on a bill that would abolish the prohibition.
The first American wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom told the sub-committee that many in his unit knew he was gay and it was not an issue but that it was not until he nearly died and then received a Purple Heart that he had to speak out against the policy.
Marine Staff Sgt. Eric F. Alva told the subcommittee that he had served in the Marine Corps for 13 years.
He said that he received the Purple Heart, along with visits from the President and First Lady. “I was told I was a hero,” he recalled.
“That landmine may have put an end to my military career that day, but it didn’t put an end to my secret. That would come years later, when I realized that I had fought and nearly died to secure rights for others that I myself was not free to enjoy. I had proudly served a country that was not proud of me. More importantly, my experience disproved all the arguments against open service by gays and lesbians – I knew I had to share my story.”
The hearing was the first time since it was enacted 15-years ago that a congressional hearing was held on the impact of DADT.
Susan Davis (D), Chair of the subcommittee has introduced legislation to repeal the ban but it is unlikely it will come to a vote before the session ends.
An ABC News/Washington Post poll released last month found that 75 percent of Americans believe LGBT people should be allowed to serve.
A similar poll taken shortly after Pres. Bill Clinton signed the law in 1993 found that only 44 percent of Americans supported the idea of letting gays serve openly.
A study published by a University of California think-tank found that “allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly is unlikely to pose any significant risk to morale, good order, discipline or cohesion.”
Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama supports repeal of DADT and the party platform contains language calling for an end to the policy.
Once again a federal agency has been completely overrun with born-again christians who are on a mission to convert this nation into a fundamentalist theocracy.
Throughout history, every time christians get their hands on a powerful government, they turn to blood lust and genocide until they themselves are thrown out of those government by the peoples of their countries.
The same occurs today. This dispicable military religious structure MUST be disbanded.
Call your Senator and congress person now and ask for the removal of all Soldier’s of Christ leading the Military establishment.
It seems the Jesus freaks get whatever they want from the gov. military even now on MSnbc There is some fucking freak parading his/her little Jesus sign right in view of the cameras. I thought protesters were confined to a pen? Where the fuck are the non-believers. It has been shown throughout history that “Christians” are murderous judgemental myway or the highway people. We have a constitution that governs our country not some GodDamn religion. These fucking freaks need to be silenced and thrown out of Our Government. But once again the American people are a bunch of Pussies who only seem to will their way by dropping bombs from 60,000 feet. You all get what you deserve and then some!!!!!!!!!
With all due respect, where does religion truly enter here? Though religion has over time *affected* the shape of contemporary society, the push toward heteronormativity and a gender binary is housed more in *cultural,* not religious, dicta. Yes, Judeo-Christian attitudes toward gender and sexuality are similar to the military’s views on appropriate gender representation, but their fear of the out gay man is more based in their push for a fully homogenously-gendered unit (by homogenous, I mean either encompassing “heterosexual man” or “heterosexual woman;” if homosexual, you stand distinct from classification, because they view them as inherently partly encompassing the other gender). It’s distinct from religion; you don’t get shit for being Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist (though why would you be in the military anyway), atheist, agnostic, or Pastafarian. They, in a way, embrace religious diversity.
All I’m saying here is, focus on the military itself, not the religion that has partially driven it. You’re using that as a scapegoat.
And, there are good Christians. Avoid such generalities; by painting them with a broad brush – declaring them violent and ignorant, and calling for their deposition – you paint yourself the same.
Of course, they only want straight
white trash whose only ability is
to stop a bullet! typical!
To hbeforei, If their are any GOOD Christians then where is their voice? We certainly have not seen or heard from them in the last eight years. And I disagree that religion has nothing to do with keeping gay & lesbian people not only silenced in the military but thrown out at the cost of 100’s of millions of dollars to me and other’s the tax payers.
In this country you are or were free to think and believe what you want as long as it doesn’t bring harm to others. The Imposition of religious beliefs does just that and there is no place in our Gov. or public places, public schools etc. funded by taxpayer dollars for the ramrodding of things that are little more then myth. As an ex-republican and an ex-christian I am more then happy to have transcended the need for either.
hbeforei, with all due respect, your head must be in a place where only a proctologist could find it! Religion, especially that infamous JudeoChristian poison, permeates every aspect of americans’ lives, culture, laws. In NYC the sale of alcahol is prohibited until after 1pm on Sunday to this very day! DUH! And as to the few good christians they, like the good muslims are keeping their heads down and their mouths shut. The muslims because they want to live(thier fanatics have no constitution to impede their holy justice) and the christians because the want to survive in this theocratic democracy. The last chairman of the JCS Peter “Perfect” Pace said that homosexuality, like adultury, was immoral and we punish both. They have BA prayer meetings in the Pentagon. 75% of military chaplins are Protestant fringe group fanatics ie people who BELIEVE that Pat “The Rat” Robinson talks to God! No matter what semantic word games u play, if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck chances are about 99.4% (like Ivory soap) ITS A DUCK! Congress (Suprise! Suprise!) got Don’t ask Don’t Tell half right. It has no place in the armed forces that defend this nation.
It contradicts all the Military Acadamies Honor Codes which prohibit lying either by commission or OMISSION. Thus corupting the very system it claims to protect. BUT…it would be a very good law if applied to religious beliefs. Good news of jesus christ? If I didn’t ask, keep your mouth shut and your beliefs to your self! It would keep the JOHOs and their toilet paper away from your door on sunday morning! The good book(and the only BOOK that matters, the U.S. Constitution) says Congress shall make no law respecting any religion, follow the law and respect none of them until they earn it by following the law and paying taxes like any other corporation! Our founding fathers wisely referred to a CREATOR (not any god) and didn’t define who or what he, she or it was, leaving that to each individual citizen to decide. BTW Loved your “pentagon speak” thought it would make a great Saturday Night Live skit! U can call it a multi position earth moving entrenching tool, but at the end of the day its just a fucking shovel! ACT UP! THE FIGHT GOES ON!
People have a right to their beliefs whether it be freedom from religion, or freedom from freedom from atheism. I am happier and more fulfilled since I got free from atheism.
I totally disagree with Roger RamJet on one hand about religion, and on the other hand agree with his statement here on forcing a mix of military and religion. Forcing religion is dangerous and non-productive.
More people come willingly to a faith if its practioners are cheerful and do genuine good then if it is forced and just another tyranny, just as forcing atheism on an unwilling person would be tyranny.
However while people should keep religion to themselves, banning say the average military man or woman or any other person from a desired religion (as long as the practice of said religion was personal and not in conflict with laws meant for the safe running of society) would be an intolerable tyranny in itself.
I am a gay man and go to church as is my right to do. I have found for myself a happiness, peace and tranquility there. My church welcomes both gay and straight couples, we feed the hungry etc, but we never do anything but smile, be nice and serve hot meals to them and keep our faith to ourselves. My church attracts young couples with kids and gay couples as well because it is a place that wants diversity and the people going there are friendly and not pushing anything but the message I am exercising my right to my faith same as any other person is exercising right to be free of religion.
Thomas,
there were no end of good Christian clergy both gay and straight protesting for gay marriage at rallies for gay marriage and against gay marriage in Boston while this marriage issue was one of the most dominant issues of the day for that state. How do I know, I am a gay Christian and I was there any number of times at those rallies protesting for gay marriage rights.