Gay Governmental Welcome Wagon

by Lydia Daffenberg

It looks as if the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy that was brought about by the Clinton Administration may be repealed. The 9,500 "outed" gay soldiers who have been discharged are now costing us a pretty penny in replacements. That's because many of these discharged homosexual soldiers were highly-trained in such areas as language skills (Arabic).

Of course, the real reason for considering a repeal is that we need soldiers. People aren't signing up for some reason. Could be because we're at war. Recruitment of reservists dropped 24% in the last four months. So the government will vote soon on whether or not to change this policy and welcome gays into the military with open arms. After all, it's not that they couldn't perform their tasks well--on the contrary. It's not that they didn't want to stay in the military--on the contrary. But, as we all know, in war, rules change and morals go unchecked. Our government isn't willing to extend civil rights to homosexuals, but finds that a body is a body, and is willing to extend a new right to homosexuals: the right to die in war. Interesting double standard.

What an embarrassment for Mr. Bush. The president has made it clear that his religion has decided his moral stance on gay rights in this country. Now, pragmaticism is outweighing his morality. Not wish-washy at all. Don't forget, all's fair in love and war. Except, in this country, not all's fair in the love between homosexuals, whereas all's still fair in war.

Perhaps, for gays in America, this will finally be the last needed step toward the door at the end of the long hall leading to their civil rights. Perhaps.