Blog Assignment #3 "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Brooke Wilcox

Professor Timmons

English 105

October 4, 2010

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

The “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is a law that was established in 1993. It was created because of the debate over gays in the military. The policy limits the military’s ability to both ask service members of their sexual orientation, and allow gays to refrain from homosexual acts while keeping their sexuality disclosed.

            When President Obama was a candidate for presidency, he vowed to end the policy, but once he was elected, he said it was congress’s role to make the change. The House has voted for repeal, but the full senate has not yet acted.

            Federal Judge Virginia A. Phillips, from California ruled that the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was unconstitutional. The law was challenged under the fifth and first amendments to the constitution. According to the plaintiffs, the policy violated the guarantee of due process under the Fifth Amendment, and violated the free-speech rights under the First Amendment, and Judge Phillips agreed.

            The issue of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is interesting and important because it is so controversial. Saying that gays are not allowed to serve in the military is discriminative, and has hurt thousands of people.

            There have been quite a few significant events related to this issue. Major Margaret Witt served in the Air Force and Air force reserves for 17 years. She tried to keep a low profile, but was discharged in 2007 under the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. According to the United States Justice Department, “If Major Witt wins and is allowed to serve openly as a lesbian, it will undermine morale in the services by creating two standards of fairness: one for her and another for everyone else.”

            Although the senate republicans voted unanimously to block the bill supporting repeal, President Obama, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all said they were in favor for repealing the policy.

            The “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is a black and white issue. There are many reasons why an individual would take either side. If you are one of the many gays or lesbians in our society, then you would want to be treated the same as everyone else, and be able to show your true self. On the other hand, if you were brought up with strict morals, and a very religious lifestyle, then you would already have an issue with gays, so allowing them to be in the military might make you hesitant.

Works Cited

Dao, James. “Days After ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Ruling, Another Challenge Heads to Court.” Nytimes.com. The New York Times, 12, Sept. 2010. Web. 14 Sept. 2010

Shwartz, John. “Judge Rules That Military Policy Violates Rights of Gays.” Nytimes.com. New York Times, 9 Sept. 2010. Web. 11 Sept. 2010

Steinhauer, Jennifer. “After Ruling on Gay Policy, New Questions For Obama.” Nytimes.com. New York Times, 11 Sept. 2010. Web. 16 Sept. 2010

Shwartz, John. “California: Plaintiffs Propose Ban in Suit Over Policy on Gays.” Nytimes.com. New York Times, 16 Sept. 2010. Web. 20 Sept. 2010.

Herszenhorn, David. “Move to End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Stalls in Senate.” Nytimes.com. New York Times, 21 Sept. 2010. Web. 2 Oct. 2010