Last I checked, the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter Day Saints banned polygamy over a century ago.

Yes James that's true, but there are still those who practice polygamy. They may not be endorsed by the church, but they are polygamists nonetheless. Besides it was just meant for quick comparison, not a condemnation of the Mormon faith.

It is an absurd and unsustainable policy, and it would be nice if one or more of the Democratic Presidential candidates made an issue of it this year. I'm not holding my breath, though.

Particularly shocking is the fact that some of the gay soldiers who are booted out or rejected are college-educated Arabic speakers who have a relatively high understanding of the Middle East. It is amazing to see how prejudice and fear can so easily trump national security concerns. Winning "the decisive ideological struggle of our time" would sure be nice, it seems, but not if it means according equal rights and respect to homosexuals.

I don"t think a persons sexuality,whether bi,gay, or straight is something that should be questioned in regard to a life in the military.I do ,however,think that a person with a serious criminal record{rape,assault,burglary,murder,etc...}should not be considered and it is my understanding that this has been happening.Our military seems to think that an army filled with criminals is o.k.But to my way of thinking,this is a really bad policy and gives us a military of mercenary murderers.Totally amoral.Let us not forget that one of the worlds greatest military leaders,who was always in the forefront of battle was Alexander the Great,a generous and thoughtful man and also bisexual.

Elizabeth:

Those who practice polygamy are not, in fact, "practicing Mormons." If they happen to consider themselves followers of Joseph Smith, they would actually be members of a Fundamentalist sect of Latter-Day Saints. The FLDS groups are quite distinct from the mainstream Latter-Day Saints. Calling them "practicing Mormons" is, at best, incredibly sloppy writing, and at worst promotes a false stereotype.

Lets not lose track of the issue by offering defensive quips regarding religious dogma. Whether a Mormon, a Catholic, a Jew, or atheist...it is about the denial of civil rights asserted undeniably in the constitutional basis of our Republic. If you deny anyone their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, be it as a long standing tradition of poligamy as practice of religious dogma in the Reformed Church, or deny a gay man or woman the same access to civil institutions legislated and funded by congressional mandate, you are claiming an authority not granted by law or supported by the documents that underpin our system of goverment(inspite of the political assertions of a few). Curiously enough, it is usually religious dogma that makes the most odious forays into civil issues. Notwithstanding, I will argue that religious institutions have the constitutional right to follow tradtion, be it poligamy, eating peyote or preserving the life of their unborn; it should never the case that these tenets become legislated as if one tradition fits all, or that one civil right is the dominion of a class(marriage, military service, or access to the socio-economic order).

What this blog entry lacks is any critical analysis of the role of the US military globally. The current wars being fought by the US are examples of imperialism and occupation and are not about "national security." The larger question is whether or not queer people want to be part of an institution that perpetrates oppression globally. My idea of equality and fighting "prejudice" are not being integrated into an oppressive system but actively opposing those forces which violently extend US global hegemony.

As a Non-American (how strange that I am glad to say that!) I could only wish that ALL straight, bi and gay dudes were not enlisted in the US military...Besides, most gay guys I know are not murderous barbarians plundering another civilization, where as, of course, your military is exactly that.

Barry Goldwaters simplistic comment does appeal to common sense, that is "To be a good soldier you have to shoot straight, you don't have to be straight. No one should get out of going to Viet Nam just because they are gay."

However Colin Powell, an expert in unit cohesion since he designed the cadre training system we use does object to gays in the military. That is because unit cohesion depends on the repressed homosexual bonds between soldiers in the same unit. Freud would tell you that sex is the basis of the buddy system. Unrepressed homosexuality interferes with that "band of brothers" feeling so important to laying your life on the line for the next guy.

This is one time science and liberal conventional wisdom disagree. The solution might be all gay units. I know how that sounds in symbolic logic when you substitute other minorites for gay. It sounds bigoted, but sex is different from being black, poor or jewish. You can expect a straight person to develope a repressed love relationship with someone of a different race or religion to enhance unit cohesion in a military cadre, but how can a hetero be expected develope a repressed love relationship with someone who is openly gay without other psychic problems.

Colin Powell does not ocme out and say it plainly like Freud would, but it is implied by his objection to gays in the military.

In this country, we are brainwashed to fear anything or anyone that is different or thinks differently than what the political groups in power determine to be acceptable. Recently, I read a letter to the editor written by a teenager. He asked, why, if we can afford trillions to wage a war of terror, why can't we do the research to find out why he was different? This attitude can be used to advantage of those who don't want to be there, just fake it there are lots of things worse than being gay, you could be one of those fascists that push this crap.

Granted the Gay Lesbian movement is sagnent right now may I offer a suggestion that will lightup Washington the Religion of Hate Intolerance and Indifference (christians), since Gays and Lesbians are confined to the etheral world of none existance and this is acknowledge by the FOLLS in Congress and the Religion of Hate (christians). Start a movement that unles Totally inclusive to American Society the Gay and Lesbian PAYS NO TAXES STAE or FEDERAL, since the are denied the existance granted others of the hetersexual persausion. PAY NO TAXES if it happens all at once with lawyers in place I say you will get their attention nothing talks like money.

One additional comment since Gays and Lesbans aren't allowed to serve with pride and distinction one should start to convince ones friends to register as Gay or Lesbian this will put a strong strain on the Military, do warn them of the tests that they will be put through yet another legal battle to tie up the courts.
Come on Ladies andGentlemaen, their are a lot of good people suffering because a few dictate what is right lets strip them of those rights.

How ironic. Here we have been pushed into a war to bring freedom and democracy in the Middle East. But here at home we prefer our freedom with a few delicate exceptions. Gays, African-Americans, fundamentalists, and others have sacrificed to preserve our freedoms. Yet the Rabid Right will not acknowledge the blood spilled of those they seek to oppress. A part of our (and the Rabid Right's) freedom has resulted from this sacrifice. When the Rabid Right gives back the part of their freedom won by those they despise, then they can talk about taking away the rights of gays etc..

I think they'll find freedom is not divisible.

Clifton McCarthy,

You make an eloquent point, but one question remained to me after reading your post:
If "unrepressed homosexuality" would not be conducive to unit cohesion, why do they allow straight women in the mostly ostensibly-straight-male military? Obviously, straight women have come on to straight men that have not reciprocated the attraction. Of course, you could make the argument that women are not generally allowed on the front lines, but, by that same logic, why are we discharging gay arabic linguists? How much "repressed homosexuality" is needed to ensure unit cohesion in a group of interpreters?

Besides, I'm reasonably certain that when the bullets start flying Johnny B. Queer is going to be more concerned with saving his buddy's life than trying to suck his cock.

You are an advocate for Gays to be in the military. Under your thinking, if there is a draft, you don't want Gays to receive special treatment, you want them drafted to go kill people. Shame on you.

Billy,

I didn't see anyone advocating the draft. There's a big difference between conscription and voluntary enlistment. But for you, any argument will do as long as it's anti-military, right?

Wake up. The Democrats say we need the draft for EQUALITY. Get it. Draft the Gays to show equality. This is insanity. The draft just supports the idea of American EMPIRE. This should not be an idea for the Gay community. Why be so eager to KILL people?

Well folks, this is all distraction. It's the old divide and conquer, keep one group hating the other. It worked in the late 30s, it still works. Andrew, I loved that ending, I'm sure your right, it's not likely you would be thinking of sex with someone trying to kill you, even if you were sexually straight, whatever that means in these confused times.

How about a very large production of those little yellow magnet stickers that just say "support our gay and lesbian troops" I think it would be a great seller and with them all over peoples bumpers....