Regarding the Sunday letter, “Military no place for social change”:
The writer equates equal rights with social engineering as yet another tired excuse to continue a policy of discrimination
and institutionalized bigotry.
There has never been a valid reason to deny lawful American citizens who happen to be gay the privilege of serving the country the same as all other qualified Americans. The letter writer goes on to blame President Obama and “liberal Democrats” as selfish minorities. Really? If the writer were a member of a “selfish minority” I’m sure his views would be how horrible it is to languish under the boots of those who find it easy to hate, oppress and discriminate.
As history has come to show with the civil rights movement and women’s suffrage, the sky did not fall and the world didn’t end, but those who opposed it were willing to go to any extreme to prevent the justice of equality.
Today’s military is filled with young men and women in their 20s who were born into and lived in a more tolerant and accepting world, where bigotry is better seen for the evil it is. I applaud the integration of the GLBT community into the United States military. It’s a step forward, as well as the right thing to do.
Slowly, the purveyors of hate and bigotry in the world are falling by the wayside. Our military will become even stronger and more effective because of diversity, not weaker. There will be no negative effects, the world will not explode and Congress, when faced with overwhelming facts, made the only correct choice for America and We the People.
And because I know the accusation will come, yes, I am ex-Army, (1st Platoon D Btry 1/68 ADA Ft Hood, Texas, 83 to 87). Have the courage to be yourself.
Michelle Hall
Everett
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