Background. President Bill Clinton kicked off his administration with two vastly unpopular measures. He attempted to single-handedly force a radical plan of nationalized health care on the nation (later called “Hillary Care” after the first lady’s efforts). He also tried to prohibit the military from discharging servicemen for gay relations.
Both of these measures blew up in the former president’s face. Hillary Care was shelved indefinitely for complete lack of Congressional support. Military officials balked at the suggestion that gay relations should be permitted in their ranks. As a face-saving measure, a compromise was struck, later dubbed, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” stated that service members who wished to have gay relations, could have gay relations, without fear of court martial, provided they don’t publicize their desire. The military could continue to discharge servicemen who openly declared their desire for gay relations, but they would not investigate whether a particular service member was having gay relations.
The general understanding behind the rule against gay relations followed a kind of moral code of military conduct. It was believed that it would be damaging to morale and group dynamics to have mixed into the ranks, where soldiers share sleeping, showering and dining facilities in close quarters, people who openly declare their desire to mate with their fellows. It should be noted that other activities are prohibited for similar reasons, such as gambling and consumption of drugs.
Current Context. Across the country, a massive backlash has unfolded from Americans who reject the notion of gay relations as normal. Just as advocates pushed to make gay relations enshrined in the definition of marriage itself, in state after state, voters and lawmakers consistently responded that gay relations is not a normal relationship on par with a man and a woman.
In desperation, those who work to push gay relations into the mainstream turned to force their own morals through the President’s power as Commander in Chief of the military. They pushed President Obama and the Democratic Congress for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Last week, as a part of their vote approving funds for military spending, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. The Armed Services Committee of the U.S. Senate approved an amendment to their own version of the military spending bill that would repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The full U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the defense spending bill in the coming weeks.
Analysis. The Democrats seized control of Congress after a merciless campaign calling for the withdrawal of troops in Iraq and Afganistan. Almost immediately after winning the majority, both houses of Congress completely dropped any calls to withdraw troops, and in fact steadily increased troop levels at the request of President Bush. The Democratically-controlled Congress has a long history of exploiting issues of the military for posturing before the electorate and pandering to its donors.
Ultimately, the security of any nation rests not on its stockpile of weapons, its technology, or even the size of its army or the training of its troops. All protection comes from the will of G-d Almighty. There is a direct correlation between the moral caliber of the citizens of a nation and that nation’s fitness for Divine protection.
One of the cornerstones of morality is the ability for people to control their sexual desires. Promiscuity in general, and depraved practices such as gay relations in particular, weaken a nation’s moral resolve, dim its sense of purpose, and cause it to become fit to be conquered or destroyed by other nations.
By voting to officially prohibit the military from using moral judgment to discharge members for gay relations, these Congressmen are helping to remove the protection that now shelters our communities.
There is no reason why Representatives should have felt impelled to pass the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Votes should have been withheld for the proposed Amendment and then again for the defense spending bill itself. The Pentagon has promised to report in December the findings of its own survey of the military as to whether it is desirable or practical to implement a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Democrats, fearing they will lose a significant number of seats in the upcoming midterm elections, instead chose to force the vote.
This exercise of naked political force was blind and perhaps kamikaze, seeing how strongly dissatisfied many Americans feel with their current leadership.
