posted by Sam Richards
Watch this video and read the text. And while you’re doing so, think about two things:
1. For those of you who think you “know” when someone is LGBT…would you ever think that Darren Manzella is gay?
2. A recent report from military officials investigating whether having LGBT soldiers on a unit “weakens morale” decidedly determined that it does not and that the DADT policy should be abandoned.
Making the decision to enlist in the army is a very difficult choice. Not only are you putting yourself in the line of fire, but also you are leaving behind family, friends, and every day comforts to support your country. Everyday can be scary and frightening and the people who make the decision to become apart of our nations fighting forces are extremely brave and heroic. Knowing that it takes a certain person to become apart of the army, one would be happy to have these men and women fighting for our country. I personally trust that those who are apart of army are protecting our country and I am thankful that they have made the choice to do so. But why would one care what these people do in their spare time? Why is the army so concerned about having straight members in the army instead of good soldiers?
The “don’t ask don’t tell” policy is extremely unsuitable for the army. We have these people putting their lives on the line for the United States of America and we are telling them they are not good enough because of their sexual preference. It is extremely wrong of the army to deny the LGTB community the right to support and protect the country especially because they want to. Being homosexual should not weaken the moral of the army. Just because a man or women likes someone of the same sex, doesn’t mean that they are a weak person. In fact, it takes a strong person to admit to being LGTB and standing up for what they want and believe in.
This article really made me realize how hard it must be for LGTB soldiers and the pressures that they have to face because of their sexual preference. Darren Manzella put his time into the army and deserves all the credit in the world. Knowing that he is gay should not make anyone think differently about this man. I do not understand why is has to be so secretive. You can’t tell by looking at anyone if they are homosexual and it shouldn’t bother anyone that a member of the army is apart of the LGTB community. Like stated before, these people have willingly put themselves in the army in order to protect the United States. It takes a certain person to do this and we shouldn’t judge them because they go home to someone of the same sex. Darren had all the rights of an American citizen and the military is stripping them all away.
All in all, the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy is extremely discriminating to the LGTB community and the military needs to accept the fact that although these people engage in sexual activity with people of the same sex, these certain individuals care enough about the country to enlist.
I think that it is very ignorant for people to discriminate someone for their sexual tendencies. This is a country where freedom is taken so seriously and it is the number one reason why the United States is considered a strong country. Who are we to decide the fate of people who are not straight? How can having a gay soldier jeopardize any of the other soldiers? This man is very brave for standing up for what he believes in, even though he got discriminated for it. There are many people who fear this type of discrimination so they are not true to themselves. They do not feel free in a country where freedom is so important.