Don't Ask Don't Tell Debate - Tampa, FL

"Liberty and Justice for all!.. This country and constitution demands that "all" people have rights to live and serve, and we should be thankful that such rights are written..

because it is everybody's individual right to serve their country regardless of their sexual or religious orientation. Discrimination is a violation of individual freedom

discrimination is a violation of individual rights, everybody has the right to serve the country regardless of sexual or religious orientation. Nobody is above anybody

It's overdue.

False premises. First, there is no RIGHT to serve. Thousands of Americans are denied entry into the military because they do not meet the demands of military needs. Are those thousands being "discriminated against"? Of course not. Even something as simple and common as flat feet is enough to keep someone from serving in the military.
Second, there cannot be discrimination under the current laws because it's illegal for someone who is homosexual to tell people they are. One can only discriminate if there is a reason to do so that they are aware of. Examples of possible discrimination include: gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, or known sexual orientation. If any of those things are unknown, it's IMPOSSIBLE to be discriminating against them on that basis. However, if Don't Ask is repealed, there will now be discrimination because people won't be keeping their private business private. Doing so takes an environment where discrimination is impossible and creates a new one were discrimination is probable.
Third, having homosexuals serve openly is completely unnecessary. Nobody in the military should be discussing their sexual orientation or their sex life in general. It has nothing to do with the mission.
Fourth, having homosexuals serve openly will certainly increase their exposure to danger. Let's suppose that we accept the silly notion that all straight military people hate homosexuals. Who do you think is going to get to charge the hill under fire? Who is going to get left behind during an evacuation? Nobody should be, but friends look out for friends. When someone deliberately tries to separate themselves from the group, they will suffer the consequences. Smart homosexuals will continue to keep their private business, private. Nobody needs to know, and that's the way it should be.

The gays will bring up the rear in all marching formations.

muslums will cut your head off if they find out you are queer

jane wrote:

muslums will cut your head off if they find out you are queer

which head?????

If anybody loves his or her country regardless of color religion or sexual orientation and has a able-body and of course the correct age should be able to enlist.

If a person is willing to give his or her life for their country, they shouldn't have to be JUDGED worthy of that based on the gender of the person they love.

Veteran wrote:

False premises. First, there is no RIGHT to serve. Thousands of Americans are denied entry into the military because they do not meet the demands of military needs. Are those thousands being "discriminated against"? Of course not. Even something as simple and common as flat feet is enough to keep someone from serving in the military.
Second, there cannot be discrimination under the current laws because it's illegal for someone who is homosexual to tell people they are. One can only discriminate if there is a reason to do so that they are aware of. Examples of possible discrimination include: gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, or known sexual orientation. If any of those things are unknown, it's IMPOSSIBLE to be discriminating against them on that basis. However, if Don't Ask is repealed, there will now be discrimination because people won't be keeping their private business private. Doing so takes an environment where discrimination is impossible and creates a new one were discrimination is probable.
Third, having homosexuals serve openly is completely unnecessary. Nobody in the military should be discussing their sexual orientation or their sex life in general. It has nothing to do with the mission.
Fourth, having homosexuals serve openly will certainly increase their exposure to danger. Let's suppose that we accept the silly notion that all straight military people hate homosexuals. Who do you think is going to get to charge the hill under fire? Who is going to get left behind during an evacuation? Nobody should be, but friends look out for friends. When someone deliberately tries to separate themselves from the group, they will suffer the consequences. Smart homosexuals will continue to keep their private business, private. Nobody needs to know, and that's the way it should be.

your argument fails because there is no don't as don't tell in place for heterosexuals.

Because being gay is not something to be ashamed of, just like being straight isn't shameful. The more we ostracize a group of people, the more hate it brings on them as well as ignorance. Think of loving others for who they are, and not hating them for how they are different from ourselves and we can quickly make this country a better and stronger place for us and our future generations to live! We must support each other as one!