Maximus, I hope I am not putting words in your mouth but you seem hard core straight line with all things to do with honor, from Marcus Curry to the Marine officers and even your displeasure in that you feel that the USNA honor concept is too soft.
Again, not putting words in your mouth but you also seem to be against the repeal of the DADT.
If my perceptions are correct, which every indication of your posts seem to support that they are, how do you justify a policy where it is perfectly acceptable for gay officers to serve in the military so long as they are forced to lie and decieve about it?
Oh, no problem mongo, I'll be happy to answer.
I'm perfectly fine with/have zero problems with gay people. The standard, but very true answer for me is: I have a few of gay friends and actually, I lost a very close gay family member. I know how difficult it is for gay people as described to me from that same close family member.
More background, I was an enlisted Marine (as you know seeing as you remember the honor concept discussion...before your mongo moniker was a member here
) way back, but not as far back as your service in the Navy, that policy was black and white then. I didn't question it as it was just accepted then, and I never really thought about it at 19. I know that doesn't make a whole hell of a lot of sense but I had other issues to think about. That was c. 1980 and you know what that policy was, gay and out.<period At the time, I really didn't know any gay people (so I thought) and it was never an issue to me.
Many moons later when Slick Willy created DADT, I thought it was incredibly stupid. It had nothing due to politics, I had none at the time although, I did vote for Reagan prior; it was more toward the issue of my experience in the Corps. Where would they put gay men in the squad bay? I've always looked at this issue on a legal and personal rights side. As I said, I've never really had any problems with homosexuals. Fast forward a few years and I really thought about how good DADT was, it kept the door open for all people but, it made people adhere to the military decorum and customs that keep order vital to the Military. IMHO you are always part of your unit and in the thick of things, you'd fight and die for a squad mate, white, black, albino, gay or straight.
Again, the whole problem I have with repealing DADT is there will be some that will use this as a social engineering experiment and force the issue. The secondary problem is the inevitable legal issues and waste of money it will cause. Tax dollars! DADT makes everyone in the military act like a professional IMVHO. Sure it will suppress some discussions standing fire watch with a buddy and talking about how you shared a candle lit dinner with Steve last night but again, this is the Military and it serves a larger/higher purpose that forcing Americans to take sides in what some consider a political issue.
I don't care that there are gay people in the military, and it's completely acceptable to me to serve with or under them....no pun intended
Just don't set up a disastrous three or four gender military society, and keep your personal affairs personal....out of the professional military.
You can't say to me with intellectual honesty, that Obama is doing this to help the poor suppressed military members, living in the shadows. You and I both know he's doing this because he doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to legalize gay marriage. That is the real issue.