A Few Words About Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

When President Clinton signed the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy in 1993, it was not meant to be a discriminatory law. I mean it was sort of the way-of-Bill-Clinton to just keep our personal lives on the hush-hush (wink-wink), so back in ‘93 this was just his slick way of saying, just stay quiet and we’ll leave ya alone. Oh Slick Willy, you were so charming back then - you thought you had solved this problem of gays in the military once and for all.


Nearly two decades later, the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy no longer fits into the world we live in. Homosexuality is a more accepted way of life in America and many of these soldiers who serve our country have partners or spouses and families even that they have to hide from their fellow troops. Imagine having to hide a photo of you and your spouse sharing a kiss on a romantic vacation. What if you had to burn every letter your spouse sent to you in fear of being discharged from a job that you love to do. Those who are not accepting of the gay community use the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy against these people and who then are forced to be discharged because most will stand up for themselves and admit to being homosexual.

Today, a vote on a policy that would bring an end to the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy was filibustered by the Republican party in the U.S. Senate, effectively killing the current bill that would have brought an end to this outdated policy. It is upsetting to me that the leaders in our country would choose to ignore an important issue like this. In the end, this law will be repealed. But until then, let us ponder this question: