Dougherty Arts Center
Santorum Should March Forward Into the Modern World
RECEIVED Mon., Sept. 26, 2011
In Thursday's (Sept. 22) Republican debate, Rick Santorum again stoked partisan fires by claiming that the repeal of discrimination against gays in the military was "social experimentation" which injected "sex activity" into the military. What? Removing the Catch-22 that forces soldiers to lie about sexual orientation actually eliminates sex as a consideration for battle readiness.
Even more bizarre is Santorum's final solution: "Reinstitute that policy" of Don't Ask, Don't Tell at some unknown date but don't "throw out" the thousands of military professionals who took the government at its word, placing their careers – and their lives – on the line. Whether it be our international debt obligations or agreements made with our citizens, Santorum hasn't put much stock in the "full faith and credit" of the U.S. in recent months. In 2010, the Pentagon reported that more than 70% of soldiers accepted the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Finally, we have progressed from a Third World social policy of sexual prejudice to join the elite fighting forces of Israel, Britain, Sweden, and Germany in renouncing arbitrary discrimination in our ranks. The "experiment" is finished; the findings are in. Santorum should join the march forward.
Even more bizarre is Santorum's final solution: "Reinstitute that policy" of Don't Ask, Don't Tell at some unknown date but don't "throw out" the thousands of military professionals who took the government at its word, placing their careers – and their lives – on the line. Whether it be our international debt obligations or agreements made with our citizens, Santorum hasn't put much stock in the "full faith and credit" of the U.S. in recent months. In 2010, the Pentagon reported that more than 70% of soldiers accepted the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Finally, we have progressed from a Third World social policy of sexual prejudice to join the elite fighting forces of Israel, Britain, Sweden, and Germany in renouncing arbitrary discrimination in our ranks. The "experiment" is finished; the findings are in. Santorum should join the march forward.
Jerry Roemisch, Ph.D.
