President Obama’s words from his State of the Union:
This year — this year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are. It’s the right thing to do.
The original bill (S.3065) took immediate action and established deadlines. The new ‘compromise’ bill promises nothing and takes no immediate action whatsoever. In fact, the new bill is completely open ended. There is no deadline!
The original bill provided language for anti-discrimination within the military. The new ‘compromise’ bill has no such language. Some may feel this is a minor point. For this reason I direct your attention to the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice):
UCMJ chap 925
925. ART. 125. SODOMY
(a) Any person subject to this chapter who engages in unnatural carnal copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex or with an animal is guilty of sodomy. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense.
(b) Any person found guilty of sodomy shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled sodomy laws unconstitutional in Lawrence v. Texas. Due to this ruling States have removed the law. So it's quite interesting the UCMJ still has a law/rule in place which has been declared unconstitutional by the highest court in the land.
Last time I looked the military works for the government and the government works for the citizens. At least that’s how it’s supposed to be. We all know that doesn’t seem to be the case these days. In their self appointed arrogance many, if not most, in our government feel US citizen’s work for them.
Some how the definition of public servant has changed. Indeed the public has become the servant. To take this one step further, if you are homosexual and active duty military not only are you a servant but you are a slave (indentured servant/servitude).
Neither bill provides benefits for married personnel who are homosexual. After all DOMA is still in effect (re: the federal government doesn’t recognize homosexual marriages).
Most of us realize this bill is also to be part of the Defense Authorization (defense budget) package. However, the Defense Authorization package will be signed and done before December 1st. In other words, this Defense Department study is a tactic to avoid/delay removal of DADT.
Recent events have shown many in our country feel the rights of the majority out weigh the rights of the few. We have seen this mentality surrounding marriage equality and citizens demanding the right to vote. Two recent polls (CNN and Gallup) have shown a large majority support repeal of DADT. I find it interesting that the majority rule issue is insignificant in this case. Folks we call that blatant hypocrisy!
We were offered the full loaf of bread with the first bill. The second bill is just another crumb.
One final note on the new ‘compromise’ bill that should be one huge red flag:
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that he's comfortable with proposed legislation that seeks to repeal the law that bans gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military because it includes "very clear language" that gives senior leaders the final say in whether it's implemented.
Whether? Supposedly they were doing a study on HOW to implement it. Not WHETHER it is implemented!
Click here to view the original bill.
Click here to view the current version.
h/t gay.americablog.com
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