Do your homework Obama!

[PorcelainMom81]

Why do all these activists keep talking about the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy like it's discrimination? And now, the president too? Surely, surely.... they've done their homework?

The DADT policy is actually just the opposite of discrimination. It allows gay & lesbian people to serve in the military, when before, they couldn't. And they weren't discriminated against for being gay either.

Article 125 of the UCMJ specifically states:

“(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 by punished as a court-martial may direct.”

While I won't go into the details here, you can read their specific explanation as to what that means in the punitive articles of the UCMJ.

Article 125 is not directly targeting any specific group according to what's written in it. It is targeting any and all members of the military, just like all the rest of the UCMJ codes. It specifically states that it doesn't matter if it's with the same or the opposite sex, or an animal, sodomy is prohibited, regardless of who it's with.

Because of this article, gays were not allowed to enter the military before Clinton enacted the DADT policy. He actually did them a favor, assuming they really had their heart set on being a member of the military. He made it possible for them to enter into the military. He made a special policy that said, "we'll turn our heads and pretend we don't see anything if you don't say anything."

And this article isn't just for gay people. According to its content, and the additional reading into the punitive articles, any proof they have of anyone committing sodomy, be it a gay or straight person, will be enough to charge those persons, and they will suffer the consequences.

Why do we have the UCMJ in the first place? Why do we have all these rules and regulations as members of the military? First of all, it used to be known as the Articles of War. But those articles were rather harsh, and so President Harry Truman enacted the UCMJ on May 31st, 1951.

The UCMJ has several purposes and all very needed. I found an (old; 2000) but interesting article by Lisa Turner from Aerospace Power Journal, and here are some of her highlights as to the purpose of the UCMJ:

"Just as the UCMJ protects the rights of members of the armed forces, it is also a tool for the commander to ensure discipline and obedience of lawful orders. [14] Without means of accountability, such as the UCMJ, there could be no effective military discipline."

" Military members whose acts or omissions rise to the level of criminally negligent behavior can be tried for dereliction of duty under Article 92 of the UCMJ. People do make mistakes in the learning process. However, when their errors rise to the level of criminal dereliction of duty, commanders have an obligation to hold people accountable for their acts or omissions. The military justice system is a key to combat readiness and capability:"

"We're entrusted with the security of our nation.... The tools of our trade are lethal, and we engage in operations that involve risk to human life and untold national treasures.... Because of what we do our standards must be higher than those of society at large.... The American public expects it of us and properly so. In the end, we earn the respect and trust of the American people because of the integrity we demonstrate. [21]"

Obviously she borrowed some one else's words as well, (hence the number citings.) I found the author to that last quote, because it's my favorite. It's exactly what I've been saying about the UCMJ all along. Retired Chief of Staff, General Ronald Fogleman, Air Force, made that statement.( It can be found in the AFI 36-2618 book.)

And another favorite paragraph of mine, "Gen George Washington said, "Discipline is the soul of the Army." [63] However, discipline is not possible without justice. The system of military justice we operate under today is both just and tailored to fill the unique needs of the military community. Its purpose (here's our purpose for the UCMJ)... "is to promote justice, to assist in maintaining good order and discipline in the armed forces, to promote efficiency and effectiveness in the military establishment, and thereby to strengthen the national security of the United States."


The downside to DADT is that spouses of gay members aren't recognized as a military spouse, therefore do not recieve the same benefits as a military spouse. And somehow, that's being defined as discrimination lately. I have a solution though. How about any person, whether they're gay or straight, or married to their sheep... not choose to join the military if they don't want to choose to obey the codes of the UCMJ? It's really that simple ladies and gentlemen. People do it all the time! They're not picking on the gay people. They're protecting our country. If they're picking on the gay people, then they need to stop picking on these people too (to name just a FEW):

Article 133. Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.
Article 132. Frauds against the United States.
Article 131. Perjury.
Article 130. Housebreaking.
Article 129. Burglary.
Article 128. Assault.
Article 127. Extortion.
Article 126. Arson.
Hopefully, we've already learned 125
Article 124. Maiming.
Article 123a. Making, drawing, or uttering check, draft, or order without sufficient funds.
Article 116. Riot or breach of peace.
Article 117. Provoking speeches or gestures.
Article 118. Murder.
Article 119. Manslaughter.
Article 120. Rape and carnal knowledge. (Note: Effective October 1, 2007, this article is retitled, Rape, sexual assault, and other sexual misconduct.)
Article 120a. Stalking.
Article 121. Larceny and wrongful appropriation.
Article 122. Robbery.
Article 123. Forgery.

Just check out the old 120 article: "(a) Any person subject to this chapter who commits an act of sexual intercourse with a female not his wife, by force and without consent, is guilty of rape and shall be punished by death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct.

(b) Any person subject to this chapter who, under circumstances not amounting to rape, commits an act of sexual intercourse with a female not his wife who has not attained the age of sixteen years, is guilty of carnal knowledge and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

(c) Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete either of these offenses."

The NEW 120 has 36 offenses, vs the 3 above, and it's even more specific, right down to using bad language! Yes, in the military, they even require you to follow their rules on the language you use:

"Indecent" language is that which is grossly offensive to modesty, decency, or propriety, or shocks the moral sense, because of its vulgar, filthy, or disgusting nature, or its tendency to incite lustful thought. Language is indecent if it tends reasonably to corrupt morals or incite libidinous thoughts. The language must violate community standards. See paragraph 87 if the communication was made in the physical presence of a child."

DADT is not about discriminating against gays. It's about allowing them to serve their country and break a rule. The straight people are being discriminated against, if you want to get technical about it... but in all out reality, there's no discrimination going on. There is simply a book of codes called the UCMJ that EVERY member of the military is required to obey. The codes are no respecter of persons. If you're a member and you break a code (and get caught), you suffer its consequences. Gay members of the military should not be exempt from that (even though they are, and they're calling it discrimination.)

The military has strict standards (for reasons stated above.) Yes, they control what you can and cannot do. They control what you can and cannot say. Members of the military are government property. When you join the military, you give up certain freedoms in order to maintain the freedom for this country. That is a part of the sacrifice that military members have to make for our freedom. No one goes free without some one making a sacfrice. And no one is forcing anyone's signature to make those sacfrices at this time. If anyone wants to engage in sodomy (or any of the other codes in the UCMJ) that is your right as a free, american citizen(although you still may face some consequences, even in the civillian world.)

But... it is not your right as property of the US Government.