Ackerman: “This absurdity can’t continue.”
Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-NY), a co-sponsor of The Military Readiness Enhancement Act who represents New York's North Shore in Queens and Nassau County in Congress, authored an op-ed in this morning's Newsday about the absurdity of excluding gay and lesbian Americans from military service. (Some of our supporters will remember Ackerman's recent grilling of Secretary Rice over the issue of gay linguists.)
"That sound you hear in Washington is the federal government shooting itself in the foot," Ackerman writes, and goes on to say that "Just to make this clear: In the middle of a war in which we are losing people every day, we are removing from the armed forces volunteers who have absolutely vital, lifesaving skills because they happen to be gay or lesbian."
"This absurdity can't continue," Ackerman says. "The 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy is not only wasteful and inefficient, it's unfair and un-American. In the middle of a war we are throwing out good people who have volunteered to put their lives on the line for their country. Every day, another two service members are fired because of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' and unlike the crooks we're now reduced to recruiting, gays aren't granted second chances."
"If we're serious about winning the war on terror, we need to roll out the welcome mat for every patriot, gay or straight, who wants to serve," he concludes. "When Congress reconvenes in September, we need to do the right thing and lift this ban."
You can read Congressman Ackerman's full op-ed online here.
- Steve RallsLabels: Ackerman, Congress, in the news
-----08-08-07
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