Better Grey than Gay
In 2006 nearly 600 young men and women were kicked out of the service because of the simple fact that they are gay. A recent Associated Press article reports that nearly 600 senior citizens have been taken back into the service and deployed to Middle East to fight in Uncle Sam's army. That means that in 2006 the U.S. military kicked out about a battalion's worth of young, gay service members and replaced them with a battalion's worth of senior citizens!
The article highlights the efforts of former Master Sergeant Austin Asher, a 60 year old retieree, who is looking to re-enlist and serve his nation. Having applied for the Retieree Recall Program, MS Asher hopes to redeploy and join nearly 600 other senior citizens in the Middle East.
Since 9/11, and the start of armed conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, military recuiting goals have been increasingly hard to meet. Allowing gay Americans to serve in the armed forces would alleviate the strain on military personnel by allowing the most qualified and able-bodied Americans to serve. The national security of our nation deserves no less.
The efforts of men and women like MS Asher should be applauded, however in light of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" this story serves as just another reminder that bigotry is not just hurting gay Americans -- it is hurting us all.
-Victor MaldonadoLabels: recruiting
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