Two months ago it became acceptable to be openly gay in the United States military. No longer will the thousands of men and woman who fight to protect our liberty be forced to conceal their sexual preferences.  Is this a turning point in the gay rights movement?  

The Armed Forces of the United States are one of the most feared and respected military forces across the globe. This isn’t an ensemble of hillbillies with rocks and slingshots, but a highly trained group of people with the most lethal and advanced weapons that tax-payer money can buy.  As such, the United States military is, and must remain, the powerful and austere institution that it sets out to be. I fear that if we fail in this regard, then the United States is jeopardizing its influence among all world powers. I also fear that the openly homosexual population in our armed forces is now at a great risk of undergoing both physical and emotional mistreatment.

Let’s come to terms with reality. Not only will gay soldiers be treated unequally when compared to their fellow heterosexual companions, they will also be deemed second-class citizens. They stand the chance of potentially being seen as a threat to the bond of comradeship that is so fervent among soldiers. The chemistry of a unit is intertwined with trust among brothers, but if one of those brothers is openly gay then it could potentially throw off many people within the regiment. And let’s not forget that a soldier with a preoccupied mind is one that won’t last long on the battlefield.

Now, will every soldier go and physically or verbally harm their fellow brethren in arms? Absolutely not! Compared to about thirty or forty years ago, both our society and military are far more accepting to liberal ideas. However, I fear that the repealing of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” law brings too much liberalism to the military. I fear that this reduction in seriousness will slowly but surely diminish our prestige among world powers.

Personally, I am completely fine with homosexuals.  I strongly believe that being gay shouldn’t be seen as a fault. I nonetheless think, however, that it shouldn’t be something that if flaunted so publicly either. People’s sexual preferences, like sex itself, should be kept guarded and remain secretive; especially within our Armed Forces.  This institution isn’t some street down San Francisco or a rally supporting gay candidates. This is a place where people risk their lives for the betterment of this country. The only thing that should be on people’s mind is defending our country and liberty, not whether or not their comrade is gay or straight.