Right now, I'm watching the Republican CNN/YouTube debate in Florida. I will try to post comments on the debate. Bare with me, this is my first attempt at live blogging.
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2:33: Mitt Romney is a through-and-through populist. I don't like Mike Huckabee, but on the debate on tuition fees, I stand by him against Romney's disgusting populism.
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2:49: Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform asked the candidates if they oppose tax increases. Everyone answered yes, but Ron Paul was the only one who mentioned the need to cut spending. Good for him.
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2:54: Romney: "I'm proud to be pro-life." Who isn't? I never met anyone proud to be pro-death. (Yes, I know it's political spin terminology, but still...)
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3:01: Funniest blog comment so far: "Hi-def. Is it Thompson's worst enemy." From here.
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3:09: What would you do about deadly black-on-black crime in America? Romney: "Get more moms and dads. Family values." Yeah, that's something the president can bring about. Get real!
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3:14: I'm completely behind Rudy Giuliani on abortion.
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3:20: Do you believe every word in the Bible? Romney: "I believe the Bible is the word of God." Well, read the book and it's obvious that neither God nor Jesus second that.
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3:27: "Let us win, let us win!" is John McCain's message to the US troops in Iraq.
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3:31: McCain: "We're not going to torture people. We're not going to do what Pol Pot did."
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3:32: McCain to Romney: Life is not '24'. "I will never allow torture."
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3:36: Ron Paul on Iraq: "The best we can do to the Iraqis is to give them their country back."
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3:48: I have at least one reader!!! Someone sent me this cartoon a minute ago. (Thanks!) Suitable since Rudy Giuliani just now had to answer a question about him using the 9/11 terror attack as a ticket to the White House.
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3:51: Apparently American soldiers are so sensitive that they cannot even be in the same room as gays.
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4:01: Why won't African-Americans vote for the Republicans? Rudy Giuliani seems confused. Mike Huckabee takes over.
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4:06: I'm getting really bored with Giuliani babbling on about what he did as mayor in New York.
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4:09: Ron Paul just said he will not run as an independent. He's a Republican.
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4:12: The debate ends.
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4:17: In my opinion, tonight's winner is Mike Huckabee. I hate what he stands for, and I would never vote for him even if I could, but in the debate he came through as the sincere candidate.
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4:19: If I were an American voter and had to pick a candidates in tonight's debate it would be John McCain for his strong stand against torture.
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4:24: The debate is over and I have had my first live-blogging experience. Over and out.
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The End.
Okay, this might not be a popular question here as I know this page deals with gay rights issues, but I was wondering. If you allow gays to serve in close quarters with straights, then you are mixing the sexual attractions. In other words, you will appear naked in front of a group who may find you sexualy attractive. Yes it might be silly, but if this does not make some people feel uncomfortable, then why do we still segregate the sexes at all? Maybe I am old fashioned, but I'd feel just as uncomfortable appearing naked in front of a stranger lesbian as I would in front of a stranger man. (or maybe I am equal opportunity!)
If we allow gays to mix in with straights, what's the point then of segregating men from women in the military? I think you can't have it both ways. To do so would be to require homosexuals to mix in a way that men and women don't have to, and that would be discriminatory. Either require the "don't ask, don't tell", or just mix everyone in together. Then everyone should just shower together and bunk together etc and then we'd be done with the whole debate finally.
Well, silly or not, I think you're on to the core of the issue. Most people feel uncomfortable being naked in front of others who might look at them with sexual interest. That was the argument against having women in the army, too.
The thing about 'don’t ask, don’t tell' is that gay people are hiding their sexuality and, as a result, people in the military might fell uncomfortable around just about anyone. I think openness can solve these problems. Gay men are not stupid. We know a lot of straight guys feel unease in our presence, and I'm sure most of us try to avoid putting ourselves and or friends in awkward situations. But what do you do if you can't speak out about these things without running the risk of discharge?
Furthermore, I think it's important to have strict rules. Mutual respect is vital. It's one thing that a gay solider might be secretly turned on by a naked straight soldier in the showers, it's quite another if he acts on his desire. If he does, I think he should be discharged.
Anyhow, the thing we must keep in mind is that gays are in the military no matter what the rules are. Not necessarily because they want the bend the rules, but because they wish to serve their country or simply do not want to identify with their sexual orientation. So whatever problem we might have with gays in the military, it's already there. The question is, should America follow Europe, Israel, and others in lifting the gag rule.
Well I think there are going to be two tracks. I think that there will be more mixing of the sexes as time goes on. And I think there will be more gradual unspoken acceptance of gays in the military.
But I think gays will still have to follow a fine line and repress showing their sexuality in certain situations- as their judgement tells them to. It might not be fair, but homosexuals occupy a unique position, and have a unique role to play. Unlike the separation of women and men, they have to serve with one sex but blend in, in a way as to not make anyone of that sex feel uncomfortable. In other words, they would have to act the same way that men and women would have to act if they were all serving in one unit - sexuality would have to be suppressed for men and women too if they served together in close quarters.
Perhaps the rules of 'don't ask, don't tell' should only be applied to the first year of basic training and be relaxed when the soldiers become officers and live with more privacy. Maybe 'don't ask don't tell' should apply to everyone, gay or straight, the first few years, to make it equal. I mean really, who wants to hear about anyone's sexuality when you have to live with them all the time? Anyway, I don't know if that would work, probably not, but that's just one idea. But I think if everyone compromises, gays and straights can and will openly serve well together.