the rix mix

Great event for our armed forces & for America.

Other nations ended DADT before us, & if you want to insult the "battle effectiveness" of the Israeli Army or British Marines, go right ahead. Just don't do it to their faces.

An opposing senator said, “In the middle of a military conflict, is not the time to do it.” But that might be the best time to do it. In peacetime, the argument is that change isn't needed, & the less pressured pace of military life gives soldiers & sailors too much time to think about change & too many opportunities to resist it. The Civil, World Wars, Korea, & Vietnam all hastened change in the composition of the military & duty assignments of personnel. Back at the beginning, The Revolutionary War established the American military as less class-conscious & with much freer expression in the ranks than existed in the British or any other European army;  it's been an important quality of our military "personality" ever since. As recently as WWII, British officers believed Americans lacked military discipline, & our relations between officers & enlisted ranks were too flexible & informal. Change is what we're about.

There will be some initial difficulties, of course. But they won't last long. This will be a smoother process than the integration of African-Americans & women into the armed forces, who were long segregated by duty & unit. The result will be beneficial to the military & our nation.

There won't be thousands of gays & lesbians lining up at enlistment offices. But those who were altogether discouraged from serving will now do so, & those who are serving can come fully out of the closet if they choose.