Pentagon Survey on Gays Distracts From Real Issue: Leadership

[unhappycamper]

Pentagon Survey on Gays Distracts From Real Issue: Leadership
Aaron Belkin
Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Palm Center at UCSB
Posted: July 12, 2010 03:50 PM

Last week, the Pentagon released a survey about "don't ask, don't tell" to 400,000 US service members . Gay groups pounced immediately, complained about the survey's bias and aired their grievances to journalists who provided them with a great deal of air time.

The Pentagon survey is flawed, to be sure. Several questions ask whether gays or lesbians impact unit cohesion "a lot," "a little," "some," or "not at all," with no way to indicate whether that effect is positive or negative.

Perhaps even more troubling, the survey asks questions that would never be posed of other minority groups. Can you imagine asking, "How would you feel about sharing a tent with a Catholic soldier?" Such questions stigmatize the minority group under consideration, thus sending a signal that undermines efforts to promote equality. As Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations, said recently: "...t's not our practice to go within our military and poll our force to determine if they like the laws of the land or not...That gets you into a very difficult regime."

Yet while there are valid criticisms to be made of the survey, dwelling on it ultimately amounts to a distraction. While we value and welcome the feedback of the troops, the most important question now is whether the White House and Department of Defense will show leadership in insisting on non-discriminatory regulations to replace "don't ask, don't tell."

The answer to this question does not depend on whether 47 percent, 53 percent, or 62 percent of the troops respond to a question in a certain way. Rather, the key is whether President Obama, Secretary Gates, and Chairman Mullen will insist on non-discrimination after they receive the Pentagon's study in December.

[zipplewrath]

1. This is going very badly

This survey is just another worry bead in the chain that is potentially being built. It isn't just about overturning DADT. Sexual orientation cannot be an issue in the military at all. No special rules, barracks, assignments, or other regulations. No requirement to "declare" ones orientation. No punishment for past lies to cover ones orientation. No category of assignments "excluded" for particular members.

But this survey would seem to suggest that they are looking for support for exactly these kinds of accomodations for the bigots.

[RKP5637]

2. Imagine civil rights in the 60's decided by a survey. n/t