U.S. allies say integrating gays in military was nonissue

[marmar]

via MichaelMoore.com:



May 21st, 2010 6:00 PM
U.S. allies say integrating gays in military was nonissue

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By Larry Shaughnessy / CNN


Washington — The U.S. and its military allies agree on many things, from the size of bullets for their rifles to the design of future fighter jets. But on the issue of gays in the military, the United States stands alone among its Western allies.

Representatives from Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Israel and the Netherlands gathered Wednesday at the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington, to describe how the militaries in those countries handled allowing homosexuals to serve openly. The consensus was that, in spite of concerns before the change, it became a nonissue once gays and lesbians were allowed to serve.

"I did not see one case at any level when homosexuals did not get along with other soldiers. The problems are among men and women," said Maj. Gen. Walter Semianiw, an infantry officer in the Canadian military. "This is not an issue for our country."

"We know the U.S. as a country that favors the individual rights, freedom, giving the people the opportunity to flourish in their life," said Col. Kees Matthijssen of the Royal Dutch Army. "From that perspective it's still very strange the U.S. is still having a kind of ban on openly having gays and lesbians in the military."

"There were concerns in the late '90s of gay men walking across the gangplank in feather boas and high heels," said retired Lt. Cmdr. Craig Jones of the British Royal Navy. "That just did not happen."

Jones said British military officials saw an unexpected benefit of allowing gays to serve openly -- better retention of qualified soldiers and sailors in key positions. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the British military had a 6 percent to 8 percent gap in unfilled positions. Now it's down to the 2 percent to 3 percent range.

Jones said one reason for that is the new policy allowing gays to serve. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latest-news/us-allies-say-integrating-gays-military-was-nonissue

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. There will be a few growing pains

like having some educational sessions. After that it is A NON ISSUE.

<-------- been there, done that, got the t-shirt... and the long talk\ educational moment, what have you.

[laughingliberal]

2. Yes but those countries are not Theocracies. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Neither are we

last time I checked, all fantasies to the contrary emerging from the 700 club

[laughingliberal]

6. I know. It just feels more like it all the time. nt

[Kerrytravelers]

7. Funny, I was kind of thinking along those same lines.

We're so puritanical, especially considering the countries mentioned above (to my knowledge). Although, I do think it will be far more smooth than our brass anticipate. The majority of the screaming and tantrum throwing will be from the screwball righties. Any soldier that complains will be their new hero.

But I really think it's time to move this along, provided that all the safety measures and necessary trainings are being implemented for our LGBTQ soldiers. The last thing we need to do is have one of these rw nuts hurt or kill a gay or lesbian soldier over this. We are a bit of a violent people.

[laughingliberal]

10. +1 well said. eom

[kenny blankenship]

4. Apples and oranges! American str8 men are so much more FINICKY and DRAMA PRONE

than their Euro counterparts. What works OK in Europe and Israel won't automatically work here. Talk about your Princess and the Pea scenarios - if you let American troops think there's so much as ONE "homo" loose in the unit, you'll have to pry all the he-men down from the chandeliers with a broom. They're so, you know, emotional and once they become overwrought, you just can't calm them down.

[EFerrari]

8. I hope there are no gays in Al Qaida!

[political_Dem]

5. It needs to be done. The Military and the POTUS has to meet and finally get the ball rolling.

[unblock]

9. of course not. it's integrating the bigots that's the big problem.