Lift The Ban
On May 31st, I posted a story about how the United States government had funded terrorist broadcasting on al Hurra television network in the Middle East. This happened because not a single one of the executives or officials at al Hurra spoke Arabic.
Why? Why don’t they have any Arabic speakers among their personnel?
I can’t say for sure but I can say that over 11,000 service members have been discharged from the military in the last 14 years. It continues to happen to this day even though the military is having trouble meeting recruiting quotas and desperately needs members to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of these 11,000, 300 were speakers of critical languages.
Why were they discharged? They were openly gay.
When the military acts against their own best interests because of a archaic anti-gay policy something needs to be done.
Robert Greenwald at Brave New Foundation has a new video out about the ban.
You can also help by signing the petition to your Member of Congress to sign the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.
jan:
If people just speak English loudly enough, foreigners will understand them.
I learned that from Americans and English people when I was in Spain.
20 June 2007, 7:18 pmLAW:
this has never ever made any sense to me. I have been involved with military since I was a wee person. Since my husband has been in the military, we have had quite a few friends who may or may not have been, but no one asked, and none of us gave a damn either. I never could figure out why they didn't want gay people in the military. Anyone who wants to serve, and who has the physical and mental capability to do so… should do so!
LAW
20 June 2007, 7:42 pmjen:
I have never understood so much about the military but this just boils me up. They'd rather have an 18 year old from a poor city who has no idea what they're getting into over someone who has multiple language skills but 'damnit he's straight!' Ugh.
23 June 2007, 11:06 amSally:
When translators are SO needed in the military why does the military turn soldiers who can translate? It just makes no sense at all! The arguments against gays in the military seem so ridiculous when you consider how many problems and deaths their translating could prevent!
23 June 2007, 4:39 pm