MILITARY: Since when do Islamists call the shots?
DEAN URIBE; Olympia
Re: “Retain policy of don’t ask, don’t tell” (letter, 2-5).
There is no evidence that allowing gays to openly serve in the military is detrimental to the safety or security of those serving or that it would jeopardize the order and discipline within the military in general. To the contrary, 31 countries allow gays to serve openly, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Israel. None has suffered in readiness or in the ability to accomplish its mission.
It is no surprise that the writer’s viewpoint is found in the military because that institution allows a wide variety of people to serve. It even allows bigots.
If we follow his reasoning to its logical conclusion, the only choice we have is to abandon our principles and to do whatever the radical Islamists want. Perhaps the writer is comfortable with that, but I’m not. Our country has always stood for liberty and justice, and we should continue to do so even it that means the radicals of the world want to blow us up.