Conservative Corner: The Crucible of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – Part III of IV
In the McCarthy era of the 1950s it wasn’t uncommon to accuse any homosexual of being unpatriotic. They were considered perverse, un-American, a threat. They were outed, fired and permanently ostracized, all with the US Government’s stamp of approval. Some people still think along those lines. But what about our most patriotic Americans, those who sign a contract with the military or as a peace officer that swears their allegiance to this nation, to the point where they would willingly die for our liberties and protection?
Joseph McCarthy (photo: Wikipedia Commons)
It can’t remain unsaid that some of our most outspoken anti-military activists are in the gay and lesbian community. So it’s fair to question why they are in such an uproar over the policy of DADT in the first place. Yet this goes beyond equality and into much more intrinsic and visceral meanings of what it means to serve our country, to live with honor, to truly be an American. The crux of the issue is patriotism. No quest for equality will ever be fulfilled if we have no nation left to defend. Our nation cannot continue to disenfranchise its best and bravest. It’s unconscionable.
What does it mean to you to be a patriot?
For me it means my flag. It means everything that America is – - the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence. It means that when I die, that flag covers my casket, to show that I served my country proudly. It’s everything America stands for. It’s the freedoms, the rights, the country we have. I love everything about it. I love my country. I love the people, the cultures . . . that’s why I serve in the U. S. Army is to make sure I maintain what we’ve got. When I hear the National Anthem, and I salute, to this day, it sends chills down my spine.
(photo: Wikipedia Commons)
I’m so proud of how I feel about my country. It makes me more of a patriot serving as a gay man, because it’s not as easy for me as it is for everyone else. I’m treated like a second-class citizen. My rights don’t count like a non-gay person’s does. There are things that they have that I’m not allowed to have. I’m not allowed marriage, domestic partner benefits, the ability to – - – when my friend killed himself, they sealed the door downstairs and said “only his wife and family could come in to see him.” What if his partner wants to come in there? Why can’t he come in there? What if his family hated gay people? What could we have done? It’s not right. It’s not right that we’re treated like second-class citizens just because of our sexual orientation. Therefore, I’m more of a patriot because of the challenges I have to face everyday, yet still maintain my career, my status, and who I am every day. I put my uniform on every day to go to work, and every day I come home a gay man, yet I wear it proudly and do a damned good job. (Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army)
Defending what our country is about and everything that we have. As far as being gay, I feel no more or no less of a patriot. It was a conscious decision knowing that I would have to hide my sexual orientation upon entering the service. (Lt. Commander, U.S. Navy)
To love your fellow man, your fellow countrymen, rather. To do everything you can to make his life better and safer. I feel more ostracized, but it doesn’t affect my love for the people in my country. No matter how much they may say they hate you, the only way you can defeat that, is by continuing to love them. (E3, U.S. Marine Corps)
As a profession of arms we are the only profession where we actually put our lives on the line for our country. Right now I’ve got two colleagues of mine who are deployed for 6 months over in Afghanistan. They are working 12-hour days, 7 days a week. If they are lucky they get to talk for 45 minutes on Skype. One guy’s wife just delivered their baby, so he wasn’t there for it. Every day we as a team have the sirens, the rocket attacks, and living with the thought that we have to put our lives on the line in an unsafe environment for the sake of national security. I think that when it comes to doing my job and showing my patriotism, I’m no different than the person who stands right next to me. (Major, U.S. Air Force)
A patriot is somebody with a just heart willing to lay his life on the line for what he believes, and for his country. I consider myself to be an equal patriot, maybe even more of a patriot than most, but I don’t think that has anything to do with being gay. But, then again, you have to look at the psychological reasons for having the strong convictions to begin with. It might be because I’m gay, who knows? It’s helped shape me into who I’ve become. It’s part of me. It’s not all of me, that’s for damned sure, but it’s a significant part of me. (Sheriff’s Sergeant in a California County)
Part IV will encompass a discussion of the role of the military in shaping character and manhood, and some additional thoughts from these gentlemen.
US Marine Corps War Memorial - Iwo Jima Monument (photo: Wikipedia Commons)
