In case what I am saying is not understood, look at Fri’s response to BootsieGee. This person totally takes Boot’s comment, chews it up and spits it right back in his face. It’s downright mean.

Most soldiers do not enlist so they can get some morbid satisfaction out of killing innocent victims. They enlist because they are proud of and want to serve their country to protect it. In this particular war, there are many soldiers enlisting because they think and are “TOLD” their service will help bring this fiasco to an end. In other words, they are told boldface lies. I seriously doubt the majority of soldiers (gay, straight or bisexual) join for an egotistical power trip.

I’m sure a few men and women alike do join for some of those reasons Fir listed. But to label even one that you do not know personally is the same as labeling them all. That is just as bad as labeling all gays as second class citizens which is EXACTLY what DADT does.

This conversation shouldn’t even be about why the war is wrong or why a soldier enlists. It is about discrimination against gays in our miliatary — plain and simple. Whether we agree with war or not, our country needs a military force. We also need that military to be fair and just, starting with our own countrymen.

I’ll end my comment by stating that I do not support this war and I also strongly feel we shouldn’t have started it in the first place. In a nutshell we, the American people (that includes our soldiers), were lied to. Unfortunately, what’s done is done and that is what we have to deal with. We also need a President in office that will work towards ending this war and not drag it out for another 100 years.

I went through three horrible investigations for being gay and can tell you that sitting in a small room, being asked to sign away your rights, threathened with jail time and having someone tell you that they are repulsed by your presence is no walk in the park.

For many people the military is a way to make something of yourself. Only he knows what drove him to the military. Just as I know what drove me.

I wish him the very best of luck in whatever he decides to do and applaud his courage and the fact that he has maintained his dignity through what I am sure has been a somewhat scary path.

In the first place, it’s not their bill, although they support it. DADT is a bigoted law authored by Obama’s top advisor and rumored VP nominee Sam Nunn, a bigot. It was passed overwhelmingly by bigoted Democrats and signed by a bigoted Democrat, Bill Clinton, also infamous for going the air to boast about signing DOMA during his ’96 reelection bid.

Secondly, the Democrats control Congress, not the Republicans. You remember. The Democrats were elected in 2006 based on their promise to end the war. How many GI’s and Iraqis have died since they betrayed that promise.

The Democrats could have junked DADT at any time, but decided not to. Maybe it’s because they were so very, very busy shredding ENDA and junking it and the hate crimes bill. How many more Lawrence Kings will die because Democrats and Republicans sent a joint message that we’re fair game?

And where was fearless leader and bestest ever friend of the GLBT communities Obama when all this was going on? Obama was busily blowing air kisses at the Rev. Donnie McClurkin of course.

Good Luck to Darren Manzella in his fight to end the Democrats DADT. And Good Luck to all the soldiers, sailors, air crew and marines trapped in the genocidal conflict in Iraq. I hope they make it home ok.

As for the issue, the government has its head up its ass. A year ago, the talking heads, one of whom was Condoleeza Rice, was complaining about how hard it was to get Arabic translators. I think it was the late Tim Russert (?) on Meet The Press who asked if the State Dept. had a ban on Gays. No, only the military was the answer. So, it was pointed out there were all these military guys kicked out, but they were proficient, passed their security clearance etc. What is the problem? I don’t remember the answer, but I’m sure it was some diplomatic double talking bullshit. Yes folks, Gay folk REALLY are more dangerous than terrorist, apparently.

There. I fixed it for you.