‘The reputation of manliness, which we know to be an important component of military honor, is in practice incompatible with the imputation either of homosexuality or of weakness and cowardice’
“This is not, of course, to say that homosexuals are weak or cowardly–only that the reputation of manliness, which we know to be an important component of military honor, is in practice incompatible with the imputation either of homosexuality or of weakness and cowardice. Now presumably an argument for the armed forces’ being required to accept gay recruits is that it doesn’t have to mean this, and that this simple reality is merely the product of custom and convention and no essential part of the moral and emotional equipment of men capable of nerving themselves to face combat. Possibly they are right. But what if they are wrong? Is there any way to find out without taking a real risk with national security? Are the advocates of gays in the military prepared to say, fiat justitia, ruat caelum?” —James Bowman arguing against repealing DADT in the Weekly Standard in what’s been dubbed “The Worst Argument You’ve Ever Read For Banning Openly Gay People From the Military”. Bowman described his own argument as: “There are sound reasons–unbigoted ones–for our policy on gays in the military.”
Because we all know what it means to be a manly soldier.
The clip you link to at the end where it states “to be a manly soldier” is one of the most vile things I have witnessed. I would have broken that guys neck and threw him off the cliff if I was anywhere near.
Do “manly’ soldiers give each other “high fives” when they kill an enemy?
Because the Samurai and the Spartans were totally never gay for each-other at all…
So are columns by self-professed experts in military matters who are really nothing more than bigoted movie reviewers.
Oh snap.
Funny.
I can guess what kind of response he might get if he said that to one of the Kray brothers.
Honey, if we really wanted to win the war on terror, we would send in a platoon of southern black drag queens. There would be so many embedded heels in heads it would take a prybar to extract them.
“But what if they are wrong?”
The usual doubt-sowing tactic, never backed up with facts and numbers.
Google “SOLDIER PINK BOXERS” click the “images” tab, view and tell that kid he is not “manly” I wonder how much combat Bowman saw…………..
I’m sure the thousands of women in the military will enjoy finding out that they’re only allowed in because they’re ‘manly’!
How does his argument of manliness stand up against the admission of women into the forces?
I am gay, and I served in Iraq… And I think I am pretty manly. I didn’t bitch and cry in combat. I didn’t try to suck anyone off in combat. I didn’t even concern myself with nail hygiene. As a matter of fact, I bet I could kick the blue blazing fuck out of that guy. I wonder if he would think I was a pussy then…