Captain Owen P. Honors Jr., who commanded the USS Enterprise (the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier) during missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, thought it’d be useful to train his Navy sailors using videos showing women showering together. And men dressed up in drag. And featuring him throwing “fag” all over theh place. “Over the years I’ve gotten several complaints about inappropriate material during these videos,” says Honors in the introduction. So “fags” should “hug themselves for the next twenty minutes.” The videos, made in 2006 and 2007, were broadcast to the ship’s 6,000 sailors. The Virginian-Pilot notes the videos were shot and edited on the Enterprise, using government equipment. And now the Navy says it’s very interested in knowing how all this happened, launching an investigation into Honors’ little movie screenings.
When the videos were made, Honors was the ship’s executive officer (or XO) and second-in-command. Now he — with his frequently appearing blurred-out penis “little XO — is now running the ship.
In the videos, Honors indicates that he’s trying to entertain the crew. They were shown roughly once a week on closed-circuit shipwide television, according to a handful of sailors who were assigned to the Enterprise at the time. The sailors requested anonymity for fear of retribution. One of them said he mailed a complaint about the videos to the Navy Inspector General this week. Others said crew members who raised concerns aboard the ship in 2006 and 2007 were brushed off. The videos were part of what Honors, 49, called “XO Movie Night.” “They were the XO’s project,” said one former Enterprise sailor, a ship video-grapher who on one occasion was asked to help in the filming. “He was the one coming up with scripts and the jokes. He was the one planning it.”
The Enterprise, the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is set to deploy overseas this month. The videos raise serious questions about Honors’ judgment, especially while the carrier is under way, said another sailor, an officer aboard the Enterprise who was also there when the videos were being shown. “When the ship pulls away from that pier, he’s it,” the officer said. “To me, that’s scary.” It’s unclear why the videos recently resurfaced, although one sailor who spoke to the newspaper said they remain on at least one shipboard computer.
Honors is a native of Syracuse, N.Y., and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983. He went on to fly the F-14 Tomcat and work as a test pilot before serving as XO on the Enterprise from July 2005 to September 2007. Honors did not respond to requests for comment. Neither did the Enterprise’s then-commanding officer, Larry Rice, who was later promoted to the rank of the rear admiral and now works at the Norfolk-based U.S. Joint Forces Command.
Why are the videos, which also include scenes of a sailor being anally probed, such a big deal? Because when the ship sets off with thousands of sailors aboard, this homophobe is the one setting the tone of deployment, and he has the final say of all men and women aboard the carrier. And with the inevitable full repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, gay and lesbian soldiers will finally be able to legally identify as such on the job, and these videos send the message they are better off remaining the closet. Which might make sense anyhow: While soldiers will no longer be able to be discharged for being gay, there is still no anti-discrimination policy in the military. Capt. Honors just made clear he has no respect for gay and lesbian servicemembers, and cannot effectively lead them in wartime on par with heterosexual sailors.
The Navy says in a statement “production of videos, like the ones produced four to five years ago on USS Enterprise and now being written about in the Virginian-Pilot, were not acceptable then and are still not acceptable in today’s Navy. The Navy does not endorse or condone these kinds of actions.” That comes after the Navy released a statement saying the videos were “not created with the intent to offend anyone. The videos were intended to be humorous skits focusing the crew’s attention on specific issues such as port visits, traffic safety, water conservation, ship cleanliness, etc.”
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Now Honors will face an investigation ordered by Adm. John Harvey, the four-star head of the Navy’s Fleet Forces Command. And with Honors repeatedly insisting through that videos that even his commanding officers were unaware of the content, does that mean his bosses are off the hook? Not necessarily. Being ignorant of your underlings’ actions doesn’t mean you’re innocent. And if the videos really were broadcast to the Enterprise’s 6,000 sailors, it seems nearly impossible Honors’ higher ups were in the dark.
Ted B. (Charging Rhino)
It’s IMPOSSIBLE that his superiors didn’t know if it was on ship-wide CCTV, the Task Force entire flag-staff are on-board as-well as the Task Force’s commanding Admiral.
Rick Gold
Anal probing for “fun” and “enjoyment.”
No homo.
DR
sophomoric, juvenile and frat-ish, but hardly offensive. Waste of an investigation, the vid is 4-5 years old. We have more important things to think about than juvenile videos made by bored sailors trying to blow off a bit of steam.
Some people need to grow up, some need a thicker skin.
Fitz
Says a lot about the culture there… so even though DADT is supposedly dead, take a moment to think about how hard it is going to be for the out-GLB people there. Talk about being at a party where you know you aren’t welcome! And risking your life to do so? Braver men than me, I can tell you that much.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Think someone was just a little too hung up on the Gays??…….
Who wants to lay odds that Honors will be dis”Honor”ably discharges once the tales of sexual harrassment start to surface……….
This Year
Please make sure to support our new leaders:
http://www.GetEqual.com
if you’re serious about equality, please keep the show going.
Bob
I thought this was supposed to be something offensive. Though slightly raunchy at times, if this offends you, you need some time in a pickling vat—–toughen the skin a little.
Richard Hn
I believe this video is not anti-gay. I wrote a comment about it in response to another comment from a navy veteran who supported Capt. Honors: Thank you! [to the navy veteran] I’m a licensed psychologist and think the video is a harmless way of having some fun. I was never in the service, let alone on a ship for months at a time, and appreciate comments from people who do have the experience. Captain Honors seems like a guy who is HUMAN and has a sense of humor. C’mon people–guys can poke fun like this video without having any mean or harmful intention. This guy is a mensch, in my opinion–he sure beats my stereotype of some uptight Capt. Bligh! I wonder if Bill Shatner (another Enterprise captain…duh!) has seen this video? I honestly believe he’d be proud. 🙂 President Obama–please keep Captain Honors at his post!
Steve O'Leary
It rocks!
He should be given a Navy Achievement medal!
glennmcgahee
Now we know what transpired after Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” show. No longer were the ship’s resources needed for battle.
Grax
There is a difference between raunchy light hearted videos and thinly veiled homophobia. Hopefully Honor’s commanding officers can tell the difference and act accordingly.
Jay Cruz
If you’ve never been out to sea for 6 months straight you will never understand…
After the first week there is a sense of loneliness like no other and each shipmate has to become a close friend. The only way to maintain any sense of sanity is to make fun of it. And that’s all I gotta say about that.
Joe
@Richard Hn: how is using the word “fag” harmless?
you must have your “degree” from Liberty University.
Ted B. (Charging Rhino)
It’s not that it’s particularity obscene..or homophobic. The issue is that it would seem to be inappropriate, and calls into question his leadership abilities.
And also the issue of why this was ignored for years….
jason
This Owens creep is against fags but he’s OK with two women showering together? LOL. Doesn’t this creep realize that two women together is a homosexual act? This mentality in the American male has been caused by liberalism and the porn industry.
No wonder so many are scared of DADT repeal...
… They all act like a bunch of dumbazz frat boys.
Kinda scary when you think about it…
Atemadorous
All I am concerned about is a man, A XO acting like a collage kid on spring break, While in command of a nuclear aircraft carrier . I Just hope RT News doesn’t get a copy of it.
Richard Hn
To Joe– I know a number of gay guys who are good friends of mine and with each other and call each other fags. Couldn’t you tell those guys in the vid liked each other enough to feel ok to say those things? And hear that nobody then said anything as a put-down about gays? (as in “Hey, I’m no fucking fag!”) On the contrary, the guy on the right said “don’t screw with me” and referred to the guy who said fag that he had something like the smoothest hand when they brought up masturbation…a great come-back, I think.
Rob
People wake up….this guy is the XO, 2nd in command on the Enterprise. Is this really showing leadership? Honors needs to be dishonored.
John
@Ted B. (Charging Rhino): This would be my biggest concern with this video. This is something that I expect from junior officers or enlisted, not from the XO. I’ve seen worse. Yet this was from the XO??? That’s something which gives me pause.
Wishing For the Best for my Former CO
whats the best part about all the complaints saying he shouldn’t be in command of a ship and shouldn’t be trusted to be fair is crap, between the videos making and now he had commanded another ship the USS MT Whitney and served with distinction. While there he commanded the ship on numerous missions, including a Humanitarian Aid Mission to The Republic of Georgia. He is very upfront about his beliefs, which is a nice change from other Captains i have sailed under who say one thing but do another. When you went before the Old Man you knew exactly were you stood. He was Fair to all, but if you messed up he held you accountable for your actions. These videos are like all the other videos servicemen make while out to sea or deployed, they are an attempt at humor to make a long voyage away from home slightly less miserable. And were not meant to be mean spirited or heartless.
Richard Hn
I have read comments from people at other websites — either they served or were spouses of others who served under Honors–they were very supportive without any hint of homophobia or gay bashing. The emphasized how the videos were big morale boosters and that Honors was able to relate to all levels of the crew–a rare and fine thing in a leader! I still view the video as a humorous way of *realistically* portraying some things on shipboard–not living in denial about people sharing showers, masturbating, etc. Playfulness shows real self-confidence, I believe. Enough from me.
Jason Goblirsch
@Ted B. (Charging Rhino): You are a queer
Jason Goblirsch
You are a queer
Jason Goblirsch
None of you have ever seen or been on a ship. He is a great captain and a great leader. How can you tell me how good of a leader he is when you have never been around him, that is ignorance.
Jason Goblirsch
and by the way you are a queer
Rob
Hey #21….you just don’t get it. Honors is an officer in the United States Navy. An officer is a member of an armed force or in some cases uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position. Producing these type of videos, just to humor the troops and build morale….is not only vulgar, but truly a disgrace to all the fine military men and women who serve in our armed forces. I guess next would think it appropriate and fun for our President to make a video on the same level.
Rob
@Jason Goblirsch: get your hand out of the sand and wake up….
Capt. James T. Hook
Is some queer upset cause people don’t care about being sensitive. Its a joke, I get it.
Fitz
Hey, I paid for that video, and I don’t like it one bit. Find a BETTER way to raise moral, especially if you are using tax payer’s cash.
Jason Goblirsch
No you paid for as to be out to sea and fly planes, what we do on the ship is not your fucking business.
ewe
Juvenile straight white boy who never ever grew up, lives in a taxpaid culture that forever insulates and encourages immunity from prosecution. Nothin is going to happen to him. He should be stripped of his veteran status and any future pension. What a brat. A little boy acting like he is in the seventh grade and stupid stupid stupid. Poking fun in a carrier when others are dying and getting their limbs blown off. He is a disgrace.
ewe
@Jason Goblirsch: He is an immature brat. Who are you fucking trying to bullshit? It’s disgraceful. It crosses the line and no one in your so called club you think you are apart of is going to publicly agree with you.
Malcom Diggs
I don’t find the video offensive. I find it silly and lacking polished editing skills. If there are insults in the video they are aimed lightly at gay males not necessarily towards lesbian. They seem to be OK with girl-girl activities. Nonetheless, the video shows that our military needs to do more physical fitness and less junk food eating.
There should be no waste of time and resources on an investigation. What’s to investigate. He should put disclaimers in his videos next time if there is a next time.
Fitz
I think the bulk of the support argument is either “hey, boys will be boys” or “but everyone loves it”. Pretty pathetic.
John
@Jason Goblirsch: Pssst, Jason: Take a look at the name of this website!
Odds are most of the people who visit and/or comment here are “queer”. How about you? Dumbass.
John
@Malcom Diggs: I’m disturbed that this came from the XO, as it is very inappropriate given his position. However, from what I understand he was told to stop and did back in 2007, which he did, and nothing came of this as he was promoted to CO in 2008. Unless there is something more on these videos or someone has a serious complaint that’s substantiated, they should let this one go. Just give current and future XO’s a heads up that this isn’t a good idea at all.
John
@Malcom Diggs: I’m disturbed that this came from the XO, as it is very inappropriate given his position. However, from what I understand he was told to stop and did back in 2007 and nothing came of this as he was promoted to CO in 2008. Unless there is something more on these videos or someone has a serious complaint that’s substantiated, they should let this one go. Just give current and future XO’s a heads up that this isn’t a good idea at all.
hephaestion
This is the same ship which was responsible was dropping a bomb on Afghanistan which has “Hijack this fags” on it after 9/11.
If you don’t recall, let this jog your memory:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fag_bomb
All of the leadership of the USS Enterprise needs to be given a dishonorable discharge immediately.
John
@hephaestion: What the hell? Honors wasn’t onboard the Enterprise when that happened!
http://tinyurl.com/22kw698
These videos were made back in 2006 when he was XO. He reportedly stopped when he was told to back in 2007. The “leadership of the USS Enterprise”, by which I suppose you mean all the senior officers, have changed a couple of times since 2001 and undoubtedly has undergone changes since 2006. Why the hell do you want to fire the whole kit-and-kaboodle for something that happened years before most of them were aboard???
hephaestion
@Jay Cruz: No, unless YOU have never had to fear for your life every day of your life because of who God created you to be, YOU will never understand. The bad old days of 3rd class citizenship for gay soldiers is coming to an end. This kind of anti-gay bullshit WILL NEVER happen again or heads will roll. And dishonorable discharges WILL be issued.
The behavior of Mr. Honors is a disgrace to our nation.
John
@hephaestion: Being gay and having served in the Navy myself, I understand the sentiment but given the force of your comments have to wonder whether this is really about what Honors did or about revenge. I understand the anger, I really do, but no one can undo the past. Nobody can turn back the clock and ditch DADT so I could have had the much longer military career than I was able to. Yet none of this means I want to make someone else suffer because of it. Unless there is more to this story I can’t see giving Honors more than a reprimand, if even that since he reportedly stopped making these when told to. I sure as hell see nothing here deserving of a dishonorable discharge.
prizepatrol
Only ousted? I bet he’s a self-loathing closeted homosexual himself who should be outed too. Maybe he’ll enjoy the punishment.
hephaestion
Honors said: “Over the years I’ve gotten several complaints about inappropriate materials in these videos, never to me personally but, gutlessly, through other channels.”
GUTLESSLY??? Is he serious??? How the hell could a gay soldier under DADT complain about anti-gay videos being made at taxpayer expense and shown on his/her ship without being tossed out of the military for being gay? Heads DO need to roll, not for this, but for the MANY times the military DID ask and DID investigate gay soldiers without due cause… and then end their careers because they found some evidence that a soldier was gay. The policy was “DON’T ask, Don’t tell.” Yet they often DID ask and DID spy on gay soldiers in order to kick them out.
ME
In responce to hephaestion it was the Vinson that wrote it on the Bombs! and proud to have!!!!!!
ME
In responce to hephaestion it was the Vinson that wrote it on the Bombs! and proud to have served on the Vinson
jckfmsincty
Why hasn’t he already been dismissed from his post by the President?
ewe
@John: that was it. just stop. that was the only reprimand? come on now. Stop acting as if that is sufficient. this type of behavior is criminal in the private sector.
ewe
@jckfmsincty: because straight white guys feel entitled to do things they punish others for.
ewe
@prizepatrol: you got that right. he is definitely into hangin with the boys alright. Nothing wrong with that except when you play hyper homophobe which is what all this video is.
DouglasUrantia
While not perfect I would be happy to served under this XO and now CO. Sailors of whatever rank should be allowed to have all the fun they want. I served under some ignorant officers. This XO shows me he’s a human being. Most officers thinks they’re G.o.ds.
Capt. Honors gets my vote.
afrolito
If this naval captain was black, I wonder how many in here would be defending and excusing his behavior? My guess would be ZERO, and this topic would also have 10 times as many replies.
DouglasUrantia
@afrolito: ….having served in the Navy it would make no difference what his race is. He’s is basically talking like a real human being in these clips. I would gather that his fellow officers and staff support him 100%.
Danny
So the Commander has sent a message to the 2 billion+ people on Earth with gay relatives that the US military is homophobic. Way to win friends and influence people – what a waste of taxpayer dollars for such immature antics. And these are the people who control our nuclear weapons. That should give everyone pause.
afrolito
@DouglasUrantia:
Bullshit. If he was black, he would be cyber-lynched on this site.
DouglasUrantia
@Danny: ….having a little five minutes of video fun and controlling nukes are two VERY different things. I am sure and have no doubts this CO knows the difference. Sailors are human beings too, just in case a few people seem to have missed the point. I would have enjoyed serving with this XO. Is he a homophobe? I doubt it.
DouglasUrantia
@afrolito: …granted, there is always that wacko one percent.
David Ehrenstein
http://fablog.ehrensteinland.com/2011/01/02/fair-diver-goodbye-sailor/
afrolito
@DouglasUrantia:
One percent? LMAO!
Rick
@DR:
I agree wholeheartedly.
DouglasUrantia
@DR: …..strongly agree. There is a time for war and a time for fun.
Atomicrob
What would happen if he donned black-face “shoe polish and sang Mamie?
The point is, this guy is jerk, no matter how you cut it, although, what’s with the Navy boys doing drag all the time?
If it quacks like a duck, well . . .
DouglasUrantia
@Atomicrob: ….this OX is a grad of Annapolis which isn’t exactly Ivy League. Annapolis is often frat boy on steroids.
WilliamG
I’m gay and in the (aussie) navy and that vid is disgusting.
Someone passed it off as just fratboy. Ridiculous excuse. The navy is a professional organization. He should lose his commission.
WilliamG
@Atomicrob: been in years and the drag always amazes me. It’s never the gay ones!
B
No. 12 · Jay Cruz wrote, “If you’ve never been out to sea for 6 months straight you will never understand…”
You don’t have to be out to sea for 6 months straight to understand: to paraphrase Vladimir Lenin, “you don’t make art without breaking eggs.” It takes some false starts before you produce a decent video, and these guys aren’t professional screen writers or directors.
Also, his target audience probably does not consist of a group of guys interested in the contributions of Authur Shopenhauer to philosophy and his influence on Richard Wagner.
WilliamG
@Jay Cruz: Absolute garbage. That may be how you’ve learnt to deal with those feelings at sea but the rest of us are fine with healthy close friendships we don’t need to make fun of to deal with.
You speak as if your experiences are universal, next time you share your experiences chuck in a ‘imho’ for good measure.
Nobody will know what it’s like to be out there for month after month, and they certainly get even less of an idea when you dribble shit like that.
WilliamG
@Richard Hn: so by your logic white navy boys can run-around saying nigger all they want as long as its directed at a friend?
April
He gave us laughter when it was few and far between. He gave us hope and he always supported us. You can go underway for six months and be fine, but i know for a fact both reactor and ENG looked foward to those skits (thank you uss enterprise). Gay straight male or female almost everyone loved the moves . Oaky ten people got offended. Well im sorry but 5000 people smiled. Smiles tended to be rare between at the time. Really he deserves a medal for taking the risk to make so many people “just get through the day”
Wishing For the Best for my Former CO
Here are a couple of questions for all you out there. 1. Have you ever had a boss, co-worker, or friend act like this? 2. did you laugh, or did you hang them? 3. have you ever met the man personally?
and now i’ll respond to all these questions myself, yes i served with the guy and when i went to both HS and College we had others just like him. Which is very refreshing when one has a friend who is very upfront with there views, and dont try to sugarcoat them to make them more acceptable and PC. and lets not forgot that all would laugh nearby. so how about everyone get off there HIGH HORSES and stop being hypocrites.
and #27, yes i know that he was an officer in the Navy, one who i wish was still my CO. and if the president would make a video i would probably watch it and laugh. and how do we know the president has never done something like this before.
afrolito
@April:
You sound stupid. If people need to get through the day with a little homophobia, then they have some serious fucking issues.
Daez
@Rob: Is making a video to boost the morale of your troops, and lets be honest that is exactly what this did, by trying to identify to their level a great way to show leadership?
ABSOLUTELY!
You will note that when he became Admiral, a position that takes you above being close to your units, which is what the XO is for, and actually commands the ship, he stopped doing the videos.
Daez
@ewe: Ewe, oh adorable Ewe, I would gladly put you on a ship, as a deckhand, in the middle of the South Pacific, but since you would refuse to go, you need to just shut the hell up about this one.
The truth is, not a single one of you bitching about this would actually get on that ship to serve in the Navy, and those that have already gotten on a ship to serve in the Navy are not the ones bitching about this.
Its a minor incident, and the only reason it is even gaining attention now is due to the whole DADT repeal era.
Daez
@hephaestion: What exactly does this have to do with Honors? NOTHING!
Stop trying to punish someone that had very little control over what was done to gay soldiers for what was done to gay soldiers.
If you have a problem with something then go to the source not send it through another channel.
Also, these videos, as far as I can tell are MUCH MUCH MUCH more offensive to women than they are to gays, and you don’t see them calling for his head.
Daez
@ewe: Oh please, now go ahead and back up your claim that making a video is criminal in the private sector. Apparently, you have never heard of freedom of speech and the first amendment? Stuff that is worse than this gets shown everyday on MTV and BET in rap videos.
Daez
@Wishing For the Best for my Former CO: You are asking the wrong people this set of questions, since none of them would laugh and all of them would go after the persons head be it boss, co-worker or friend.
Sometimes, people in the gay community get so tight assed that they forget they like getting fucked.
WilliamG
@April: And what are those ten people who were hurt while 5000 smiled supposed to do out there alone in the middle of the ocean? Just sit there and shut up, feeling even more isolated for the greater good. You narrow minded cunt, you and your attitude wouldn’t last ten minutes in the Australian navy, or the navy of any of your allies.
‘One in, all in’ mate.. Heard of it. We sailors stick together, not let others cop it so we can ‘smile’.
Daez
@WilliamG: Wait, so you are calling her a narrow minded cunt because she expects people to deal with their issues without being anal about it. If anyone was a narrow minded cunt it was you and those 10 people that got offended.
Here is what you do when you are offended about something, you SUCK it up and try to broaden your mind. Why the hell did we become a society about living in a closed box? Why can’t we just open our mind just a tad bit?
This is about as outrageous as South Park, and its always funny to see people that get highly offended by South Park because its those people you know are on the verge of a mental break down.
WilliamG
@Daez: mate you’re missing the point. In the navy we are taught to be ‘beyond reproach’ and to consider ‘one in all in’..
This isn’t a frat house, this isn’t a civilian company, it’s the god damn military.
I’ve served on Australian and American ships and I’ve never seen anything this unprofessional.
I’m not some jaded old queen. I’m in my 20’s and still in the navy and every time I see this shit, I see a friend I lost because this stuff got to him.
If the Navy couldn’t maintain good order and discipline, why would we let our tax dollars pay them. The civilians pay them all to be held accountable and do the right thing, every time.
WilliamG
@Daez: Tax payers pay the navy (which I am currently in) to be beyond reproach and held accountable to the highest standards. That’s why. Dickhead.
John
@ewe: In the end it doesn’t really matter what you or I think of this. Honors committed the ultimate sin: he was caught and in so doing has embarassed the Navy. For that he will be punished severely. The only question now is how many days will pass until he retires.
DR
The videos were made five years ago, and the folks complaining just come forward in 2010. So they file formal complaints, don’t get anywhere, and then go to the press when they don’t get their way despite Honors being told to stop the videos, which he does. Their desire to remain anonymous leads me to believe there is more to their bringing this to the press than just to air grievances, especially in light of how long ago these videos were shown…
evanh
Is this homophobic, or is it just super, super gay?
(Obviously it’s somewhat inappropriate – we understood that this stuff was acceptable semipublicly among enlisted personnel, but officers weren’t supposed to behave like this except privately amongst themselves and sometimes the watch NCOs. But…it’s hardly scandalous. And it’s extremely gay, in that Navy way where homoeroticism is always thinly veiled by homophobia.)
home gym sets
If he was gay and made movies that made fun of straight people, he’d be up for getting an Oscar.
Cam
I love how they are comparing these to the youtube vids that lower ranked soldiers make.
Yeah, with a few differences.
1. He was the second in command of the ship
2. His were broadcast out on the closed circut system on the ship.
3. he acknowledged that there had been complaints about the vids and mocked the complainers.
Look, if the guy thought that the crew of the ship needed to be entertained that badly, fine, assign a few folks to put some things together, or make sure that the stock of DVD’s was better, or play a DVD on the system. But using the equipment to broadcast to a captive audience, just seems very self serving and juvinlle for an XO.
Cam
Just noticed something…this guy isn’t wearing a wedding ring, fancies himself an actor/director and likes to film men int he shower….just saying.
Rob
@Daez: Boy…you just don’t get it. “to identify at their level is a great example of leadership”. What school did you graduate from? And I suppose now that he’s an Admiral, and does not do videos anymore, makes him what….not a good leader?
Rob
@Wishing For the Best for my Former CO: Wishing the best for your former CO. Well the best will be…..he’s history! If you don’t believe me….just stay tuned…they are calling for his head right now in Washington D.C.
ewe
@DouglasUrantia: well that means very little because who he is working for is the american people. And if you want to deny that, I want to hear someone say it in public please.
robert in NYC
Richard HN, the fact that you say you have “gay” friends who call each other “fags”, doesn’t excuse using the word. It is a derogatory word, always has been and always will be, no matter how you and your “gay” friends try to skew it. People who use it, usually straights, use it for a purpose and they know how it hurts and puts down people. Its the same situation when African-Americans use the equally derogatory “n” word with one another. Its not acceptable. Why is it gays don’t use derogatory words to use against straights? Have you ever wondered why they don’t? Its bad enough young kids in high school are being bullied with words such as this. Its hateful and demeaning. I doubt if this ignoramus would be shouting “fag” if his life were on the line in the field of combat knowing that the person about to save his life were gay.
To those apologists, what you’re doing is condoning slurs and you become part of the problem against your own people. Absolutely despicable.
ewe
@Daez: I am a taxpayer so you can shut up and shove your self assumed misguided opinions to yourself because like every pig in a public position who goes around dismissing everyone in order to puff up their small status which is what you are doing, i do not need to go into the military at my age to demand those being paid to serve by the american people act appropriately cunt. MTV and BET are private companies. Admit it Queen, You just want to his dick and are completely biased because of it. You have no idea what i or any fucking body has done in their past so shut it you ignorant twit and lastly, making discriminatory comments on film about gay people and women has nothin to do with DADT.
Rob
@Jason Goblirsch: Jason, Jason, Jason….I am sorry to say, that what you do on the ship is our business…
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society (in your case, and I’m assuming you are in a military unit, that society happens to be us, the American people) to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats.
What did you think….you were all Rambo’s and did not have to answer to anyone?
ewe
@John: If he retires and is permitted to simply walk away with benefits then this is just one more incident among many to come. That scenario would not be “severe punishment” at all. The guy is just a big ol overgrown brat. What an ego to think that he can do and say whatever the fuck he wants while wearing that uniform. No one with dignity in the armed forces will be coming to his defense but no one will punish him either because people like Daez thinks ManBoy is a SuperHYPERMAN. Yay.
John
@ewe: You obviously have never seen any Wog Day videos. I have no reason to seek this man’s head, especially 4-5 years after these videos were made. The biggest problem I had with this video was that it came from the XO, which strikes me as being inappropriate. If any disciplinary action should be taken because of this it should have happened 4-5 years ago. It’s probably more than what should happen to him, but I expect he’ll be forced to retire after possibly being relieved of command. That’s enough.
I have no idea what you mean by “Manboy” and “SuperHYPERMAN”.
Rob
@ewe: Right on….Daez is really in left field on this one. As for John….Honors needs to be diciplined, which I’ll leave that up to UCMJ on what form that shall be, and I don’t care if those videos were produced five years ago or yesterday.
Danny
@Douglas. Obivously you shouldn’t have access to nuclear weapons either. The behavior of the Commander is inexcusable. White people mock Black people the same way. Germans mocked Jews the same way. Muslims mock Christians the same way. Your need to excuse immature behavior among so-called “professionals” is appalling. You probably think it is cool that the fifth fleet of the US Navy parked alongside the east coast of Saudi Arabia is cool since it keeps the Christian-killing Saudi government in power so Americans can have their oil.
lee
@ewe: @ewe: EWE. you completely invalidate yourself using language such as yours…”straight whiteboy” it makes you what you are screaming against…you are a heterophobe…you want everyone to be forced to listen to your point of view without consideration that homosexuality may be considered by many as offensive and immoral.(and thus should be allowed to speak out against it)..yet you do not wish to hear others opinions. If you want to be able to voice your opinion freely then standby for the opposing view as well. You are typical as to what is wrong with this country..the attitude that you are somehow superior because you embrace a particular stand on an issue and are too intellectually weak to debate it so you want the opposition silenced. you are a sad little person
John
@Rob: Eager to claim a scalp to expiate the military’s “original sin” of DADT, eh? Because with all the hyperbole in this thread that’s exactly what this looks like.
Rob
@John: I am not looking to extinguish the guilt or some Yum Kippur regarding DADT. To me, this is not about homophobic or being gay or whatever. This is about an officer, an XO in the United States Navy and his conduct, which I feel was very inappropriate and needs be addressed. How much hair comes off his scalp….again, I will leave that up to the powers to be and the UCMJ.
realist
Everyone who signs up to armed forces have agreed to go out into the world and participate in whatever killing of guilty or innoncent people the US government orders them to. US forces has to todays date killed millions of civilians, “Collateral damage”.
if you as a US serviceman or woman are “cold” enough to drop bombs, or assist in doing it, on innocent children in some faraway country i seriously believe you should leave sensitivity at home.
While a handful few were suffering the horrors of Owen Honors videos back in 2006 and 2007 innocent people were dying in attacks launched from the USS Enterprise.
ewe
@lee: One word for you. Hypocrite.
ewe
@Rob: Thank you. Most of these comments in support of this nonsense are from people who blindly support any person in a federal state or local position. They blindly support corruption by anyone in a uniform or corporate environment. I have no doubt they would be the mouthpieces for George Bush if given the chance but i have to keep in mind many of the commenters were not born before Reagans reign.
ewe
@John: Inappropriate is the main theme i am speaking about as well. Manboy and superhyperman are terms i used to define immaturity and feelings of entitlement.
John
@Rob: Ok, that’s fair and one I don’t have a problem with that. Because he was XO at the time I’m not opposed to something like an official reprimand, which prevents him from ever being a flag officer, but the calls for removing him from command or giving him a dishonorable discharge are waaaaaay over the top and without more to this are completely undeserved IMO. This also should have been addressed 4-5 years ago. There is no way in hell that the CO at the time of the Big E and the Admiral above him didn’t know about this.
El Grande
Unfortunately this is what is left of our great military expeditionary forces. Once great ambassadors for our people and now only buffoons and cannon fodder for the Arabs. Officers lead through example; glad to have retired some time ago when I was proud to both provide and follow the example.
GetBalance
@EWE The only person on this entire comments stream that is acting like an immature brat, is YOU. People do not like being attacked and it’s against the Comments Policy. Do you need Queerty to inform you of your missteps and ban you from the sight? Your vulgar brazen BS is obnoxious and really old. Grow up, attention seeker, you’re acting like a seriously demented relentless child.
Mustang Dave
@Bob:
I have a pretty thick skin as an 18+ year CWO who has served on six ships (including the might “E”) and four deployments to the Persian Gulf. This has nothing to do with “Thick Skin”. This has to do with inappropiate behavior, hypocracy and outright conduct unbecoming a senior office in the service of the United States Navy. By condoning it you are part of the problem. How can we say to our junior Sailors and Officers to not fraternize, reduce sexual harrasment and hazing while at the same time our most senior officers are not only condoning these actions but PROMOTING them?
Really, where are your core values? Where is your sense of honor and duty. This makes me emberassed to by a Sailor and Naval Officer of what should be the best and most professional military organizations in the world. Why haven’t we learned our lessons from Tail Hook?
Rob
@John: Nicely put…and I agree, the buck does not stop with Honors.
Jaroslaw
#90 Robert NYC- you said “same as when African Americans use the “n” word, its not acceptable.” Not acceptable to whom? I’m hardly advocating its use and never use it myself, but last I heard the AA community was far far far from uniform in their opinion on whether that word should be used or not.
Jaroslaw
Also, thanks 106.
Rob
@Mustang Dave: This was one of the best postings I have read. I myself am a veteran, having served 3.5 years (which included a tour in the Vietnam conflict)in the USAF and the officers I served under acted in a very appropriate and professional manner. I expected nothing less; they were leaders in our military and set an example.
ewe
@GetBalance: You are guilty of your own accusation. Go away. I have not put anyone down for being who they are which this Owen Honors is clearly guilty of. You and a few others are quick to defend him but throw your balls into a knot when someone confronts you on your double standards. Too bad. Tough. Giving my opinion like everyone else here is not attention seeking. You saying it is is your way of controlling others.
ewe
@El Grande: that is a great observation.
B
No. 75 · Daez wote, “@ewe: Oh please, now go ahead and back up your claim that making a video is criminal in the private sector. Apparently, you have never heard of freedom of speech and the first amendment? ”
Ewe misspoke – making such a video on company time and showing it at work is not criminal in the private sector (which has no right to make anything criminal), but is instead a firing offense at most companies.
WilliamG
@Mustang Dave: I am a junior sailor. I’ve never been made to feel so proud on a message board but your comments were inspiring. I would put my life in your hands any day. Thank you for showing in a few sentences, leadership some people never display in a lifetime.
I think it’s clear that those of us who serve and have served, can see how the Navy is expected to hold itself to the highest standards and how hard we work at good order, just to have some bastard sit there and say ‘fag’ and ruin it all.
The public pay us to be the best, this is far below what they will accept from us.
WilliamG
@realist: Boy, don’t know where to start here..
The Navy was given a presidential order to deploy and fight the war. They weren’t being asked to harrass, demean and haze one another.
Surely you can see the two are nothing alike? One is their job, the other harms their ability to do that job.
danny
kinda want Capt. Owen Honors to probe me anally after watching that video
ewe
@B: Have you ever heard of the state district attorneys office?
Jeff
@Ted B. (Charging Rhino): So I guess what you are saying, is that if you have a sense of humor, and are human, you are incapable of being in command? Are you serious? I’d be willing to bet that you have never served your country. I’d be willing to bet that you sit back and wait for opportunities to judge other people without knowing the facts or what it is like to be in a stressful situation, on edge at all times, with the possibility of being killed for your country at any moment, and be completely fine with any glimmer of normalcy and humor. Who are you to even HAVE an opinion? You go serve onboard a ship for 6 months or more, away from land, cooped up in a floating tin can, and maybe you would laugh at anything that is harmless and that you know will not result in you being shot or blown up. How dare you. Shame on you…………….
David Ehrenstein
@evanh: My lover thought much the same thing. After looking at the videos his first reaction was “This is a cry for help.”
WilliamG
@Jeff: Hi. Currently serving. Disgusted because I have the decency to do the right thing by EVERYONE, not just enough to make it funny. If you were half the patriot you claim to be, you’d hold yourself, and every serving member to the same standards too.
Fool.
Kieran
If they ever re-make M*A*S*H for Twenty-first century TV, this is what the new show would look like.
Patty Meltdown
@Fitz:
Not to mention the risk of being killed by ‘friendly fire’
ROB PETERSON
GOD CONDEMNS HOMOSEXUALITY! OR DOES EVERYONE FORGET A GREAT FLOOD, AND SODOM AND GAMORA, I’M BETTING GOD HAS’NT!!! ABNORMAL AND DEVIANT TO HUMAN EXISTANCE IS WHAT GAY STANDS FOR!!! HOMOSEXUALS ARE AWARE AND FIGHT AN INNER (SHAME) BATTLE OUT LOUD AGAINST OTHER HUMANS’ WHO DO NOT AND WILL NOT ACCEPT GAY AS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR ANY HUMAN BEING! IMMORAL SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IS AGAINST HUMANITY AND IS AGAINST GOD. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SEE OR HEAR OF THEIR DEVIANT CONDITION NOR ANY OTHER NORMAL HUMAN BEING. I PERSONALLY AM OFFENDED SO ARE MILLION’S OF OTHER PEOPLE EVEN NON-RELIGIOUS! I KNOW THESE PEOPLE ARE CONDEMNED FOR CAUSING HOMOSEXUALITY TO BE ACCEPTED (RUINING MORALITY OF THE YOUNG AND WEAK MINDED PEOPLE) PEOPLE LIKE ELLEN WHO PUBLICLY FLAGRANTLY LIE TO EVERYONE ABOUT HOW OK AND ACCEPTABLE HOMOSEXUALITY IS, I BELIEVE EVEN OPRA’S BROADCAST OF PUBLIC GAY SENTIMENT WILL SEAL THE CONDEMNATION OF HER SOUL ALSO. A GAY MOLESTED ME @ 8 I KNOW ITS EVIL SEXUAL PERPETUATION. FREEDOM TO WARN PEOPLE IS WHAT I
ewe
@ROB PETERSON: Yes it is about time humanity stop giving credence to your unending evil little childrens story meant to control and keep people from thinking for themselves. I don’t accept you as normal. So what. I bet you couldn’t give a shit. That is exactly how i feel about you.
Nav
@Rob: and what’s wrong with that? just cause you’re in power doesn’t mean you’re some heartless prick. the guy has character. and it was harmless. i watched the video thinking he’s saying ruthless and vile things about the gays when none of that was mentioned.
people are so uptight
robert in NYC
Rob Peterson, your make-believe god doesn’t condemn homosexuality at all, its not written anywhere in the old or new testaments. You take that dumbass Leviticus verse and use it to justify your bigotry. There is NO proof those words were ever written by some “divine” entity. Prove it!
Before you go on another tirade, why don’t you help clean up the filth in the straight world, the world of female prostitution, adultery, philandering,sex slavery trading (all straight I might add), pimps, straight men impregnating single women out of wedlock, the straight polygamists and those among them who have sex with underage girls, the straight rapists (mostly a straight male phenomenon), straight swingers clubs where married and unmarried couples have sex with each others’ partners, and yes, some even engage in anal sex.
Get back on your meds, your stupidity and ignorance are more than apparent.
ewe
@ROB PETERSON: A pedophile molested you if what you say is true. I am doubtful of your honesty. Go bother someone else. Try stickin your own head up your own ass. Oh well guess what folks? Rob Peterson has been spending his whole miserable life in that position already.
ewe
@ROB PETERSON: Do you blame your heterosexual male neighbor for the guilty rapist sitting in prison for violtating women? You have some nerve judging and blaming all gay men with some tale about you being molested by ONE individual pedophile when you were eight. But you are never going to absorb that concept so sit in your stew.
ewe
@ROB PETERSON: I just read a story about a man who raped a little girl and snuffed the life out of her. I guess it’s all your fault.
WilliamG
Sooo, I liked this more when I was on my high horse about being in the navy. Haha.
Anyone else kinda happy that guy got raped? I mean the homophobia he is spewing is awful, but it’s great so see someone who finally has a reason for it.
I’m kidding. I think.
George
@John: I cant believe all the negative crap going around about honors,the man has been nothing less then a great leader for those who have served with him.Lets look at some great leaders to this day that make a shit load of money,and did things worst then this little video.First President Clinton,had a blow job in the White House…good for him,George W Bush…..Lied…….Hey Obama,,,Remember the promises he made,about changes…HAHAHA….If you were never in the service,dont say anything,you dont understand.
What Honors did was just for his personnel,alittle bit of humor,that was to give the crew a laugh….nothing more.
Wake up People,look around,it wasnt that bad
Henry
To those homosexuals claiming the video is offensive, I say, nothing could be more offensive than the grievous offence inflicted by filthy homosexuals against humankind, reason, common sense, and decency for the last fifty years. Nothing could be more offensive than filthy homosexuals perverting school children and pushing their perversion on peoples faces disguised as human rights. Sodomites can celebrate now for being accepted by sinful human beings, but they will not celebrate after they depart this world and find themselves in front of a Holy and Righteous God who demands perfection though His beloved son Jesus Christ. Homosexuals and those that approve and support them will have one of the most horrific and shocking awakenings, and immediately they will wish they could trade their life of sin, but it will be too late, since they made their choice to forsake God and follow their perversions while on the earth. Consequently, once they departs from the land of the living and they are either cremated or buried six feet under, their spirits will be eternally damned in hell for all the depravities and filthiness they have wallowed in while in the body. And one day soon these AIDS breeders will be isolated from the culture locked up in mental institutions for the deranged, together with those who support and tolerate them.
paulD
@Henry: zzzzzzzzzzz. Oh, did you say something?
ewe
@Henry: Get the popcorn out. I have the violin.
ewe
@Henry:
To those homosexuals claiming the video is offensive, I say, nothing could be more offensive than the grievous offence inflicted by filthy homosexuals against humankind, reason, common sense, and decency for the last fifty years. Nothing could be more offensive than filthy homosexuals perverting school children and pushing their perversion on peoples faces disguised as human rights. Sodomites can celebrate now for being accepted by sinful human beings, but they will not celebrate after they depart this world and find themselves in front of a Holy and Righteous God who demands perfection though His beloved son Jesus Christ. Homosexuals and those that approve and support them will have one of the most horrific and shocking awakenings, and immediately they will wish they could trade their life of sin, but it will be too late, since they made their choice to forsake God and follow their perversions while on the earth. Consequently, once they departs from the land of the living and they are either cremated or buried six feet under, their spirits will be eternally damned in hell for all the depravities and filthiness they have wallowed in while in the body. And one day soon these AIDS breeders will be isolated from the culture locked up in mental institutions for the deranged, together with those who support and tolerate them.
Read more: http://www.queerty.com/will-the-navys-capt-owen-honors-be-ousted-for-his-homophobic-anal-probe-videos-20110102/#ixzz1A76fUFSI
To those heterosexuls claiming the video is offensive, I say, nothing could be more offensive than the grievous offence inflicted by filthy heterosexuals against humankind, reason, common sense, and decency for the last fifty years. Nothing could be more offensive than filthy heterosexuals perverting school children and pushing their perversion on peoples faces disguised as human rights. Sodomites can celebrate now for being accepted by sinful human beings, but they will not celebrate after they depart this world and find themselves in front of a Holy and Righteous God who demands perfection though His beloved son Jesus Christ. Heterosexuals and those that approve and support them will have one of the most horrific and shocking awakenings, and immediately they will wish they could trade their life of sin, but it will be too late, since they made their choice to forsake God and follow their perversions while on the earth. Consequently, once they departs from the land of the living and they are either cremated or buried six feet under, their spirits will be eternally damned in hell for all the depravities and filthiness they have wallowed in while in the body. And one day soon these AIDS breeders will be isolated from the culture locked up in mental institutions for the deranged, together with those who support and tolerate them.
There aint no boogey man, FOOL.
WilliamG
@George: in the service and expect more of myself and more of my leaders than this crap.
Hey Rob can you share any mire details about who raped you? How many times? It’s really refreshing to see someone with a reason for so much homophobia.
Kamrom Dichu
@Richard Hn: I tend to agree its not anti-gay. Its stupid in a lot of ways, but not anti-gay. Honestly, i dont give a damn what soldiers do. young adults in a literal life or death situation sitting on top of a floating legitimate military target is stressful. They seemed to be more mocking current events as a whole then anything elsee.
But this sort of behavior shouldnt be conducted by such an officer. Servicemen, fine. I dont care. But this is literally an issue of controling a vehicle that could singlehandedly destroy almost any city in the world, if it so desired. We CANNOT have that sort of behavior coming from an officer.
Kamrom Dichu
@ewe: People can be such monsters. These bigots live their lives in fear and hatred and anger and with a blown up persecution complex. No sensible person could see gay marraige as a problem. They are so full of hate that they destroy themselves and those around them, and they believe they are right with such unquetioning insanity that they have to ifnd a scapegoat. They cant fathom that their neverending hatred and anger is bad, so it must be those guys who never hurt me and just want equal rights.
To do one of the rightwings favorite things, I’m going to quote from the founding fathers. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” To all the rightwing bigots out there: Unalienable means UNALIENABLE. it does mean “Unalienable..Until a certain group who temporarily takes power decides its icky.”
You LOSE. Get off my property.
Oh, and heres what I dont get: Arent we made in gods image? Arent christianist supposed to convert us? This failure of a human being is a fake christian. a fraud christian.
@Henry: You are insane, how can you not see? The thousand years of gods rule? I dont dispute that one bit…Heres the trouble.
You’re 600 years too late. 400 AD: christianity becomes the fastest growing religion. 1400 AD: Islam overtakes christianity.
1000 years of gods rule. And you’re late for the party. Now its that after part where you stop being a jackass to us since we’re all made in your god’s image. He MADE us this way, according to your theology. And I noticed theres no FEMALE god…So, by your defintion, God is Gay. Rainbow Jesus FTW.
Kamrom Dichu
@Jason Goblirsch: Actually theres a lot of gay people in the military, right now. Probably on that ship. But you’re a jerk so you wont admit that. The law made it so they couldnt be open. Well, now they can, and now bigots like you are going to do what jerks do: Abandon defending your country because you dont like its citizens. You attack a protected minority, you disregard the issue at hand, and you make veiled threats that suggest you know the full personal history of every man and woman in the entire planet.
You are an idiot, a bigot, and a jerk. The White Christian Hatemonger Trifecta. And now that DADT has been repealed, you’re also insulting our military and its soldiers. Congradulations, You’re a traitor!
ewe
@Kamrom Dichu: Thank you. You are correct in your assertion that Henry is a “jackass.”
Queer Smasher
I hope all of you fags are sodomized by demons in hell for eternity.