The What If Scenario ………………….
It’d appears that the Defense Department under Secretary Robert Gates is unsure whether or not the ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy’ as it refers to gays in the military is in need of repeal . Though the decision itself will come down to a vote within both legislative houses of the government and then will need President Barack Obama’s signature as to it still being a statute in remaining legal. Now far be it for me to suggest but a person’s sexuality as it relates to the military, shouldn’t at all have a bearing as to that person’s wish to serve their country. If they’re prepared to serve in battle and shed their blood , then it ought not to have a bearing at all. But we’re given to believe that having a person who’s gay, would hurt the morale of the military, is completely asinine. A gay person’s blood is just as red as yours or mine for that matter. And death for them is no different from anyone else who happens to die in conflict on the battlefield. This is just simply about one’s right to serve but a matter of respect and the wish to be included rather than being ostracized .
Consider this, the military is serious need of individuals with specialist skills such as linguists , in particular those who speak many of the dialects of the Far and Middle East. And given the fact that in the State Department , CIA and FBI are also in need of linguists where their specialized language needs would be in Urdu , Farsi , Pashtun , Arabic , Mandarin and Tagalog. But simply put , the neo-conservatives are scared that the perception of a homosexuals serving in the military weakens morale. Let me ask you this, once a soldier comes home in a body bag does anyone question his sexuality ?
And another thing , we’ve all seen the protesters at the funerals of bereaved men and women being laid to rest and there they are these protesting that the soldiers who’ve sacrificed their lives willingly, so that they can live free. They can also be seen from time to time protesting outside of veterans’ administration facilities such as hospitals rehabilitation centers. Well , it’s their view that this is God’s will because he views homosexuality as a sin and that they’re deserving of such a fate. God knows , such individuals with that amount of hatred within them aren’t deserving of the right known as ‘freedom of speech’. It may well be an inalienable right but I’ll be damned to sit by and have these assholes desecrate the bravery of these men and women , no matter what their sexuality !
We’ve all witnessed the controversy that has been derived from the use of illicit substances within sports. Players have simply cheated , and their respective governing bodies stood by and when it came to meting out a justifiable form of punishment. But what we’ve now seeing from the various hierarchies is simply another form of cowardice of the highest order. Instead of doing what’s right they’d rather simply save face in terms of their public image.
Now in sports would there be an open outcry if we were to have an openly gay male athlete now competing within MLB , NBA , NFL , NHL or MLS for that matter. We know that there are female competitors on the LPGA Tour and WTA Tour (women’s tennis). But we’ve yet to see an openly gay male athlete come out and declare his sexuality while still competing . Obviously, the fear of being ostracized would have something to do with it. But if the thinking is the same in the military that an athlete can’t do their job as a military serviceman or woman . Then what does it say about us as a society ?
Former NFL star Esera Tuaolo who played in the NFL for several seasons , having played for the Atlanta Falcons , Carolina Panthers Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. The former defensive lineman and nose tackle retired from the game 2002. He declared his homosexuality after his retirement , making him only the third former NFL player behind David Kopay and Roy Simmons to have ‘come out of the closet.’ Tuaolo made it clear that one of the reasons for doing so, was in fact that he no longer wanted to ‘live a lie’ and that in doing so it’d give him a chance to educate others . Especially having seen and heard what he stated were the defamatory remarks jokes that were being made in the locker rooms and on the field .
Whether or not the male dominated bastioned arena can withstand a player coming out while his career is still ongoing remains to be seen . But clearly there is a great deal of fear for any male player who’s hiding their sexuality for fear of the backlash that would be forthcoming. We know that within women’s sports that situation isn’t as fearful. And if anything it’s now more common place as it’s not really frowned upon. If anything it’s embraced even more so within that sorority and the landscape of women’s sports. And there’s evidence to suggest that with the declaration made by former WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes .
Will there be a time that we’ll see a current male athlete come and declare himself to be homosexual without the fear of a backlash ? Or will we continue just continue to make it a scourge and that as such these individuals cannot and will not be tolerated within the social landscape. We’ve all seen the retribution that can be meted out in its most heinous form in the violent death of Matthew Shepard at the hands of gay bashers. And given what we’ve also seen from the protesters who’ve festooned themselves at the funerals of veterans from both Afghanistan and Iraqi conflicts. It now has me thinking if the what if scenario concerning a male athlete ‘coming out’ would at all be tolerated in this day and age ?
Alan Parkins aka tophatal 🙂
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Marvin Gaye ……….’What’s Going On’ The one song that I think that shows us how intolerant we’ve become as a specie.
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