I guess I could make the case that muslims shouldn’t be in the military because they wouldn’t take a bullet for an infidel.

I guess I could make the case that a black woman would step aside for a bullet meant for her to hit a white woman.

Jed, sorry. Despite your assertion that the military policies are helpful because like it or not, that’s the way it is, it’s not clear that this would have any impact on morale.

And if you’re uncomfortable around gay men, my suggestion is that you spend a little more time around them. Not at a gay bar, at the hardware store. Changing your oil. You know, all those things that gay men do.

You can’t play the Christianity card. I imagine that your discomfort around gay men has little to do with faith and more to do with culture. I am a Christian (maybe not your flavor, but whatever) and the two gay men who have lived next door to me for ten years are uncles to my children. They taught my son how to ride a bike when I lacked patience to do so. When my daughter’s appendix ruptured, they were at the hospital with a giant teddy bear and flowers hours before anyone from church showed up.

In short, I love these men, a couple who has been together for 20 years, longer than most of my hetero friends. They are sweet, loving men who enrich my life. My kids love Uncle Don and Uncle Patrick. If someone at church makes a disparaging comment about homosexuals, watch out…my daughter is also a redhead and does not suffer fools lightly.

I’m finished. I’m getting on a train in 45 minutes for Dachau. Unlike many others who got on the train to Dachau, I’ll be back in my hotel in 4 hours. In my mind, a fitting end to this discussion about intolerance and prejudice.

That said, Israel has one of the strongest “Don’t Fuck With Me” armed forces in the world, and they don’t give a good damn what you screw in your off hours.

To me, the fight for gay marriage and equality mirrors the 1960′s fight for Black equality. In a true and free society, equality is inevitable, and to fight it is to oppose everything this nation is purported to be built upon. People can, and will, dig in their heels, but eventually equality will happen… I just don’t think it’s going to happen NOW.

Great post!

I know of a case in which a mouse, who had birthed a litter of babies, ate them because she was short of food. That is not morally wrong, for a mouse, it would be wrong for a human.

Human decisions have the possibility of a moral dimension which animals do not share because ultimately humans are not animals.

Choice does not come in how we are tempted, only in how we respond to that.

For the rest, I don’t care overly much whether the American military openly embraces homosexuality or not. I’m profoundly apathetic about it.

C. Tenrab – Jed’s always welcome here. The beauty of comments on a blog are that people get to dialogue. Converse. Opinions vary as do tactics. I think everyone held their own quite well in this instance and we appreciate you stopping by as well.

@schmutzie – Why, thank you! I’m delighted you considered the post to be among the week’s best. Welcome to ToyWithMe and my thoughts!

@Melissa and Matthew – I can’t agree more fully. I don’t give a shit what my co-workers or contractors do…so long as it’s their job. Love…damn. What an awesome thing. And you’re right: if only there were a little bit more. DADT is divisive, which is no safe harbor for love, cooperation or trust.

I adore that there IS a dialogue at least, so I should not complain. Its better to talk about it even with the harshest of disagreements.

The military WILL change, DADT will be revoked, GLBT people will marry, we are moving in that direction, just a little slowly. This is the way of our world. We slowly grow, learn, adapt and accept as social mores change, science debunks myth, and people evolve. I would prefer we evolved a little faster myself, so I could feel free to become a Lesbian tomorrow or a little more Bi-sexual today. Bring it on!
Thanks for this excellent post. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this blog before today!!!!! I am a local pro-sex, blogging, feminist, musical Denver sister!

Congratulations!

Why else would we put our lives in jeopardy in a far off land for our country if not for love? I love.