Okinrus said:
"don't ask don't tell" probably isn't 100% fair, but the army should have the right to order someone to be quiet.
As a broad consideration, I agree with you entirely on this point, Okinrus. However, a practical issue:
• Several guys are sitting around the barracks talking about women. Who they want, who they've done, the best they've had ... whatever. Should the Army, then, take away this banter that seems to aid morale inasmuch as it at least distracts soldiers from certain amounts of detrimental stress, or should the Army continue to threaten morale by forcefully excluding some of its soldiers from discussing their desires, memories, aspirations, &c.? So Joe talks about the house he's going to build with his wife Mary when he gets home. I mean ... Dave can't even let his fellows see pictures of his family. What's the morale effect? If a weak link comes about in the unit because of morale, do you want it to be the guy next to you?
The armed services need to think about who should shut up when. The flight from equality only hurts this country, whether it is on the battlefield abroad, at home in our communities, or abroad in our business dealings.