Have your freedom, fighter!

I ran across an article from the Statesman that covers the notion of fully integrating openly gay soldiers into our nation's military. Our current President is in hopes of ending all restrictions on gay men and women serving in our nation's defense. Without some politicians in Congress and military leaders who are hindering soldier equality, Mr. Obama's hope could be in effect. Soldiers are still being subjected to dismissal for outing themselves or being outed by others for being gay. "Don't ask, don't tell" is still being utilized in a way that allows individuals who fight for our freedom to lie about themselves and who they are.

This is one issue I agree with president Obama and the editor on...

It all boils down to equality. We are all the same. Backgrounds, cultures, tradition, values, and legacies are the the only things that seperate the human race. If a man or woman chooses to VOLUNTARILY risk his/her own life for individuals like myself, who choose not to, than that soldier should not be rejected or unaccepted simply because of their sexual preference. The freedom to be open about their sexuality should not be grounds for dismissal! A large number of Americans are unaccepting. This will never change. But I think when it comes to soldiers in the military,(especially in a time of war!) a huge exception should made.

The author of this article shares my opinion on this issue. Coming from the Statesman, the intended audience are the accepting more left leaning liberal citizens of Austin, Texas. I can imagine many readers who took the time to review this editorial toatlly agree with the author. This is one geographic area, poltically, that can generally agree on such issues. Austin's targeted social liberal poulation and the wide gay community is very accepting and needs to be updated on civil liberties and freedoms that extend beyond their realm of everyday life. Especially if some young gay Austinite is considering joining the militray, he can now know that President Obama has their back.

In some other more conservative city, this article most likely may have gone in a different direction. The Statesman is generally known for being a publication that favors the left, so the article has more compassion and connection behind it. Remarks by the chairman of Joint Cheifs of Staff and the desire of our president that is mentioned here are evidential of the author's argument. Just some plain unbiased and fair logic would would provide for this argument to be vlaid. The Staesman is utilized around Austin for one of the nation's greatest and most open cities to receive its news. Anything found here in the persuasion of civil liberties can be conceived as suitable, honest, and commendable.