And I say keep it the same.
There is a difference between “don’t ask, don’t tell” and serving openly.
Those who have served in the lower ranks understand that difference.
To those wishing to change it, it’s just an agenda.
Exactly! Generals aren't the one's in the foxholes. If the sarge sends two homos to a forward observation post for the night, do you really have a forward observation post? No, but it's not the General who's in danger of being overrun.
I don't know what the environment was like in the army when you served but I am currently in the navy and my observation is that many of the younger people I serve with just aren't that anti-gay these days. It really isn't something they care strongly about. Blame it on public school indoctrination or blame it on the gradual societal acceptance of homosexuality, I don't know. These people come out of school where they had openly gay classmates or come from jobs where they had openly gay co-workers. Some of them have openly gay family members. And while male/male homosexuality isn't celebrated, there are always a couple of guys in every command whom everyone knows are gay. Again, as long as they aren't making out in the berthing, nobody really cares. And lesbianism? It is much more open and prevalent in the military. Many women don't even bother to try and hide it. You can ask any female sailor, there's a lot of dyke action taking place openly in the female berthings.
To those wishing to change it, it’s just an agenda.
It is an agenda. I don't think it is that the top brass is embracing homosexuality as much as they are trying to mitigate the problems caused by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Case in point: I served with an lesbian shipmate in my work center. It was obvious she was a lesbian as she always talked about her girlfriend back home. Well, 5 months into an 8 month cruise, she was tired and wanted to go home. Hell, we were ALL tired and wanted to go home! She went to our chief and said, "I'm a lesbian." He asked her if she was sure she wanted to do this. She said yes. They went to see the skipper and she said the same thing. Again, he asked if she was sure she wanted to do this. Then they went to CAG (our skipper's boss) and again she said she was a lesbian.
Well, the navy had no choice but to discharge her (general under honorable conditions) and she was off the boat leaving our shop short-handed for the remaining three months of cruise.
This is a huge headache for the military! Furthermore, the military has to compete for prospective employees against civilian jobs --most all of which prohibit discrimination on the basis of orientation. So when top brass is calling for the repeal of "DADT" the reasons are most likely administrative in nature.