Posted on 03/29/2010 6:26:57 PM PDT by presidio9
A gay New York National Guardsman who chained himself to the White House gates to protest "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is not impressed with the Pentagon's moves to ease the controversial policy.
Iraq war vet Lt. Dan Choi says Defense Secretary Robert Gates' new rules that make it more difficult to boot gays in the military don't go far enough.
"The reason why 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is so repugnant is because it forces people to be in the closet and lie, and that hasn't changed," Choi said. "The real price of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is that it institutionalizes shame."
Choi, 29, who lives near the 69th Regiment Armory on 26th St. in Manhattan, has been fighting for gay rights in the military ever since coming out on "The Rachel Maddow Show" in March 2009.
The military ordered him booted shortly after his appearance, and he has been fighting since, losing to one military board and waiting for the final word from the Pentagon. Choi was invited back to his unit in February, pending a Department of Defense decision - and he is preparing for a possible deployment.
He already went to the Middle East once. A 2003 West Point grad and Arabic specialist, the Bronze Star winner is an infantry platoon leader who served in Iraq for 15 months.
Choi put on his uniform March 18 for a different kind of battle: a Washington rally demanding that President Obama repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
After giving a speech, Choi and former Capt. James Pietrangelo, an Iraq war combat vet, handcuffed their right wrists to the White House's gates.
They were shackled and arrested and spent the night in jail.
"Even though I had chains on, there was no greater liberation than to be able to stand up for something that you knew that was so absolutely correct," he said.
As he awaits a court date next month, Choi is speaking out against Gates' "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" tweaks that will toughen how gay activity can be investigated.
"You're forcing servicemen and women to live a double life," he said. "It outlaws having a full, loving relationship."
you know what.
He knew the rules before he went in so he needs to stop his crying and drama queen actions, he needs to do what he and his other perverts tell us and that is.
it is their own private life and it should not concern anyone so that is why we have don’t ask.
They now say they want everyone to know how perverted they are so you know what ?
Don’t cry when called out about your mental state
The man had a distinguished career he served his country, why is it so important to him that we all know he likes anal sex and tooting the horns of his fellow man.
Personally no one would even care if they kept their mouths shut. (no pun intended).
It isnt anyones business how he gets his rocks off, why cant he just do it and not label himself? What is it about homosexuals that makes them want a sign on their back saying I am a pervert?
And just like every fag, it’s all about them. It’s homo first, American soldier 2nd.
“It outlaws having a full, loving relationship.”
*********************************************************
How? I knew of two women Marines who lived off base, were gay and they had their life off base and their career on base.
What, do they want to be able to hump in the barracks? (even straights aren’t supposed to)
Do they want to make a big show of being gay like they do on the outside?
It’s a distraction from what the military is
I think the military is tough on ANY relationship, it’s not about relationships, it’s not about the individual.
It’s about the defense of this great nation!
If it doesn't have a "V" device it means nothing.
Sadly, the Bronze Star has been corrupted. It is being handed out by protocol rather than for exceptional combat service.
Generally, after a deployment E-7 and above get Bronze Stars. E-5's and E-6's get Arcom's. E-4 and below get AAM's.
It's so much BS that real soldiers will tell you to ignore any award that doesn't have a "V"(valor) device.
BOHICA!
I’m fed up of these people and the far left who move into an area or go into a job and then want the rules to go with their agenda.
THESE ARE THE RULES AND THEY KNOW THEM SO STOP WHINING AND GET ON WITH LIFE WHICH HAS RULES.
I joined to serve my country and that was it. I felt pride to be serving and my number one concern was to protect the country.\
There was none of this I want a free college or VA loan, there was no thinking of anything but to serve and help out my friends in battle
What part of "Don't tell" are you having trouble understanding?
No one care what you do with you wanker, they also do not want to hear about it................
My favorite thing about the whole Dan Choi (he has no right to be referred to as “Lt”) thing is how people who generally aknoledge that they HATE the militart (his lesbian friend Rachael Maddow comes immediately to mind), are fond of pointing out that Dan is/was an arabic linquist. They wring their hands over the fact we’re fighting in a war where most people don’t speak English. People who speak the local dialect are some sort of irreplacable commodity. Since Clinton instituted “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” we’ve thrown a few dozen arab speaking homosexuals out of the military. Out of thousands. We’ve also thrown out six farsi speaking gays. Of, course, Farsi, is less relevant when it is only one of several languages spoken in Afghanistan. Getting back to Dan, and Iraq. Dan’s didn’t grow up speaking arabic. His parents are Korean. He learned Arabic because the US military trained him. It trains many “linguists,” and a lot more sign up, because they get a higher pay grade. And he learned enough to get by, not enough to blend in as a local. The idea that the US military would be in any way depleting its ranks by sending all gays, um, packing, is laughable. Gay men make up 2% of the male population, and (for obvious reasons) they are underrepresented in the military.
Thank you for your service manc, and unlike these imbeciles, you get the point. I dont want to know where he got the chains..
Really? I’m very proud of my husband’s Bronze Star. In fact, I can’t wait to see it on his man jewelry at the Sub Ball.
Is there something about the *don’t tell* part that he’s missing?
He just needs to stop forcing his lifestyle in other people’s faces and problem solved.
His being gay is not relevant to his serving his country and there is NO REASON IN THE WORLD to make an issue of it when it is not relevant to the job he’s doing.
The old military wouldn’t have handed out medals by rank.
Therefore, you can’t tell about any given bronze star you see unless it’s got the “V” device.
I remember a bunch of guys during the Bosnia and Kosovo operations who received bronze stars.
They never once left Aviano, Italy. I still chuckle over that one.
That'll get anyone 10 to 20 years - no?
I still use the words “queer” and “fagot”.
Am I politically incorrect?
Do I care?
Why do homosexuals want signs on their backs saying they are perverts?
Perverts don’t like themselves. If their conscious isn’t totally seared, they realize they are doing something unnatural. They can either resist these self-destructive temptations, or they can give into them and try to convince other people homosexuality is OK.
For example, I think they push gay marriage not so much because they want to marry but because it helps them cope with their own internal guilt. It must be very demeaning to do the perverted things they do. If they can get enough people to accept it, it’s a defense mechanism that helps them feel OK.
The problem is, no matter how much they silence the opposition or no matter how many people they convert into believing homosexuality is normal, it’s not normal. Sort of like our leaders who believe they can ignore the laws of economics and human nature by passing laws, homosexuals are fighting a losing battle. They could outlaw any anti-gay talk as hate speech, but it still won’t change the fact that they are acting in dehumanizing ways...and they know it.
Most of the time it’s just easier to accept the sin, repent of it, sin no more, and make peace with the Lord. Being a sinner is tough work. They know in their hearts they are battling against what is good, holy, and natural. I pity them for the terrible persuasion that is on them.
I tell you this, it goes beyond homosexuality. God’s laws are written on our hearts. When we violate those laws, a heavy burden is place on us. When someone repents and does evil no more, that burden is lifted, and spiritual peace is obtained. It’s a wonderful feeling to be at peace with God.
Why is this guy still in the military if he is “gay”? Should they not kick him out for openly admitting so??
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