Ending ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ solves nothing

In a Sept. 29 editorial, The Gazette supported eliminating the military's “don't ask, don't tell” (DADT) policy. Officer homosexuals are not confronted with the same problems an enlisted person would have in the no-DADT environment. Officers have a level of privacy unheard of in the junior enlisted ranks. Officers are not berthed in open bunk areas; they have more private sanitary, bathing and dining facilities.

These living differences make up for a profound difference. Those making the DADT policy are officer oriented with a limited view of the enlisted situation. If The Gazette Editorial Board believes in DADT repeal, it must also believe that a sexually active homosexual in the close physical contact situations where there are maybe 10 times as many heterosexual people present would be problem free. Stop day dreaming. An open homosexual policy would cause more problems for the homosexual than it resolves for society.

Leave DADT as is. With DADT, the homosexual person who can't control sexual urges leaves the military, the one who can stays. Military life has always included homosexuals but also has correctly excluded homosexual activity.

Kenneth J. Lowen

Central City