Don’t Bash Our Gay Veterans

Don’t bash our gay veterans. They suspended their lives to fight for our country exactly as other soldiers did. They are loved and love. After years of silence and government’s lies of omission let’s acknowledge that gays are people just the same as you and I. Let’s appreciate their sacrifice and acknowledge that being gay is not something you decide to be. No more than we have a say about being straight. It’s just the way it is. Let’s pledge that we are all brothers and sisters and appreciate each other.

Recently a veteran who served his country in Iraq was booed at a GOP debate. Why? Because he was gay. I wonder if those people who were so ungrateful thought he didn’t give up just as much as the straight soldiers for his country. His blood would have run just as red, and his death would have been just as painful. His loved ones would have suffered just as much.

To make it even more outrageous, the presidential contenders stood by and did nothing. What a shame for our country. Rick Santorum has gone so far as to promise to bring back the demeaning, “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Even that would be better than not recognizing gay soldiers at all. But are we still that backward? Haven’t we grown up just a little? It appears not.

When a U.S. marine, Sgt. Brandon Morgan returned home after serving six months in Afghanistan, someone snapped a picture of him kissing his beloved. Of course if his beloved had been a long legged blond nobody would have paid any attention. But his beloved was a good looking man. Somebody placed the picture on Facebook and it attracted the world’s attention.

Comments were made to the effect that the world is going to hell in a hand basket, and one person phrased it this way, “Sick, degrading and deviant behavior. These low life’s need to be dishonorably discharged from the Marines.” There were also comments of appreciation for Morgan’s service to his country and well wishes from his countrymen, but the whole episode shows we haven’t come that far.

The GOP hasn’t progressed in time from the looks of it. Fighting over contraceptives, women’s rights and bashing gays. We don’t live in the days of “Father knows Best” and “Andy of Mayberry” Those days are past and it’s a good thing. Times change and we move ahead. If we can’t get along with people in our own country who are different, how will we ever learn to get along with other countries.

The day will come when a kiss between lovers, regardless of gender, will attract absolutely no attention whatsoever. When that day finally arrives it will be like a fresh breeze blowing through a dusty room that has been locked for years. I have to believe people learn and eventually change for the better.

Read more: http://socyberty.com/politics/dont-bash-our-gay-veterans/#ixzz1orPWFygZ