In Military, New Debate Over Policy Toward Gays

Col. Thomas A. Kolditz, left, chairman of West Point’s department of behavioral sciences and leadership discusses “don’t ask, don’t tell” in his classes. Colonel Kolditz also coaches parachute team members Carl Wheeler, center, and Arthur Murphy. James Estrin/The New York Times

From The New York Times:

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Here at the military academy that is nearly as old as the nation itself, two cadets recently engaged in a modern debate: whether they agreed with President Obama’s pledge to end the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly.

“From what I’ve heard from my classmates, people are kind of against it,” said Daniel Szatkowski, a senior from Edmond, Okla. But Adrienne Rolle, a senior from Brooklyn, said she had no problem with lifting the ban, although she said that some of her male classmates did.

“People are more comfortable with ignorance,” Cadet Rolle said of the reality that gay men and lesbians already serve in the military.

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My Comment: This White House will pander to its base on this issue. In case someone does not know ..... the U.S. Military is not their base.