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- After years of debate and months of final preparations, the military can no longer prevent gays from serving openly in its ranks.

Repeal of a 1993 law that allowed gays to serve only so long as they kept their sexual orientation private took effect Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. EDT.

Some in Congress still oppose the change, but top Pentagon leaders have certified that it will not undermine the military's ability to recruit or to fight wars.

The Army was distributing a business-as-usual statement Tuesday saying simply, "The law is repealed," and reminding soldiers to treat each other fairly.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Very happy I got to play a tiny part in making this a reality (helping elect the Congressman who was the driving force behind repeal)

89Hen wrote:Jon, can I ask a question and I swear it's not loaded, just tying to noodle through this after hearing this on the news this morning. Do you think sexual orientation should be a protected class in the military? IOW, should people get in official trouble if they poke fun at an openly gay serviceman? I'm not asking if it's right, just if it should be punishable.

89Hen wrote:Jon, can I ask a question and I swear it's not loaded, just tying to noodle through this after hearing this on the news this morning. Do you think sexual orientation should be a protected class in the military? IOW, should people get in official trouble if they poke fun at an openly gay serviceman? I'm not asking if it's right, just if it should be punishable.

dbackjon wrote:

89Hen wrote:Jon, can I ask a question and I swear it's not loaded, just tying to noodle through this after hearing this on the news this morning. Do you think sexual orientation should be a protected class in the military? IOW, should people get in official trouble if they poke fun at an openly gay serviceman? I'm not asking if it's right, just if it should be punishable.

It would depend on what was said/done. Everyone should be equal - if a woman/straight/gay is endangered/austrocized solely because of who they are, then that should not be tolerated. But, if a guy gets racked because he is a douche, regardless of orientation, then that is just the military.


There will be hickups, and issues, but hopefully those will disapate over time.

"When I joined the military it was illegal to be homosexual, then it became optional.
I'm getting out before Obama makes it mandatory."
GySgt Harry Berres, USMC

Marine in Hell

A Marine dies in combat and wakes up to find he is in hell. He's really depressed as he stands in the processing line waiting to talk to an admittance counselor. He thinks to himself I know I lead a wild life but, Hell, I'm a Marine. We're expected to live wild lives. I wasn't that bad. I never thought it would come to this. " Looking up he sees that it is his turn to be processed into hell. With fear and heavy heart, he walks up to the counselor.

Counselor: What's the problem, you look depressed?

Marine: Well, what do you think? I'm in hell.

Counselor: Hell's not so bad; we actually have a lot of fun. Do you like to drink?

Marine: Of course I do. I'm a Marine.

Counselor: Well then, you are going to love Mondays, On Mondays we drink up a storm. You can have whiskey, rum, tequila, beer, whatever you want and as much you want. We party all night long. You'll love Mondays. Do you smoke?

Marine: Yes, as a matter of fact I do.

Counselor: You are going to love Tuesdays. Tuesday is smoke day. You get to smoke the finest cigars and best cigarettes available anywhere. And you smoke to your heart's desire without worrying about cancer because you are already dead! Is that great or what? You are going to love Tuesdays. Do you like to fight?

Marine: Of course I do. I'm a Marine!

Counselor: You are going to love Wednesdays. That's Fighting Day. We challenge each other to fights to see who's the toughest in Hell. You don't have to worry about getting hurt or killed, because you're already dead. You are going to love Wednesdays. Do you gamble?

Marine: Show me a Marine who doesn't!

Counselor: You are going to love Thursdays, because we gamble all day and night. Black jack, craps, poker, slots, horse races, everything! You are going to love Thursdays. Are you gay?

Marine: Of course, not! I'm a Marine!

Counselor: Oh, you're going to hate Fridays.

Appaholic wrote:Just in time for next year's election.....look what Obama has done for Homosexuals! It only took 3 yrs with a stagnant economy and dimming re-election hopes for Obama to 'find his conscience' with regard to DADT....forgive me if I don't break my arm patting him on the back.....now, about that Gitmo thing....

Appaholic wrote: It only took 3 yrs....forgive me if I don't break my arm patting him on the back.....

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:the world's LARGEST employer

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:

Appaholic wrote:Just in time for next year's election.....look what Obama has done for Homosexuals! It only took 3 yrs with a stagnant economy and dimming re-election hopes for Obama to 'find his conscience' with regard to DADT....forgive me if I don't break my arm patting him on the back.....now, about that Gitmo thing....

DADT repeal has been in the works since the opening weeks of the administration.

Obama, smartly, listened to DoD and gave it some lead time - getting the world's LARGEST employer to change direction takes time.

Oddly enough, this is classic Obama - work, prepare - let everyone grouse about how slow things are going, but then - inevitably - it gets done, just like he promised...

89Hen wrote: BTW, don't China, Russia, North Korea, India... all have larger militaries?

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Oddly enough, this is classic Obama - work, prepare - let everyone grouse about how slow things are going, but then - inevitably - it gets done, just like he promised...

GrizFanStuckInUtah wrote:

"When I joined the military it was illegal to be homosexual, then it became optional.
I'm getting out before Obama makes it mandatory."
GySgt Harry Berres, USMC

[

Skjellyfetti wrote:

- After years of debate and months of final preparations, the military can no longer prevent gays from serving openly in its ranks.

Repeal of a 1993 law that allowed gays to serve only so long as they kept their sexual orientation private took effect Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. EDT.

Some in Congress still oppose the change, but top Pentagon leaders have certified that it will not undermine the military's ability to recruit or to fight wars.

The Army was distributing a business-as-usual statement Tuesday saying simply, "The law is repealed," and reminding soldiers to treat each other fairly.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/ ... 8690.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Skjellyfetti wrote:

89Hen wrote: BTW, don't China, Russia, North Korea, India... all have larger militaries?

Just China.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:Oddly enough, this is classic Obama - work, prepare - let everyone grouse about how slow things are going, but then - inevitably - it gets done, just like he promised...

Ibanez wrote:

Skjellyfetti wrote:
Just China.

Wrong. THe USA has the largest, followed by Russia then China.

http://www.globalfirepower.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They source the CIA and LIbrary of Congress

We're second, behind the Saudi's, in Budget as a % of GDP

http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailycha ... ce_budgets" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

GrizFanStuckInUtah wrote:

Ibanez wrote:
Wrong. THe USA has the largest, followed by Russia then China.

http://www.globalfirepower.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They source the CIA and LIbrary of Congress

We're second, behind the Saudi's, in Budget as a % of GDP

http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailycha ... ce_budgets" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just using your source above, China has the most troops, either active or total.

The scary numbers are these:

Russia
Fit for Service: 46,812,553 [2011]

US
Fit for Service: 120,022,084 [2011

Idia
Fit for Service: 489,571,520 [2011]

China
Fit for Service: 618,588,627 [2011]