Love & War for GI Couple

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 9:43pm

The Daily News had an article today about a married couple who are serving in Iraq together. They are allowed to live together.

Now, I think this is great. I see no problem with it.

But, this was supposedly one of the issues with unit cohesion that proponents of the ban on gays and lesbians in the military use. Gay men should not be allowed to serve because if they fell in love with a fellow soldier, there would be a decay in cohesiveness.

Also, interesting that no one had a fit that Lyndie England was having sex with a male soldier afterhours--yet this is a huge no no for two male or two female soldiers.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 9:46pm

"Gay men should not be allowed to serve because if they fell in love with a fellow soldier, there would be a decay in cohesiveness."

Just to put a little clarification here - when they talk about a male soldier 'falling in love' with another soldier, the assumption is that the recipient of this attention is straight, and it is therfore unwanted. That's what causes the 'decay in cohesiveness'.

[Plum]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 9:51pm

Right. And yet they allow sexual harrassment to flourish at their military academies- if that's not the definition of unwanted romantic advances, I don't know what is.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 9:52pm

DGrant: Yes, there is that, but additionally I have read of concern for two soldiers being in love with each other and then defying orders or losing focus if one of them has fallen.

However, as we well know--arguments don't always echo reality.

Updated On: 9/2/05 at 09:52 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 9:53pm

The Spartans actually tried to promote that kind of thing. But we're not like those namby-pamby Greeks. :P

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 9:54pm

The Ancient Greek military used to actively pursue male couples to join their ranks. Their thinking was that they would fight harder to protect someone they loved.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 9:55pm

Plum beat me by ONE second

[Plum]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 9:58pm

But you put it much more gracefully, I have to say.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 10:01pm

So, basically, this story just proves one more time that the ban is hypocritical and a double standard. The arguments against are bullhockey.

The ONLY argument that has ANY substance in the least is the argument that you wouldn't have male soldiers and female soldiers showering together.

However, this is foolish as well, considering the many times Randy Shilts talks of how "show off" the straight soldiers are in Conduct Unbecoming. The reality doesn't match this fear.