This article written by John Schwartz on nytimes.com is about the DADT policy and how it violates rights. I think the author of this article is a credible and reliable source for information. He is the national legal correspondent for NY times. In his article he doesn't just use his own opinion to try to influenence his audience, He uses statements by a respected judge of a federal district court. Schwartz also uses facts in his article from those who do not agree with the judge, showing both sides to the story. He uses words and terms that the general public can understand. 

    In this particular article by Lawrence J. Korb, Sean Duggan, and Laura Conley brind the negative facts about this policy to attention. They discuss the numbers of members who have been discharged due to this policy. Members who are valuable assets to the military because of the skills possess and languages they can speak. I found this article and authors to be very credible. Dr. Korb, throughout his carrer has worked closely with the government, earned his PhD in political science and has authored or co-authored more than 20 books and 100 articles about national issues. He speaks in a language the general public can understand using examples, statistics, and survery results to back up his own claims and opinions.

What exactly is the DADT policy?

     If I hadn't served in the military Im not sure if I'd really know much about this policy so here is some brief information about it.

     In 1993, President Bill Clinton implemented the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy as a compromise allowing them to serve, but not serve openly. Many believed that allowing their presence as being "openly" homosexual in the armed forces would create an extreme risk towards the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and would destroy any unit cohesion.  

     With this policy it specifies any member who engages in such behavior or discloses their homosexual sexuality would be discharge from the armed forces.  With that being said, as part of the policy it is stated that superiors should not initiate investigation on a homosexual individual without credible evidence of someone acting in that behavior or without someone disclosing that information about themselves. 

     So that is how it got the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" name, however the full name of this policy is actually "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue, don't harass."

   

                   

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

     At Weber State University I am taking an english class that requires us to blog.   In class this week we were asked to write down 7 things that are happening now, or have happened recently that interest us or effect us.
     One item on my list was the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy that bans gays and lesbians from openly serving in the United States military.  I am not personally gay or a lesbian but being in the military for four years and deploying twice has opened my eyes on this policy and how it negatively impacts the people who are not only serving but also protecting our country.  I have come across and made good friends with many individuals who fall under the policy, so its something I feel strongly about.  I have seen how this policy has negatively effected these individuals' everyday lives and how it makes them feel as a person and as a member of the United States Military.