...(Bellamy). The pledge of Allegiance is what almost every student in the nation recites or had recited every morning from the day they start school till the day they graduate, but why is it that we don’t truly mean what we say? The adults now that have formed rules such as “Don’t ask don’t tell” and that gays should not be allowed to serve in the military once said the pledge, and should definitely know what it stands for, so why do these rules not give us equality and justice for all? I believe that liberty is an intrinsic part of the individual; members of society can ensure liberty through government protection from the moment they are born or become a citizen of a country and obtain the individual guaranteed rights. Liberty has been defined as the condition of a society in which individuals can be free ‘politically’ and free to develop as individuals. For stable individual liberty to be maintained, the people must have oversight and control of the...
Words: 1601 - Pages: 7
...one man and one woman. The traditional wedding is holy sacrament of a bride and groom at the altar confessing their love for one another. The new trend of homosexuality and society assuring it is their choice if they choose to be in a relationship with a person of the same sex. My personal opinion on homosexuality the individuals should not be allowed to unite into holy matrimony. The views of how society and the new generation are accepting it as normal and a new way of life for couples is not acceptable, The ultimate question, should a couple of the same sex should be united into holy matrimony is a very delicate topic in the homes of many, Americans in a religious and political view. The beginning of human sexuality and homosexuality in specific has confused individuals for many years. In this generation it is viewed as a normal part of life. Looking back from the old generation same-sex marriage has been looked at as unacceptable or a disgrace to a family. Although many years ago therapist studied homosexuality and determined that it is a mental disorder caused by misguided upbringing. (Hamer, Dean). The second study the therapist perform looked at a gay man‘s genetic information their DNA shows the X chromosome appeared to be the same in an expectedly high in gay men. In this society gays and lesbians are looked at as depressed. Research will be an important factor of understanding the mishaps of why individuals of the same-sex are attracted to each other. It...
Words: 981 - Pages: 4
...Great Gatsby Journal 1: Marriage Marriage cannot be separated by society. The two go hand and hand. Marriage is not available to all and in some ways is a symbol of equality. Marriage is not only a pillar of society but also a pillar of the government, business, and the military. Marriage cuts to the very heart of a nation. It infiltrates every aspect of human life not only for the married but also for the unmarried . The most basic human need is life: the need for protection, deliverance, and survival. The second most basic need is love: the need for companionship, a fulfilling relationship. From the basic needs for life and love proceed behavior and from behavior, the roles of society Marriage can be a problem due to the fact that it isn’t available to everyone in the world. Only a few years ago did the U.S. finally reach...
Words: 513 - Pages: 3
...Serving in the military is for many the most honored position they will hold in their lifetime. Many dedicate their entire lives to serving their country. For some soldiers however their dream of proudly serving their country was cut short because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. America’s attitude towards acceptance of homosexuals has continued to grow over the past couple of decades, but full acceptance and equality is still far off. Nowhere are attitudes towards homosexuality more conservative than in the U.S. military, yet even here attitudes are slowly evolving towards acceptance and equality. Gays and lesbians were banned from serving in the military until 1992 when President Clinton signed into law “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, which allowed homosexuals to serve as long as they did not discuss their sexuality, and the military could not ask about it. The debate about whether homosexuals should be allowed in the military at all and of whether they should be allowed to be open about their sexual orientation while serving has been ongoing over the last thirty years. Sexuality has no bearing on one’s ability to be a good soldier or on the cohesion of a military unit. Gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military, because the policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is harmful to both soldiers and the military. Human sexuality is complicated, yet we live in a society that tries to only see such issues in a black and white fashion. Homosexuals have been...
Words: 2602 - Pages: 11
... However he distanced himself from the structuralism movement after the 60s. He wrote on a wide array of topics from knowledge to power and discourse. He considered himself "Nietzschean" (Fox 169). In viewing his own system of philosophy this way, he rejected the postmodernist label attributed to him. In fact, he held that his work was in line with the modernity of the philosophies of Kant. In The History of Sexuality Foucault examined the role of sex and gender in power relations. This three volume series was published in 1984. In the first volume, Foucault explores the functioning of sexuality as a way to analyze the relationship between power and the science of sexuality. Foucault's History defined sexuality as "the set of effects produced in bodies, behaviors, and...
Words: 3620 - Pages: 15
...The policy prohibited military personnel from harassing and discriminating against closeted homosexual members and banned openly gays from military service. In Military Policy Toward Homosexuals, Davis discusses how: homosexuality is incompatible with military service…yet there are certainly homosexuals within the military. Current policy is to not let them in, if they somehow get in, they are to be put out. To facilitate this process, current policy allows separation based on homosexual tendencies alone, without proof of any homosexual acts. The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy negatively affected the gay community, although many believed its original intention was to reach a compromise between the military and the gay and lesbian community (Belkin). Members of the military may only have a problem with gay and lesbian soldiers because they are experiencing the effects of the “mob mentality.” What I mean by “mob mentality” is that when members of a group are together, they tend to behave in a manner that they might not have when alone, or in a more intimate...
Words: 1274 - Pages: 6
...Homosexuality in the Military Leondre L. Torrance Instructor: Lisa Smoot Sociology 17 February 2012 Introduction Modern controversy over the rights of gay people to serve in the military aside, the reality is that homosexuality as existing within the military is as old as the history of armed forces. Clearly, it cannot be otherwise, as homosexuality itself is an orientation within humanity, and consequently as old as mankind's origins. What changes is sociological perspective, and nowhere is this factor more keenly evident than in how the overt presence of homosexuality is acknowledged by the military and accepted by the societal base. Different cultures of different epochs have viewed this subject in varying ways, depending, not unexpectedly, on the belief systems in place in those cultures. No matter its direct purpose or size, the military of any nation must still be a representation of that nation's values. Consequently, the perceptions of each regarding homosexuality translate to how acceptable, or unacceptable, it is within the armed forces. It is therefore all the more interesting that the United States, arguably the most liberal and democratic of modern nations, has so long reflected an ambiguity, if not outright hostility, regarding gays in the military rarely seen in ancient, and supposedly less enlightened, eras. The U.S. consistently prides itself on a commitment to individual liberties, and most emphatically since the turbulence of the...
Words: 2142 - Pages: 9
...Gay rights is itself an important public policy issue, with strong elements of civil rights and equality. However, the political mobilization of the gay community has also raised a number of more immediate policy issues. Some of those have affected only the homosexual community, but others have had wider relevance such as AIDS research and treatment. As we noted earlier, the style of political activism invoked on gay rights issues has been less that of interest groups and more that of a movement. Still, as that movement has become institutionalized, so too have the forms of interaction between it and government. One of the most important political milestones in that interaction occurred during the Clinton administration with respect to military service. During his first presidential campaign, Bill Clinton had advocated greater rights for the gay community and had received overwhelming support from those voters. One issue that his gay supporters wanted addressed was elimination of the prohibition against homosexuals serving in the military. Once elected, President Clinton encountered substantial resistance from the military to any change in the existing policy. military leaders defended their traditional stance of excluding homosexuals by arguing that permitting homosexuals to serve alongside heterosexual soldiers would be detrimental to morale. The solution that the Clinton administration developed was labeled "don't ask, don't tell", meaning that there would be no efforts...
Words: 981 - Pages: 4
...affected not only homosexuals wanting to serve our country, but also those attempting to find employment. Homosexuals serving in the military have been a long debated topic throughout U.S. history. As early as Revolutionary War times, the military did not exclude homosexuals from serving our country. However, they did consider sodomy a criminal offense. According to the “Article 125 of Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) prohibits all service members from engaging in sodomy. Service members found violating this article can be court-martialed and imprisoned if found guility.” (Alexander) Sodomy is defined as, “anal or oral copulation with a member of the same or opposite sex” (Sodomy). In 1778 the first solider, Lieutenant Gotthold Frederick Enslin, was discharged from the Continental Army for sodomy. The military’s main focus was on homosexual behavior, but eventually shifted to eliminate homosexual personnel all together. During this time, psychiatric evaluations were administered to prevent homosexuals from entering the military due to an alleged “medical” reason. In 1916, the Articles of War clearly forbid homosexuals from serving in the U.S. military. For the first time in 1942 the army included a clear definition of regulations for both homosexual and “normal” persons. This included distinct procedures for rejecting gay draftees. In 1981, the Department of Defense issued a new policy which indicated that determinedly homosexuals were unsuitable to serve...
Words: 2918 - Pages: 12
...| CYNICAL REALISM | THE NEW ERA OF LGBT COMMUNITY | | The following essay will cover the ongoing concerns and issues that the GBLT community face on everyday basis, as the society that we live in struggle to find peace and solidarity so does those who walk in the path of hatred, ridicule and criticism. | | Nijn Wagstaff | 6/14/2013 | | Gay Right Movement The gay rights movement began to take shape in 1779 by Thomas Jefferson, when he proposed a law that would mandate the castration of all gay men. Prior to the 20th century religious admonitions against sexual relations that transpired between same-sex individuals especially men has been a long stigmatized act between the same sexes. Although the legal codes in Europe remained silent when it came to the discussion of homosexuality (Harvard Business Review). Devious acts such as these were frowned upon and were deemed irreprehensible. Prior to the 20th century the judicial system were made up of predominately Muslims countries that invoked the Islamic Law, many sexual acts including same-sex were criminalized by law that carried very strict penalties including execution. During the early 16th century lawmakers in Brittan began to group and categorize homosexual acts as criminal as opposed to immoral and unjust. Henry VIII, who was the king of England, passed the Buggery Act that subsequently made homosexuality punishable by death ; in Brittan sodomy remained as a Capital offense which carried death...
Words: 4782 - Pages: 20
...Gays in Our Ranks “I don’t want any fruitcakes near me.” Those were the exact words that came from the mouth of Damien, one my co-workers, when I asked for his opinion on gays in the military. According to the latest polls from the National Post, 50% of military households feel the same way as him (Man para 7). Even with the majority of America in favor for letting gays serve openly in the military, this controversial topic is getting many Americans riled up. I stand on the side of the fence that supports the repeal on the ban that’s prohibiting homosexuals from joining the armed forces. There can be many benefits if we let gays in our ranks. It was Damien’s response that reminded me how ignorant people can be. I immediately insisted for a good explanation for his remark, but he wasn’t able to produce one. “If I’m in a war zone, I want somebody watching my back for my protection. I don’t want them watching me out of sheer bliss.” That was the explanation he gave me as he walked away with the look of annoyance on his face. I wondered, was he annoyed because he realized he sounded like a buffoon, or maybe my facial expressions revealed my disgust towards him. Homosexuals are human beings, and I am a strong believer that they should have the right to defend our country as long as they meet physical and ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) requirements. There aren’t many people who are willing to put on our nation’s uniform especially when America is at war;...
Words: 1618 - Pages: 7
... | |WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23 , 2011 | [pic] |ATTORNEY JOHN WASHINGTON | |BUL 5323 – BUSINESS LAW | Introduction Ever since its declaration in 1993 under President Bill Clinton’s administration, don’t ask, don’t tell (DADT) has been a major dispute amongst the United States citizens; especially those involved in the U.S. Military. Questions such as: “Is it even constitutional?” and “What are the pros and cons?” and “Should the policy be repealed?” have been propound. Subsequent to all of the questioning, viewed opinions and assessments, this subject generally falls into three perspectives: the permissive, the restrictive and the prohibitive. This paper...
Words: 4171 - Pages: 17
... b. remained constant. c. declined for all racial groups. d. declined for white women only. 5. The dramatic increase in the number of people aged 65 and older is a consequence of which of the following? a. declining mortality rates b. immigrant sponsorship of older relatives c. increases in the number of Americans with health insurance d. all of these 6. Ageism is the phrase coined by Robert Butler to refer to a. prejudice and discrimination against the elderly. b. employment policies for the elderly. c. romance in later life. d. positive attitudes toward the elderly. 7. What percent of people over the age of 60 have felt the effects of ageism? a. 35% b. 84% c. 99% d. 56% 8. Age works against older...
Words: 1303 - Pages: 6
...lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community in the United States Military between and the policies behind setbacks to the retention and entry of otherwise qualified personnel. Explanations of gender identity disorder and gender dysphoria disorder, defined as mental disorders by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (American Psychiatric Association [APA], DSM-1, 1942; DSM-4, 2000; DSM-5, 2013). This textbook published and periodically updated by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), directly affects the guidelines for determining qualification of personnel into military service. Factual information is the only justification used for the policies put forth by the Department of Defense (DOD), Secretary of Defense (SECDEF), the Supreme Court of the United States, the office of the President of the United States and all categories of official office or position...
Words: 1576 - Pages: 7
...Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy DeVry University Online During a time of need and desperation, when another person jumped to your aid and helped you out, did you stop to think about what their sexual preference was and if so would it have mattered to you? Well if you are in one of the United States Military branches, it is almost guaranteed to have come up and it has caused enough of an issue, commotion and publicity that the President of the United States had to step in and put into place a policy for what is the beginning of a giant human rights and equality motion in history. Even in this new century, who you choose to have sex with or love, still appears to be an issue for many people. Some even know that this person may one day save your life and have your back and it’s still an issue for some. The struggles of discrimination and inequality were all too frequent in the lives of homosexuals who were serving or trying to serve in the United States Military started to catch attention with the media and caught the attention by many who had voices to make a difference for equality. During the civil rights movement in the 1960’s, homosexuality wasn’t a right that was openly fought for. Albeit that today, most people view the right to love whom they choose as a civil, and human right. Many people believe that a relationship should be between a man and a woman and therefore the rights of the homosexual community were not fought over in any of the early civil rights movements...
Words: 3782 - Pages: 16
