Letter to New Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates

The Hon. Robert M. Gates
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC
20301-1000

Dear Mr. Secretary:

It came to my attention today that President Bush has asked you to come up with a plan to increase the size of the military. Besides reinstating the draft, which is politically infeasible and contrary to our nation’s ideals concerning freedom of the individual, the only other option that comes to mind is allowing more people to serve by removing or relaxing barriers to enlistment. From my research and understanding, since the War in Iraq began, the US Army has raised the maximum age one is allowed to enlist at, lowered the minimum IQ score one is allowed to enlist with, and looked over the criminal records of enlistees who have committed violent crimes, all while maintaining the ban on homosexuals serving openly in its ranks.

Surely criminals with violent records pose more of a problem in our armed forces than homosexuals who serve openly. Contrary to what many highly ranked military commanders may say, allowing homosexuals to serve openly would not affect the military in a negative way. The Israeli military, which must deal with and combat terrorists and terrorist organizations for nearly every day, allows homosexuals to serve openly and without consequence (to either soldiers or the security of Israel). Any arguments concerning “unit cohesion” are not only absurd, but also harmful.

It has been noted by many that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue, Don’t Harass” policy, in forcing service members who are gay, bisexual, or questioning to keep their status hidden and “live a lie,” is representative of a greater problem in our government, that is a lack of candor. Mr. Secretary, I saw your confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, and my first impression of you was one of great awe and respect for the openness that you showed the committee and to the American public as well. Why would you implicitly ask any of your subordinates to exemplify anything less, especially when they wear the uniform of the greatest military the modern world has seen? Mr. Secretary, I respectfully ask that you recommend to the president in your plan to lift the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and allow all qualified persons to serve in the military without having to keep secret an essential part of their identity.

Sincerely,