Looks like "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is about to go away. It's looked like that for a few days now but we've all learned never to underestimate the ability of Democrats to fumble on the one-yard line. A fast scan of right-wing websites shows a lot of anger — some outright homophobia and some genuine worry (unjustified, I'm sure) about the continued strength of our military. A lot of it just looks like fury at having lost one, regardless of the issue. They've triumphed in enough battles lately you'd think they'd shrug and say, "You can't win 'em all." But I don't see that attitude often in the world these days. Everyone in every walk of life seems so committed to the notion that you can and should win 'em all.
Many incensed folks posting messages this morning seem to think it's a vote on whether to allow gays to serve at all. Apparently, if they don't tell, they aren't there. One aspect of this I don't get is how many people who have, shall we say, "personal issues" with homosexuality think the best way to deal with it is to pretend it doesn't exist. The folks I've encountered who have a problem with Gay Rights seem to accept the notion that, you know, they're here and they're queer and they're not going away. The affront to them is that gays want to be open about it instead of pretending to be straight and hiding their relationships and true identities. I don't see why lying is ever the answer to anything. The idea that it's a solution seems to come from the same head-in-the-ground worldview of those who insist that Abstinence Education works. I don't see that it accomplishes anything other than to allow some parents to pretend their teenage kids aren't having sex. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" let them pretend we didn't have many (or maybe any) gays in our armed forces.
I know there are some readers of this site who think allowing gays to serve openly is tantamount to going to Expedia and booking all eternity in Sodom and Gomorrah. You can view it like that if you want. I think it's better to treat it not as a loss for any side but as a victory for just being honest about what already is.