Ordering the US military to enlist openly homosexual men and women is being pushed as a civil rights matter, with everyone quietly ignoring the “elephant in the living room”: sexual activity.
A similar “elephant” was ignored when women were integrated with their male colleagues in the military. Yes, there was a fairly high pregnancy rate, but if I remember correctly the “disability” from pregnancy in women did not raise women’s total disability rate any higher than that of their male colleagues, who often were injured from accidents and other risky behavior.
The problems of sex in the military is not new. “The Greatest Generation” was indoctrinated with scary films, and could be arrested if they developed an STD (which in pre penicillin days was hard to treat and effectively disabled the soldier). On the other hand, those of us with uncles and cousins who fought know well about the jokes of “don’t drop the soap in the shower”, that General Chennault provided brothels for his “Flying Tigers” to cut down sick days from STD’s, or the British complaints that the Yanks were “overfed, oversexed, and over here”.
So have things changed since the time when Voltaire quipped:”Depend on it. when 30,000 men engage in a pitched battle against a similar number of enemy soldiers, probably 20 thousand on each side have the pox (i.e. syphilis).? Probably not.
So what about the US Military now? (Shhh…don’t want to cause a scandal).
In the past, the Philippines was famous for “rest and relaxation”, to the horror of local feminists. On the other hand, there are enough foreign born wives of military personnel to suspect not everyone was waiting for the girl next door.
But now, the military is serving in Islamic countries where chastity is important, and hanky panky can result in the woman’s death for dishonoring her family. So unlike their dads, exchanging candybars for a honeypot is a no-no.
Today’s StrategyPage has an article on this: Morale: No Sex, please, We’re American Soldiers”.
…General Order Number 1. That means imposing a “no booze, no sex” rule on troops in the combat zone. The alcohol prohibitions apply on or off base, as do the prohibitions on sex, marrying locals or even gambling. Troops are encouraged to spend more time in the gym, or with their video games, or praying. Troops having sex with each other is generally tolerated, although that can cause trouble as well. Only about ten percent of the troops in combat zones are female, and not all are single or in the mood…
Of course, there are those overseas contract workers in the Green Zone who might be willing to make a few extra dollars to send home (but if caught will be sent home). There are outlets in nearby countries. And, as noted, if you are lucky, one of your fellow (female) soldiers will be friendly in more ways than one.
Of course, all of this is hushed up unless things get out of hand, and a unit’s effectiveness is compromised by too many pregnancies, rape accusations, and fights over who gets the girl.
So what will gays bring into the mix?
The problem is not that gays will serve in the military. They already do.
What is being discussed is that changing the law means openly gay men will be allowed to serve, including those who see the military as an opportunity for sexual opportunities (again, some women join for that reason).
In other words, every problem associated with women in the military, from sexual tension in mixed sex units to sexual activity, to sexual harassment, to rape, But all of this “normal’ behavior will become more complicated if a gay man propositions, has sex with, or rapes the wrong man, because of the overtones of horror that many men have of homosexual activity.
Then there is the problem of infectious disease such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C, which is more common in high risk populations,which includes multiple sexual partners, certain sexual practices more commonly associated with MSM, and with drug use.
In summary, it comes to the question of “zipper control”. Of course, no one wants to talk about it, because although every public health expert knows that high risk behavior is more common in the gay community, in the military, you have to judge an individual’s behavior.
Lose the “Zipper control” and you end up with problems with military morale, and the best soldiers will leave.
Inject Hollywood values into the military, values that sees no problem with 600 partners a year or quickies in the linen closet, but reprimands a Baptist deacon for saying he believes marriage is ordained by God as being for one man and one woman, and you will have a big problem no matter who is involved.
Recruit people based on their ability to keep military discipline, and the military will be able to cope.
————————–
Nancy Reyes is a retired physician living in the Philippines. She blogs at Makaipa blog.
————————————
7 users commented in " Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Hanky-panky? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackYou should feel ashamed of yourself for what you have written here, Nancy Reyes.
I will be forward this article to very many media outlets in the United States in the hope that they will bring attention to the bigotry you spew publicly.
Shame on you. What a sorry excuse for a human being. If you are truly a doctor, you have broken the very words of the oath you took.
Shame on you.
Excellent article, it addresses well the “elephant” that needs to be considered. Another aspect is the incredible cost involved; with HIV/AIDS running rampant among the male homosexual population, the expense of treating terminal disease will be astronomical. American will have to pick up the tab for an ill-advised social experiment gone even more wrong.
Actually, Bill, you bring up an interesting point: That when someone tries to discuss the problems of promiscuous and/or unwanted sexual activity in small isolated communities, behavior by the way that transcend one’s sexual orientation, it will immediately be shut down by gay activists as hate speech.
This article, which points out the fears of many in the military (but who dare not say such things out loud) is to point out that the problem is “zipper control”, not sexual orientation.
The other military problem is that high rate of HIV and STD’s in MSM, but again this increased risk is based on behavior, not on the sexual orientation of the soldier.
And note I say “his”. Lesbians are the main benefit from this law, since their activity causes less disruption, is not especially associated with disease, and alas have been the main victim of the DADT law.
Bill,you do know that physicians no longer take the hippocratic oath, right? However, historically a doctor would have sworn not to harm anyone, nor to give lethal drugs or perform an abortion; abstinence may be inconvenient but is certainly not harmful. An argument can be made that it is helpful as it diminishes sexually transmitted diseases.
Not well thought out. Tons of unintended consequences and major disruption. For instance. This repeal will open the door for “Trans Gendered” soldiers. What barracks will they be assigned? Also, what about the partially trans gendered? Women who have had their breast removed and take hormones to be male but still have female genitial? Or men who take hormones and have breast implants but still have male genitial? Keep in mind that poor hormone maintenance dictates that when the artificial hormones wear off the previous chacracteristics return. Where will these creatures shower? Will female solders stay in the same baracks as “Chaz Bono”? Or would he/she shower with the men? I don’t believe Chaz has the full male toolset. He/she could claim discrimination. This will eventually end up at the supreme court.
First of all, NOT everyone that is Gay is promiscuous and NOT everyone that is Gay has AIDS/HIV or Hepatitis. The very threads of the fabric that this country was built upon are being tattered and torn by closed minded individuals who are seriously blind to true freedom. It has always been my understanding that he or she, who screams the loudest, is the proudest. Meaning: that when a person speaks or attacks someone else, it is because they themselves have personal issues that they need to figure out. Anti Gay blogs are what promote further ignorance and greater social injustices (hate crimes) to individuals who just want to live their lives and enjoy or be a part of “The Great American Dream.” Wake up; open your eyes because this is a new millennium.
THis is such a load of bull. First all the logistics have not been considered. How many people will be killed before something will be done.
Prior to this was signed my teenager was sexually assaulted by an airman of the same sex. the base didn’t do one thing because of what the repeal would/wouldn’t be. I care that my teen was violated not the sexual orientation. It was brushed under the rug and nothing was done and i was told nothing would be done. The base doesn’t want any media about a lesbian getting in trouble for fowl behavior. this my look like discrimination. What does it look like to me. ILLEGAL!!!
Leave A Reply