Because of the military's policy of "Don't ask, don't tell" another fine solider will be soon "let go". Though he has served his country honorably his sexual orientation will cause him to receive his walking papers.
Until America gives to each of her citizens the same rights and freedoms she should cease from calling herself the "land of the free".
In the Words of Dan Choi, a native of California and an Army Lieutenant In March, I went on Rachel Maddow's show and spoke three truthful words: "I am gay." As an infantry officer, an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic, I refuse to lie to my commanders. I refuse to lie to my peers. I refuse to lie to my subordinates.
As a result, the Army sent a letter discharging me on April 23. The letter is a slap in the face. It is a slap in the face to me and it is a slap in the face to the soldiers who I have commanded and served with over the last decade.
I have served for a decade under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- an immoral policy that forces American soldiers to lie about their sexual orientation. Worse, it forces others to tolerate deception. As I learned at West Point, deception and lies poison a unit and cripple a fighting force.
In the ten years since I first raised my right hand at the United States Military Academy at West Point and committed to fighting for my country, I have learned many lessons. Courage, integrity, honesty and selfless service are some of the most important.
My subordinates know I'm gay. They don't care. They are professionals. My soldiers are more than a unit or a fighting force -- we are a family and we support each other.
If you would like to stand for the constitution and help Dan Choi to keep his job in the military please sign this petition! (
http://www.couragecampaign.org/DontFireDan)
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