What if ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal harms the troops?

Robert Gardner, Henderson

Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 | 2:02 a.m.

The Las Vegas Sun’s Saturday editorial, seeking the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, didn’t tell the whole story. The editorial did an excellent job citing all the people and groups (including one special operations soldier, 14,000 gay and lesbian soldiers and troops from 35 other countries) who believe that “don’t ask, don’t tell” should be scrapped.

But as is sometimes the problem when people have a view they want you to agree with, they only quote people who share that view. The editorial only quoted one person who had a differing point of view, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

The editorial could have mentioned that the top commanders of the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and 60 percent of our combat troops (those who actually do the fighting in our nation’s wars) do not want openly gay people serving. The commanders were quoted as saying that repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” would add undue stress during a time of war.

I am torn. If a person wants to defend this country, then I say God bless them. But I don’t want political decisions to adversely affect our fighting men and women — they have enough on their plates!