Pentagon surveys troops on DADT (again)

[casimendocina]

Oh, and I'm female, so I couldn't possibly be capable of saying what I actually think or want.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Nay, nay, females are highly adept at saying demanding what they want.

[ZenGum]

Nay, sir Bruce, yon fair ladies are highly adept at expecting us valiant fools to already know what they require.

[casimendocina]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Nay, sir Bruce, yon fair ladies are highly adept at expecting us valiant fools to already know what they require.

I've not met many valiant fools who are in favour of plain speaking.

[xoxoxoBruce]

That's 'cause you've been hanging out with ZenGum & company.

[casimendocina]

Valient fools aside, the general approach to plain speaking seems to be: Plain speaking that comes from the person expressing the opinion is good/well deserved/clears the air etc... The person who is being "plain spoken to" usually feels that it was unnecessary/overly agressive/could have been dealt with differently etc...My theory is that if you're going to dish it out, then you have to be able to take it yourself.

However, this may be cultural (see Hall's theory of high context and low context culture-I can summarise in my next post if needed). Plain speaking seems to be a central cultural tenet for Germans-fine when a person is German and surrounded by Germans, but seen as rude by other cultures. Thoughts?

[Pico and ME]

OMG, its almost always backfired on me. In fact its my biggest fault. Im too blunt.

Harry Truman was the ultimate "plain speaker."

His famous quote:

“I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell.”

He also was the president who integrated the military. A bold move at the time (1948).

[casimendocina]

N.B. Correct 'valient' to 'valiant'.

[Lamplighter]

At last a judge and the ACLU get it and make it right !

Washington Post article

Judge orders military to reinstate gay nurse
By Robert Barnes
Saturday, September 25, 2010

A federal judge on Friday ordered the reinstatement of an Air Force nurse discharged from the military
under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that forbids openly gay service members.

U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton told a packed Tacoma, Wash., courtroom
that evidence at a six-day trial showed that former Air Force Reserve Maj. Margaret Witt
was an "exemplary officer" who should be "reinstated at the earliest possible moment."

Witt was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union,
which said the ruling was the first time a judge had ordered a reinstatement
of a service member discharged under "don't ask, don't tell."

Democrats in the Senate this week moved to repeal the law
but were stopped by a Republican bloc that would not allow the measure to come to a vote.

A majority in the Senate supports the repeal.
The House has approved such a measure.

[morethanpretty]

The thing that really sucks? The 1 republican is in FAVOR of the repeal, but thought it was "unfair" that repubs were told no more amendments to the bill. Yeah, thats soooo unfair, I'm sure the all the troops fired under this ridiculous unfair policy will agree that repubs getting their way with amendments is more important.
C'mon! Why do these fuckers have to be so polarized? What is so hard about it? Over 80% of troops want it repealed, over 60% of US citizens want it repealed...that's a majority. Why are the fringes getting their way on this?

[classicman]

Because the system has been bastardized so that we can be divided and controlled.

[tw]

Originally Posted by morethanpretty

C'mon! Why do these fuckers have to be so polarized? What is so hard about it?

Because the guys at the top come from a generation that associated 'fags with niggers'. These guys are having trouble undoing their personal biases. And therefore do not realize there is no problem in the ranks.

Eventually it will work out. Either they will finally comprehend their illogical fear of gays is just another example of racism. Or they will be replaced in time by the next generation that ignored such widespread hatred.

This issue is not based in anything logical. It is completely about the mindset of a older generation that was told how to be biased - and remained so.

Rather amazing how much attitudes have changed in only fifteen years.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I think TW's pretty much spot on, but I'd add that it's more about politics, than content, with these bills.

[tw]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I think TW's pretty much spot on, but I'd add that it's more about politics, than content, with these bills.

Politics more driven by personal biases rather than by hard facts.