I was a Navy man. My dad was a Navy man. My granddad was a Navy man. And Admiral Mike Mullen, 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, is a Navy man.
To the best of my knowledge (and it's only anecdotal, based on personal experience), I'm the only one of them who is gay, therefore I was the only one who had to "hide it" during my time in the Navy.
Yesterday something happened that I never in a million years thought would happen. Admiral Mullen sat at a table before the Armed Services Committee of the Senate and told that august panel of Senators that it is now time to put an end to the onerous law known to the masses as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Many were delighted. Some were chagrined. Most notably Senator John McCain, another ex-Navy man. Of course the good Senator has his own problems at home right now regarding this whole mess ... his wife, Cindy McCain (God love her!), has come out clearly on our side -- so you KNOW Johnny Boy ain't gettin' any these days! No wonder he's so cranky.
You would think (maybe) that some people would see the handwriting on the wall -- that the good old days of making political hay (and fundraising cash) out of fag-bashing are rapidly coming to an end. It would only make sense, I think, to bow to the inevitable and to sign up on the right side of history.
Like Admiral Mullen. Whom I would gay marry in a heartbeat. If he'd have me.
Thank you, Admiral Mullen. Thank you for being a real American.
I would be proud to serve under you, Sir. All kidding aside.
3 comments:
It's not just that he supports the repeal - it's the language he used:
"For me it comes down to integrity -- theirs as individuals and ours as an institution."
I was extremely moved.
There is progress. Who knows but maybe we will get this done this time.
@J.T.: You're like me -- I was astounded at the depth of feeling I sensed when he said it. This is somebody who clearly knows he has served with honorable LGBTs and understands the pain anti-LGBT policies have inflicted on those honorable folks over the decades.
@Alan: Amen, brother. But I still wanted to wring McCain's neck (that flip-flopper).
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