Between the way that I was raised and the setting that I was raised in coupled with my experiences in life, I consider myself to be a pretty tolerant person. I think it’s a great thing that we can live in a place where people are allowed to express themselves in ways that somehow make them happy. I think it’s great that someone like Lady Gaga can go on stage at a concert and let some strange person vomit on her and then be complimented by some people for expressing her ‘artistic’ values. I should point out that while I am personally not a fan of vomit related ‘art’, I would rather live in a place where people can express themselves in strange ways than live in a place where people are punished for being different like the people in The Hunger Games. I think a lot of people agree with me which is why America is such a diverse and interesting place.
In the recent past it’s been made ok for openly homosexual people to join the military. I know that there was a lot of pushback on this because there are people who are narrow-minded enough to believe that homosexuality is a disease and that it will eventually lead to implosion of the world and the end of humanity, yet here we all are today with the sun shining and the earth still spinning. There wasn’t a collapse of the military or mass chaos. I think that once certain people get past the ridiculously false misconception that homosexual soldiers want to wear pink helmets and carry glitter grenades and learn that they, just like all other soldiers just want to honorably serve their country and fight for America’s freedoms then this won’t even be an issue anymore. It’s pitiful that it was ever an issue in the first place, but here we are. I served with a guy that I was very close with, I shared a room in the barracks with him and I served in brutal combat alongside him for 15 months before learning he was gay sometime later. He’s still my brother from another mother, and I don’t look at him any differently knowing he’s gay than when he was right beside me while engaging and killing enemy soldiers. Now I have been hearing talk of people wanting to allow transgender individuals to join the military as well. Once again I’ll sing my phrase, as long as they are capable of performing the required jobs both physically and mentally and willing and able to live by the behavioral standards then I don’t really care.
Like I’ve said, I am a pretty tolerant person. As long as someone’s beliefs or actions or ways of life doesn’t hurt me or impinge on my ability to live the way I want to then I don’t really care what they do or what they wear, or even if they enjoy being vomited on because it’s none of my business. What is my business is upholding military standards and traditions. The United States Military has become the greatest and most effective fighting force in the history of the world because of the way it is run. There are a million little rules and regulations that all soldiers are expected to abide by regardless of their social or political beliefs. The military can take on different characters and people from differing backgrounds because they have mastered taking different types of people and melding them into an autonomous fighting force that works together. I don’t really care what someone’s sexual orientation or personal preferences are if they join the military to uphold and carry on its proud tradition, and not use it as a platform to draw attention to their cause, whatever that may be. Many people’s lives and freedoms depend on the actions of the United States Military, and it’s not the place to promote personal agendas.