"we just need some time"

I don't usually take to my blog for activism, but with Don't Ask, Don't Tell in debate and most likely on the verge of "repeal," I just wanted to examine the language of the heavily assumed terms as explained by The Washington Post:

"President Obama's top defense officials will tell the Senate on Tuesday that the military will no longer aggressively pursue disciplinary action against gay service members whose orientation is revealed against their will by third parties, sources say. ...But Gates and Mullen are also expected to tell senators that it could take years to integrate gay men and lesbians fully into the military, defense officials said. Two appointees will be named to oversee a group that will draw up plans for integrating the armed forces, according to sources familiar with the Pentagon's deliberations on the subject. The planning effort is expected to take up to a year."

So, basically it could be January 2011 before even the "planning effort" is finished.

First off, I love that all of this requires a "planning effort" and secondly -- and most frustratingly -- letting gays serve openly in the military is described and considered an "integration." It's like we're an alien species that has to be steadily introduced into an order so as not to frighten or disrupt the natural way of life in the ecosystem that is the military. Seriously? How about if a gay man or woman wants to take a fucking gun, do what the government tells them to do, and risk their lives to serve this country in a way that they feel is just and appropriate, you just let them fucking do it without continuing to label them as something "other." A uniform is called a uniform for a reason. When you put it on, you are part of a group, a coalition, a collective whole, despite whatever the hell you do in the bedroom.

Integration my ass. I am, we are integrated. Why? Because I'm living and breathing right now. Won't it be great when one day we can all live without any fine print?

Seth

reference via Towleroad