2008 Woodie Awards
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Writer calls Rip anti-military
Nicholas Moore
Issue date: 5/7/04 Section: Opinion
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While reading the most recent edition of The Renegade Rip, it has become blatantly obvious that a large number of your staff are unsupportive of the United States military. This is evident, as seen in an article titled "Military gunning for students" (April 30) and in an online poll.
In the article, the federal government is accused of using their legislative powers to coerce colleges and universities into breaking their policies. The article alleges that a federal bill forces colleges to allow military recruiters into their campuses, while the military is not an equal-opportunity employer.
I do not have a problem with the staff making allegations about things that are alarmingly true. However, I do have a problem with fabrication of information, or misleading accusations. The military of the United States of America is in fact an equal-opportunity employer. They do allow homosexuals to join the military. But just as heterosexuals are not allowed to fraternize with other military members (a display of heterosexuality), homosexuals are expected to adhere to the same rules. The specific regulation in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, in fact says nothing about being homosexual. It merely states that three things in regard to homosexuality are grounds for disqualification into the armed forces.
1) Any homosexual statements or affirmations (it is generally seen as sexual harassment when heterosexuals make these statements).
2) Any homosexual acts (also seen as sexual harassment, also there is the no-fraternization rule).
3) Any same-sex marriages (seeing as they are a recent development, they were illegal at the time when the codes were established). Most interesting of all is the fact that all of these regulations are used on a basis of keeping sexes separate (does homosexuality defeat the purpose of that rule?), and keeping a tone of professionalism in the work environment. To an extent, regarding the recent development of marriages and civil rights movements for homosexuals, the military is still in an archaic age.
In the article, the federal government is accused of using their legislative powers to coerce colleges and universities into breaking their policies. The article alleges that a federal bill forces colleges to allow military recruiters into their campuses, while the military is not an equal-opportunity employer.
I do not have a problem with the staff making allegations about things that are alarmingly true. However, I do have a problem with fabrication of information, or misleading accusations. The military of the United States of America is in fact an equal-opportunity employer. They do allow homosexuals to join the military. But just as heterosexuals are not allowed to fraternize with other military members (a display of heterosexuality), homosexuals are expected to adhere to the same rules. The specific regulation in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, in fact says nothing about being homosexual. It merely states that three things in regard to homosexuality are grounds for disqualification into the armed forces.
1) Any homosexual statements or affirmations (it is generally seen as sexual harassment when heterosexuals make these statements).
2) Any homosexual acts (also seen as sexual harassment, also there is the no-fraternization rule).
3) Any same-sex marriages (seeing as they are a recent development, they were illegal at the time when the codes were established). Most interesting of all is the fact that all of these regulations are used on a basis of keeping sexes separate (does homosexuality defeat the purpose of that rule?), and keeping a tone of professionalism in the work environment. To an extent, regarding the recent development of marriages and civil rights movements for homosexuals, the military is still in an archaic age.