Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

Last updated on: December 15, 2012 at 10:47 pm by Andrew Marin

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell 2012-12-15T22:47:01-06:00 Andrew Marin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On Wednesday December 22, 2010 at 9:15am President Obama will be signing a bill that repeals Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

It’s about time.

Personally, I don’t believe in war. I don’t believe in killing. I don’t believe that the only way to keep peace is through violence. I don’t believe in retaliation (even though my mind goes there at times). As my buddy Shane Claiborne says,

“American needs the Amish to run Homeland Security and Jesus for President.”

I’m reading an impactful book right now by Tony Campolo: Choose Love Not Power: How to Right the World’s Wrongs from a Place of Weakness. It says everything I’m thinking about war and its implications in power. I’m tired of the slogan:

If only I (or a country or a group or an organization) were in control everything would be better.

That’s not how cultural or economic stability can ever be facilitated over the long haul. Regardless of my thoughts, our world works through a filter that believes the only way to have influence is through gaining power. All of this to say, though, if gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people choose to join the military, it just doesn’t make sense to deny them that choice.

I sure don’t want to fight. I don’t want to retaliate through violence. I don’t want to search for weapons of mass destruction. I don’t want to be the big brother fighting other people’s or countries battles. I don’t want to rule the world through war to gain the control of oil. And I don’t believe Jesus would want any of those things either.

All that any of those things have gotten us are a bunch of enemies (which we ourselves called the Axis of Evil – thanks Bush), trillions of dollars of debt to China and everyone else because we keep taking unnecessary loans and printing more money (thanks Obama) and who knows what’s next…

Here is another post I wrote about this topic last year, speaking to some hard-nosed military lifers.

We live in the land of the free and the home of the brave, and if free and brave are defined by some people (including LGBTs) as an ability to join the military, then that is their right to do so. It was a ridiculous rule in the first place that President Clinton said he had to instate due to bi-partisan pressure (PS – since when do President’s fully give in to the other party’s demands?). So it’s long overdue that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is now history.

Much love.

www.themarinfoundation.org

LGBT

Politics

Previous Post

December 21, 2010

Dec 21: My One Sentence Bible

Next Post

December 23, 2010 Dec 23: My One Sentence Bible

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Reviews Bridging Opposing Worldviews Culture Don't Drink and Drive Faith Guest Posts I'm Sorry Campaign Interviews Language Laura Statesir LGBT Living in the Tension Living in the Tension Gatherings Love Is an Orientation Love Is an Orientation Blog Love Is an Orientation Book Love Is an Orientation DVD Melinda Guerra Memory My One Sentence Bible Newsletter Our Last Option Parents & Families Politics Quick Quotes Quotes ReEngaging Civility Sexuality Speaking The Marin Foundation Theology Uncategorized Us Versus Us Videos Warren Perry Youth and Campus Ministry

Select a Month June 2016 May 2016 December 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz