I never thought I had the RIGHT to enlist in the military. On the other hand, I always felt that the military had the RIGHT to deny me enlistment. This is just one of many reasons why DADT is not a gay rights issue.
I compiled a list of the addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and fax numbers of every senator in the United States Senate. I presented my case in the best well-written letter I could manage. I added a few more arguments that I have not presented here or anywhere else. One was the fact that the United States culture is one that is obsessed with law suits and it is conceivable that, in combat there is potential for a law suit to be filed against a commanding officer simply because sexual orientation is suddenly part of the equation. Was someone considered for a dangerous mission because of his or her sexual orientation? Was someone passed over for a dangerous mission because of his or her sexual orientation? Picking someone at random is no longer an option. This would not be an issue in other countries because other countries are not as law-suit obsessed as the United States.
It took a while but I contacted every United States senator. Family members who read my letter said it was well-written and convincing.
I am not saying that my actions played any role in the Senate refusing to strike down DADT. But I am not saying that it had nothing to do with it.
No one, that I know of, has had the courage to step up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is if they disagree with me. I did a little experiment. If you are really sure I am wrong, how about one dollar to post your opinion where the senators can read what you have to say? No one did. No one did because when money -- even one dollar -- is put into the equation, it give people pause and a moment to reconsider their actions. Posting a comment online, here, is cheap and easy. So emotions run amuck. And people are free to associate DADT with gay rights without thinking they might be wrong.
A head hunter in Seattle (employment agent, for all you non-yanks) said I should charge more, like 3.99, otherwise people will think it is a scam. It is not a scam. You can sign up, make your post and then you can even go into the dash board of your account and cancel the membership. If I wanted, I could charge one dollar per post instead of a membership. But THAT, I think actually would be a kind of scam.
Anyway, this discussion forum, here, I think, on the randi forum is just for fun. Where the rubber meets the road, is my blog where the policy makers have been told they can go and read what makes sense. If you are sure of yourself, you will make a post there. I think you are not sure of yourself. You are just voicing an opinion to be part masses for the sake of popularity.
Bill Thompson - 1
Lady Gaga - 0
