| Go
ahead and ask
"Rum, sodomy, and the lash," is a
quote attributed to First Sea Lord Winston Churchill
when the British Admiralty demanded to know
if he in fact knew the traditions of the Royal
Navy. This quip could be true about anyone's
armed forces since cavemen fought in packs.
The varied sexual identity of the world's armies
has usually been held close to the vest with
an insider wink or nudge. Illusions of armies
as exemplars of straight "manhood"
have been the norm.
The United States has just officially ended
all of that. Our military's one-time tradition
of "Don't ask, don't tell" has officially
been dumped.
With its blessing, the Pentagon has ordered
everyone out of the closet — or duffle bag —
and into the personnel pool. There are, however,
opponents to this new policy. This vociferous
bunch is roiling in a Sunday school terror panic.
They warn this policy change will result in
weakened armed forces, mission chaos and an
end to America and western civilization.
History nixes those worries. A look at the legendary
Spartans, Alexander the Great's Macedonians
and even fierce Teutonic Prussians will reveal
much extra curricular "unit bonding."
What do the naysayers fear? Will there be Sapphic
smooching on submarines or high heeled fives
after a predator drone strike? No. These ninnies
protest too loudly. Perhaps the kibitzers have
spent too much time leering at glossy muscle
man magazines.
People who volunteer to put themselves in a
bullet's path if required are OK by me. Flamethrowers,
hand grenades and sinking ships aren't concerned
with a personal life. These machines are equal
opportunity death dealers. The worrywarts should
remember that the gravestones at Arlington Cemetery
and elsewhere are not etched with the individual
proclivities of those interred. The headstone
carvings are rightfully limited to the names
of the interred; that they served, died and
are now under the earth. No more should be needed.
Gary Wilson
Des Moines
Best restaurants?
I'm just curious how the recently conducted
Top-100 restaurant poll by The Des Moines Register
managed to include Zombie Burger, a restaurant
that wasn't even open (if it was open, it was
only for a few days) when the poll was conducted?
Were they awarded because of hype? Was it due
to ad revenue?
Jeni Nosbisch
Des Moines
Don't you just love illusion?
Watching a Republican debate is like being
water-boarded. Even Dick Cheney might call it
torture. Listening to presidential candidates,
one would believe that thought was unprofessional.
Illusion and lies are everything. If you don't
believe it, just ask Michele Bachmann or Rick
Perry. None of the candidates are speaking about
the public good. Ron Paul wants to get rid of
government and move toward total anarchy.
Most everyone knows the debates are ridiculous,
without meaning. President Obama falls into
the same dark pit much of the time. At least
he pulls himself to the edge at times and sheds
a little light on the world. None of these clowns,
including Obama, seem able to grasp reality.
None use a public language. They all use a corporatist
or religious language-rhetoric and propaganda.
When is the public going to wake up and realize
that this nonsense is good for the corporate
world but not the public world — not their world?
Perhaps never. Illusion is too powerful. Check
it out on your television set.
John Hicks
Des Moines |
