DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL

Congress is to be admired for ending the so-called "don't ask, don't tell" policy, whereby openly gay people were not allowed to serve in the U.S. military. Since it was introduced in 1993, more than 13,000 people have been discharged because of their sexuality.

I have personally never understood why a person's sexuality makes a difference, when it comes to having to kill an enemy. However, plenty of people obviously disagreed. The original law was a compromise, which Bill Clinton had to accept, after it became clear that he could not fulfil his campaign promise of allowing openly gay people to serve in the armed forces.

Some Republicans voted against the repeal, though not enough to block it. There are aways some diehards; but it is good to see that they are fewer and fewer.

Walter Blotscher