Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT)

President Obama on Friday signed a certification of Congress' repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy banning gay men and women from serving openly in the military, setting the stage for the Clinton-era policy to be formally abolished on September 20, 2011.  DADT will not be formally abolished until September 20 because the legislation passed by Congress late last year requires a 60-day waiting period between the certification by Mr. Obama and military leaders and full repeal. 

As of September 20th, service members will no longer be forced to hide who they are in order to serve our country. Our military will no longer be deprived of the talents and skills of patriotic Americans just because they happen to be gay or lesbian.  "As Commander in Chief, I have always been confident that our dedicated men and women in uniform would transition to a new policy in an orderly manner that preserves unit cohesion, recruitment, retention and military effectiveness," Mr. Obama said. "  This is a major change in the way the military operates.  Some fear that with the openness, there will be a change in the way service men and women carry out their official duties. 

 Others believe that as long as the person is doing his or her job, it does not matter what a person sexual orientation is.  Many Americans will be awaiting the outcome of this issues.  I wonder if we, as a nation, will ever get pass the color of a person's skin, creed, gender, religion, and/or sexual orientation.  As Rodney King once said, "Can we all just get along."