'Don't ask, don't tell'

The "don't ask, don't tell" policy should be for all people because it should be a private matter for everyone, not posted on T-shirts and not constantly discussed in the media. If everyone kept their orientation to themselves, then no one would know what that orientation was; hence, no controversy. President Bill Clinton had a simple solution in 1993, which works if people would adhere to it.

A certain National Guardsman keeps appearing on TV to have the policy reversed. However, he served in the military for several years and kept to the "don't ask, don't tell" and it worked. He knew the rule when he joined the National Guard, but then he disobeyed the rule and "came out." If he did not want to obey the rule, he knew there was a consequence for not obeying. Hence, that brings controversy.

Surely the military, already under great pressure because they are fighting wars and living in stressful conditions, would be better off with one rule for everyone: "Don't ask, don't tell"?

Winifred Dunn

Lowville