Editorial: Senate goes in two directions
Protesters rally in favor of the Dream Act in California on Saturday before the bill failed in the Senate. Credit: AP Photo
Patriotism won one and lost one this weekend when the U.S. Senate voted to allow gays to serve openly in the military, but rejected legal status for people brought to the country illegally as children.
Those divergent outcomes reflect a social landscape that no longer views gay men and lesbians as pariahs but, unfortunately, still sees illegal immigrants that way, even those who serve in the armed forces.
The repeal of "don't ask, don't tell'' is a historic milestone, much like the integration of blacks and women into the military, which naysayers also insisted would undermine unit cohesion and effectiveness. When signed by President Barack Obama and implemented by the military, the once unthinkable will become the new norm.
That moment is imminent because of a sea change in attitudes about gays in the 17 years since "don't ask, don't tell'' was enacted as a compromise to soften, but not end, what had been an outright ban on gays in the military.
Now most of the public, many top military officials, the president and a majority in Congress support ending that discrimination. The military should craft new regulations quickly and trigger the reform by certifying, as soon as possible, that it won't damage combat readiness.
The current Congress followed the public's lead on gays in the military. The next one should lead the public to accept that people brought into the country illegally as children be allowed to attend college and serve in the military. After two years, they could become citizens. These youngsters who know no other country as home, deserve a shot at the American dream and a life in the open. hN
