Brody's Scribbles... Well, at least the British Army gets it right!

Photo Courtesy of Ben Rakestrow on Facebook

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Dec 14 | Meet Ben Rakestrow, a 21 year old member of a British Armoured Unit, Her Majesty's 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, who is scheduled to return to the UK after having completed a tour of duty in Helmand  Province, Afghanistan last Friday. This past weekend he was the subject of a series of articles in the British Press discussing his disclosure to his fellow soldiers that he is Gay.

According to an article in the guardian.co.uk, Rakestrow is quoted as saying;

"It was difficult to start with," he said. "I didn't know how they'd react."

When further questioned by a correspondent, Rakestrow replied that he felt strongly that he made a correct decision to come out to fellow soldiers. He also said;

"I get banter from them all the time, but it's good banter. They all want to know about my life, they ask a lot of questions, you can imagine. I don't find it hard to talk about it."

Rakestrow also said that his men in his unit have treated him as an equal since he disclosed his sexuality.  He went to admit that while he feels he doesn't fit any gay stereotypes, he did have  his sleeping area decorated with pictures of the American actor Zac Ephron in his squadron's temporary digs and often had a copy of Attitude magazine in his backpack to read on breaks from duty.

"I always said I wouldn't let my personal life clash with my professional life," he said. "I've got to work with these guys every day."

Trooper Rakestrow has also received high praise from senior British officers regarding his service in Afghanistan and he's witnessed the violence & horror of warfare personally. He was riding in a convoy when his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, was killed in an IED explosion, which also claimed the life of a fellow soldier from his unit, 18 year old Joshua Hammond.

"I was right at the back, there was not a lot I could do. It was terrible," he said. "When something like that happens, I just think, let's get the job done. We get the job done and we reflect on it later."

Now, as I read that, I had to reflect on the current policies of the American Department of Defence, which still has not made any real move towards removing that onerous "Don't Ask-Don't Tell" policy, that has meant the discharge from active service, of literally thousands of servicemen and servicewomen just because they are Gay or Lesbian. It also does not seem as though there will be any progress in that regard either as both the Obama Administration & the Congress have tabled discussions on the issue without setting a timetable or deadline. 

A spokesperson for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that with the current focus on the President's Health Care reform package, along with the extremely high unemployment and distressed economy, the issue probably would not be a factor for any congressional review until next spring or even possibly summer.

The White House offered no comment.  Okay, I see, no comment eh? So, the President ups the ante in the Afghanistan war this past week by ordering that an additional 30,000 soldiers be sent there, and yet still it's apparently the opinion of the administration and the DOD Brass that Gay & Lesbian troops have no place along side their straight brothers and sisters?

General Sir Richard Dannatt, former Chief Of Staff of the British Army was publicly quoted last year saying that;

"One of the Army’s six Core Values is 'Respect for Others' and it is therefore our absolute duty to treat our fellow soldiers as we would wish to be treated ourselves," he said. Discrimination against those in the Army who are lesbian, gay and bisexual does not give them a chance to contribute or to play a full part in the teams that are vital for our success on operations. Respecting others is therefore part of the trust that has to exist between soldiers, and the nation’s values of tolerance, decency and quality must be reflected in the Army."

Sir Richard Dannatt with British troops in Afghanistan 

Photo By The Daily Mail

Until a decade ago, it was illegal to be gay within the British armed forces. Her Majesty's Government was forced to change that law as a result of the articles of the European Convention on Human Rights in 1999.

One has to wonder, what the problem really is with the American military?

 
Admiral Mike Mullen      Getty Images

The current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, in answer to a question during a Congressional hearing said;

"I really think it is for the American people to come forward, really through this body, to both debate that policy and make changes, if that's appropriate." He went on to say, "I'd love to have Congress make its own decisions" with respect to considering repeal."

This signals a departure from the attitude once held by high ranking members of the American military establishment. If the highest ranking member of the military obviously is not voicing dissent or opposition to repealing this policy, then what is preventing American officials from acting on this issue?

Obviously the "normalcy" of a typical young man serving his country as illustrated by the example of Trooper Rakestrow, who just happens to be Gay, should send a clear message to the American military establishment and policy makers that being Gay has absolutely no effect on a person's ability to perform what's expected and required of a professional service member.

The British have this right, what of it America?