(pixabay.com)
Trump Has Tweeted
In a series of three tweets (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump) Donald Trump announced today that transgenders will no longer be serving in the military.
"After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.
"Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail,"
-Donald Trump - twitter.com
There are two more stories about this featuring on the front page of Reuters today. One is concerning the human aspect of such a ban. The other is concerning the legal implications.
The human aspect
You can find the article here...
Transgender soldiers, veterans shaken by Trump's ban on their service
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-transgender-troops-idUSKBN1AB30D
It talks about National Guard reservist Cameron St. Andrew who has just two years to go before his planned retirement.
He reflects on the discovery about himself whilst he was already serving.
The Legal aspect
Any U.S. military transgender ban could face major legal challenge, especially if it affect already-serving soldiers.
http://www.reuters.com/article/usa-military-transgender-legal-idUSL1N1KH2C1
The legality of the decision may be a larger question for those already serving than those who want to serve, the article says. This is because the military does have the power to exclude certain classes of applicants, as was shown in the past by its ban on openly gay people.
"There's no valid justification for excluding transgender people from the military," said Jon Davidson, legal director for LGBT rights group Lambda Legal. "They are currently serving without a problem. There hasn't been an extraordinary cost. There hasn't been disruption."
My questions on this would be purely operational:
- Do transgender people cost more?
- Do they have a negative effect on other troops and would that continue to be so?
- How important is inclusiveness in relation to the public's perception of the army?
- Is there anything specifically personal to transgendered people that might cause problems?
- Why should working for the army be considered different from any other job?
- If any problems are identified, do they apply to all jobs in the army?
- Do any of the factors, singularly or as a whole, give credence to a complete ban?
My personal view is that I don't like bans without very good reason. If transgenders are already serving in the military without any problems then a ban to me is unnecessary.
Considering the divide created by the media between heterosexuals and transgendered individual's I would say there may be an issue. Stop watching the media and let people do what they want in their free time and there is no issue. Unity, clarity of purpose and focus is key to a successful military. Right now I would say there is anything but unity between lgbtq and everyone else.
I would have to ask, would their overt inclusion in to the military cause any kind of divide or friction if so it may be a problem.
Let's put the political correctness and b.s. aside for a moment. Can member's of the lgbtq community be soldier's? Of course they can. I do not believe their ability to be bad asses should be in question. Do lesbian's, gays, bisexual's, transgendered and queer people strike fear in to the heart of the enemy? I suspect they will all look the same on the battlefield probably not the issue. Many a battle can be won by simply crushing your enemies will to fight prior to battle.
And now we get to the real issue, politics. Which just messes up everything. If lgbtq member's have been serving in the military up to this point what's the problem? Why is this an issue the president has to make a decision about? Oh that's right politics.
Politicians jump on any band wagon they feel will garner them votes in the next election.
So lgbtq members have been serving in the military, some douchbag politician felt they could ride the communities coat tail's to an election victory in the future and now you have been banned from service.
Lets take a look at the government track record on social engineering shall we?
War on poverty?
War on drugs?
War on terror?
Me think's that the lgbtq community might wanna distance themselves from these self riotous political parasite's before it's too late.
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Not sure if that's a yes, no or maybe. :)
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We are talking about people. Being trans-gender should have nothing to do with it unless there is compelling evidence otherwise.
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same here. that ban is unnecessary man!
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Ban everywhere... I wonder if next he will ban mexican-americans and american-muslims as well.
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I see this as a good thing myself, he has just gave every single american the "get out of conscription" card. :D
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I was thinking the same thing myself.
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This post received a 4.1% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @davidnx! For more information, click here!
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