European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 4, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 the stars and stripes letters to the editor Friday december 4, 1992 thes european edition col Dene a Townsend Usan commander publisher Bernard a. Zovistoski editor news and editorial Bill Walker european editor Deborah Absher Newa editor Bob Wicker sports editor Paul Cozby acting City editor George Manet special sections editor to write us unit 29480 Apo a 09211 or Postrach 11 14 37 6100 Darmstadt 11, Germany news Tel fax 06155-601416 to Call us dial 06155-601 plus Extension or Dan 348-8 plus Extension As follows news ext 237, 255, 282, 226, 326, sports ext 225, 269, 263, 332, 321, 221, features ext. 230, 245, 341. Letters to editor ext 208. Education Jimi Jones ext 226. Business news ext. 326. 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Kaiserslautern civilian 0631-57070 or 57079, Dan 489-7100, Tel fax 0631-50696. Nurnberg civilian 0911-712558, Dan 460-7001. Stuttgart civilian 0711-546743, Dan 420-7175. Italy Naples civilian 0039b1-5685306, Dan 625-5306 Vicenza civilian 0444-515358, Dan 634-7545, Tel fax 0444-300 641. Spain Madrid Dan 665-5807, civilian and Tol lox 003416561465 Turkey Istanbul civilian and Tel fax 0090-1-1724843. United kingdom Ciren Cestla civilian 0285-713-637, Dan 247-4445. Advertising display Germany 06155-601247 or 601309, Dan 3488247 classified Germany 06155-601349, Dan 34bb349. Advertising Tel fax 06155 601412 a please Recycle this newspaper is an authorized unofficial publication Tor members of Hie military services overseas. Contents of the stars and stripes do not necessarily reflect the official views of or endorsement by the  government the department of defense or the . European command. The appearance of advertising in this publication including inserts or supplements does not consulate endorsement by the department of Welense or the stars and stripes of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for Purchase use or patronage without regard to race color religion sex. National origin age marital status physical Handicap political affiliation or any other non men Raciot of the purchaser user or  the gis decide the election pledge of president elect Clinton to allow Gays and lesbians into the armed forces has plunged the nation into  and con Camps. 1 since the question affects those on Active duty More than the rest of the nation Clinton May be Well advised to let servicemen Bers decide the Issue in secret ballot the outcome of which will either exonerate Clinton or let him out of the quagmire. A or Frank King Darmstadt Germany a lets face real issues there a millions of americans Strung out on drugs. We re scared to death by drive by shootings. The Economy is in the worst shape it has been in More than 50 years. Our school system is pathetic. The draw Down is forcing out service members who face an Uncertain future. Civilians Are losing their jobs and May lose the american dream a their own Home. Yet the main topic in the headlines of the stars and stripes generated by the newly elected regime is the integration of homosexuals into the military. If this is their most important priority then god help us. We Are in deep deep trouble. A Walter Ford Stuttgart Germany # headed for Gay confusion homosexuals coming out of the closet in the military by fy94? very possible More than Likely. Get used to it its going to happen. I Only question what criteria if any will be used when Gay men and women join the service. The Gay culture covers a wide variety of subcultures. There Are Gay men and women who you would never know Are Gay unless you were told. Then you have your drag Queens transvestites transsexuals transsexual wannabes bisexuals Etc. Can the government set standards a for example As Long As you done to a look Gay you can join the military the fact that a transvestite male or female needs to dress like the opposite sex for emotional and or sexual gratification should not preclude him or her from pursuing a military career. The important thing is that they Are Able to perform their duties right a yes this is going to be an interesting decade. A Sandra Smith bad sibling German uncomfortable housing those who advocate allowing Gays in the military have been Quick to Point out that Gays Are just As Able to do the Job As a straight person. But the military Isnit just a Job a its a life. When Gen. Colin Powell stated a a. The presence of homosexuals within the armed forces would be prejudicial to Good order and discipline a the advocates said  let me illustrate Powell a statement. In dormitories we re separated by gender. Males Are Only allowed to room with males and females with females. With homosexuals deemed a Legal a you introduce a new set of variables into the formula. If two homosexuals Are roomed together you discriminate against heterosexuals. While the two homosexuals would be trusted to a a behave themselves the heterosexuals Arentt. If a homosexual and a heterosexual Are roomed together you create an uncomfortable situation for one or the other or both. Your dorm room is your Home. Maybe a solution would be for everyone to have their own room. Also communal showers Are out so each room will need separate bathrooms. Now All we need is the Money to build All of these new dorms to House everyone separately. Sound workable a staff sgt. Kendall Bengtson Ramstein a German editor s note letters from readers expressing their viewpoints or opinions Are published daily in this space. All letters must be signed. We Reserve the right to edit letters for clarity length and taste. Preference is Given to Shorter letters so that More can be published in a timely manner. Letters should be signed and include address and Telephone number. Address letters to letters to the editor the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. A a a letters requesting information or assistance Are answered in a feature called readers action line which normally appears every Day except thursday and sunday. Letters should be signed and include address and Telephone number. Address such letters to readers action line the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211.military would suffer president elect Clinton a proposal to allow the undesirable not to mention unwanted and unneeded homosexuals into the armed forces is unwise and morally destitute. I Hope hell be open minded enough to listen to military leaders who have strongly advised against such an indecent action. He saw fit to avoid military service and has no real idea of military life while the leaders have served for decades. It would seem to any reasonable person that the leaders opinion would have the most Merit. They know the importance of camaraderie loyalty and the psyche of a military unit ranging from As Small As a squad to a corps. All would suffer if acceptance of Gays is dictated to us. A chief warrant officer a Bloedow Gie Belstadt German the military conscience Harry Truman wrote a if there is one Basic element in our Constitution it is civilian control of the  i believe its Correct for a military Leader to resign his her commission when policy put in place by our civilian controllers is contrary to the dictates of that individuals conscience. Its completely inappropriate for any Soldier to attempt to manipulate the commander in chief through threats of resignation. If there a a military Leader who must publicly threaten to resign in protest of the presidents policies he should be invited to do so. There Are Many talented officers remaining who Are Well equipped to perform the duties and obligations of the nations top brass. The military whose implicit Job is to make secure our constitutions Promise of equal rights for All citizens must purge its ranks of every sort of bigot whatever his her rank or position. A capt. Jane h. Edwards bad sibling German homosexuality immoral i read with interest Quot ban on Gays labelled  a the articles tone seems to suggest that those opposed to the bands lifting Are not on line with the rest of America. In a opposed to jumping on the bandwagon to allow homosexuals in the military. Have americans really thought through this Issue will the american taxpayer be expected to pay to support homosexual families in the military i find the idea repugnant. The most important reason for the ban to remain is homosexuality is just Plain immoral and in a surprised leaders Are not speaking out against it. A Staft sgt. Michael l. Atkinson Heidelberg German leaders prejudiced in a recent article an unidentified Marine corps general was quoted giving an illustration of a scene in a Shower after a Field exercise. A we were standing in this Shower tent naked waiting in line for 35 minutes for a five minute Shower. Would i be comfortable knowing Gays were there standing in line with us no my question is Why would he be uncomfortable homosexuality is not contagious he a not going catch it. Is he going to be raped or molested no. Is a Gay Soldier going to make unsolicited sexual advances to someone he knows is straight no. So Why is this general so uncomfortable there a no justifiable reason except his irrational unjustifiable prejudice or fear. Military officials need to seriously examine themselves and face their prejudices against homosexuality. Perhaps then they will no longer continue to deny Gays their right to serve. If Given the Choice Between taking homosexuals or Tail Hook members into the military id take Gays any Day. Tail Hook members a now there a a group to feel uncomfortable with standing in line. A Teresa Comeaux  German problems wont go away think about it. Allowing Gays in the military will cause More sexual harassment and prejudice in the military. And How do we expect these problems to go away if we allow Gays in the military by allowing Gays into the military i As a Soldier am asked to go against what i believe is morally right. I respect the uniform i Wear. But if Gays Are openly accepted into the military i would have to stand up for god my morals and beliefs and therefore end up with my career in jeopardy. A airman to e. Ballew Span Dahlem Germany not afraid just opposed have the people who Are advocating acceptance of homosexuals in the military really thought this through the Issue is far bigger than whether or not a Gay can do his Job or How one feels about showering with them. According to the experts they Are already in the military. What they Are asking is to be allowed to practice homosexual behaviour openly. I m not phobic about homosexuality. I m not afraid of it. Just against it. A Cheryl Johnson Oxfordshire England