European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 4, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday decembers 1992 letters to the editor the stars and stripes b Page 13tackling homophobia As a Catholic priest working with homosexual people for More than 20 years i was especially interested in your report on Gays in the military. I was impressed by the courage of the people you interviewed about their experiences. In my educational workshops on homophobia in the United states in be met and talked with Gay and lesbian service members about the struggles they have. I also believe we need to be sensitive to those who have different opinions about homosexuality. Their concerns and fears need to addressed. Their objections sometimes arise from misconceptions about homosexuality from Strong Reli Gous and biblical beliefs about marriage or from a Lack of firsthand knowledge of homosexual people. What is badly needed is sound education honest conversation and a deep respect for others who see things differently. Only a continuing discussion informed by knowledge and experience will help us build a world of Justice and love. This is the real Issue when we speak about the a morality of  you re to be commended for raising it in a productive realistic Way. A Rev Robert Nugent Catholic University of Louvain Belgium Bible is Clear in response to a Gay bashing a crime a the writer stated you can to use the Bible to justify the immorality of homosexuality. The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is wrong. Homosexuality is immoral. A Henry Crocker Bremerhaven Germany fears Are real the main effect of homosexuals in the military is not on discipline and morale nor is it Equality and fairness. The main Issue is acceptance. Soldiers Strong beliefs in values and morals help them endure hardships and risk their lives for their country. Americans have diverse beliefs ranging from democracy to communism and soldiers defend their right to believe freely. Extreme beliefs Are unacceptable for soldiers. The Soldier must be a centrist and possess Good morals. No one Ever thought homosexuals could be effective soldiers or officers who a Lead by example their heterosexual troops. And that a the Point. The vast majority of personnel do not believe admitting homosexual soldiers would be effective among centrists. Then there Are Are fears of homosexual leaders forcing their beliefs on others. The fears Are real because the beliefs of the heterosexual soldiers Are real. I predict there will be forms of rejection resignations violence abuse and Subtle no acceptance of homosexuals. Its not that soldiers done to accept Equality discipline Good order and morale. They do. But to ask the same group to accept homosexuals in the military would be a contradiction of their beliefs. A sgt. 1st class Davis e. Gaines Nurnberg German lied to enlist i fail to understand the big debate Over expelling homosexuals from the military. To every service member in our armed forces the answer should be Clear. Every service member must disclose whether he or she is homosexual. Those who admit they Are Gay Are not wearing a uniform. Those who lied Are guilty of fraudulent enlistment. With the election of Bill Clinton and the imminent lifting of the ban on Gays ill voice my opinion in the Best Way i know How a ill get out in one month. A spec. Peter it Arris Miessau German homosexuals Are deviant the liberals would have you believe this is a constitutional rights Issue the Gay rights lobbyists Call it discrimination. I Call it fraud. In a tired of hearing homosexuality defined As a lifestyle. Homosexuality is immoral deviate sexuality and has no place in military society. I also resent the implication that homosexuality is just like minority discrimination. Choosing to be Gay is not like being Black red Brown or yellow. When i joined the military 14 years ago i signed a contract. Part of my agreement was i would not partake in illegal drugs or unnatural sex. We do not need a new game plan. All we need to do is enforce the standards. A tech. Sgt. Rob Smith Hahn a Germany ludicrous statements9 there a been a great Deal of controversy Over Gays in the military most of which is entered on the question of morale Security and the definition of Normal and abnormal behaviour. Everyone keeps making ludicrous statements about what will happen if Gays Are admitted into the military. Soldiers work with Gay people soldiers eat with Gay people soldiers sleep in the same Barracks with Gay people and soldiers even Shower with Gay people. Some have suggested Gay people will make sexual advances toward service members of the same sex. Overt sexual advances in the military Are wrong a for everyone. The tired old line about Gays being incompatible with the army environment or a Security risk is the biggest joke. A research report commissioned by the Pentagon revealed that Gays in the military perform their duty a equal to or better than non Gays in the military. The notion that Gay people Arentt Normal is the most objectionable. I know it May be difficult for some people to understand but everyone in the world does no to fall into one of two categories. Cd. Young Frankfurt German civilian court out of line much coverage and celebrity have been poured upon Petty officer Keith Meinhold who was ordered reinstated to his Job by a Federal judge in san Francisco. The most disturbing development was the imposition of a civilian courts opinion in what is clearly military jurisdiction. To what extent May a judges authority now supersede military policy the Ucma lays out sanctions and penalties for those who violate military regulations and discipline. However what constitutes a crime in military Law in t necessarily so under civilian Law. Would a Soldier convicted of insubordination or conduct unbecoming an officer need Only find a civilian judge who views such behaviour As constitutionally protected Freedom of expression the implications Are ominous particularly when applied to Battlefield situations where Little room exists to question commanders. Service members need Relief from the courts and politicians alike who cannot differentiate Between civilian life and military service. A Kevin d. Walmsley Augsburg German they also served we had them before but then they were referred to As  it was their devoted contribution in world War ii Korea and Vietnam that gave our nation the Freedom to now scorn ridicule and ban them from service to their country. In the Brown shoe army they were the fighter pilots who helped Clear War torn skies Over Europe they were behind the steering wheel of the 2 a ton trucks on the red Ball express they kept Patton a Supply depots full. I know because there were three in platoon. They made the Best Cooks and were jokingly referred to As  they excelled As personnel clerks and in the inspection ranks they were the sharpest soldiers. The nation should care less who the Soldier chooses to sleep with after duty As Long As he chooses to serve his country while on duty. A Sec. Ret Joseph Pryor Mannheim germanylet9s seek solutions done to Call me a Gay rights activist. Yes integration of known homosexuals will create problems. Yet the Gay Soldier will not be at fault. Narrow mindedness and Lack of profess onanism on the part of the rest of us will be to blame. After nearly 50 years some minority commanders still experience this phenomenon and after nearly 20 years this reaction to female leadership is the Rule rather than the exception. Is Thi amp he fault of the minority and female leaders instead of finding fault lets find solutions. Can we not move beyond this Petty ignorant style of interaction if a Soldier performs Well Reward the Soldier. If a Soldier screws up discipline the Soldier. Lets work together toward elimination of discrimination and favouritism of every kind and in doing so truly uphold the Constitution we Are All sworn to defend. A sgt. 1st class Carole j. Townsend Mannheim German Why single out Gays strangely the Point that homosexuals have up to now been Able to Dodge military service does no to seem to enter the discussion. Even the fact that homosexuals have been Able to get out of paying Back the obligation they incurred for free schooling Hasni to bothered some of us As much As the thought of having to live in the same Barracks with one. The real joke is that we always have had homosexuals in our armed forces. Its Only the ones that Tell the truth or Are otherwise indiscreet that we Force out. The liars we keep. A bigger headache for commanders than communal showers May be the claims of discrimination that Are bound to arise every time some homosexual service member does no to get the assignment he wants or is not promoted As promptly As someone else. As a taxpayer i resent giving medical retirement to service members with aids who cannot Trace the infection to a blood transfusion an occupational exposure or a spouse. Finally those promoting exclusion of homosexuals on religious grounds should note that the apostle Paul lumps in with homosexuals some More common undesirable types such As fornicators adulterers and drunkards. If we Are going to be consistent we should exclude them All. Or would that accelerate the draw Down too drastically a James o. Morse Lan Stuhl Germany not acceptable9 Gays in the army Are not acceptable. How Many unknown and implied rules will also require changing who establishes the rules to determine what a right and what a wrong As far As acceptable conduct is concerned if they live in the billets which latrine do they use which area do they sleep in if Gays Are accepted will Gays who have been legally married be authorized family status will they live together in family quarters will the spouse be authorized child care provider status How do i explain this to my children in military training exercises which it test do they take will they be allowed in the infantry William k. Carroll _ Giessen Germany Linton just has no idea Bill Clinton is president elect of the United states. I have come to terms with this and will respect him As commander in chief when he takes office. But How can a Man with no military experience understand the service do you remember what you thought the military would be like when you went to your Recruiter and How a Man with no idea of military life can make such a controversial decision As allowing homosexuals in the military without conferring with the personnel it affects is beyond me. A airman 1st class Scott Rosemeier Raf upper Heyford England doing the same Job this letter responds to the article a americans in Europe have mixed  what kind of diseases can be passed by someone washing their clothes after a Gay person or eating in the same dining facility or showering after a Gay individual if you had a Soldier working under your supervision who was one of your Best soldiers always received High Marks and you always enjoyed working with that person and All of a sudden he told you he was Gay would you throw All your clothes away and buy new ones my personal opinion is that if other minorities can take a Bullet while defending their country so can a homosexual. We Are All Here to do the same Job. Remember that we Are All created equal we All have Freedom of Choice. I by the Way am not homosexual. In a happily married with two kids. In a Only supporting the . Constitution. A sgt. Jeffrey g. Phillips Karlsruhe German reminder All letters to the editor must contain the full printed name and address of the writer and must be signed. We do not read unsigned letters. Ail letters Are subject to editing