I am a 7th grader at Manhattan Country School. There are many issues that I am very concerned about. The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is one of the most serious. I would like to see changes in this policy.
Is discrimination fair? Have we worked all those years in the Civil Rights Movement for discrimination to still exist? The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy prevents homosexuals from being in the Armed Forces if they are open about their sexual orientation. This means that people who want to help fight for our country do not have the legal means to do this because there is a wall of hatred blocking them. This wall of hatred is discrimination. Is it fair that the only way for them to serve is to lie or to be someone they’re not? Why would you reject so many people who would be able to help the country? Is being homosexual a crime? Is it fair that being homosexual prevents people from doing their jobs and performing their duties?
The “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy became a law in 1993. It was meant as a compromise between those for and against homosexuals in the military. The ultimate result of this compromise, however, has been anti-homosexual. Almost each year since the policy was implemented the number of discharges for being open about being homosexual has risen. In total over 7,500 homosexuals were discharged from the military. Does this mean anything to you? Well it certainly does to me. To me it means that thousands of people are being denied the right to do what they want to do. Our country is losing the services of so many because of discrimination. Furthermore this policy has given anti-homosexuals a sense of legitimacy. In addition to discharges the level of harassment against homosexuals is on the rise.
The Term Paper on Critical analysis of Good Country People by Flannery O’ Connor
Good Country People is one of the most sought after works of Flannery O’ Connor. It is said to be the biography of O’Connor but she never claimed it to be such. The novel Good Country People seems to reflect the current situation and emotional status of O’ Connor while she was writing the novel, and if it is not in fact her biography, her emotion at that time has influenced the novel greatly. ...
I grew up in a school that’s main focus is equality, creating a community of many different races, ethnicities, and cultures. The school brings together a community of teachers, teachers of different sexual preferences. My school’s atmosphere is warm and friendly. Whenever we cluster together in a small room for assemblies we always sing in unison and you get a great feeling of equality. Differences melt and we are all human beings. Each one has a unique to gift to offer to the Manhattan Country School community.
It’s pretty upsetting to me that many people in the country don’t take the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy into concern, that people don’t try to act to change it. I only just heard about it when we began preparation for lobbying. It seemed such a big issue to me. I was shocked that this policy existed. I thought we had pretty much crumbled down the barriers of discrimination. That is why we come to you, as the lawmakers in this nation, our country’s leaders. We wish you to help us make a change in these injustices that greatly concern us and affect our everyday lives. I ask you to consider drafting legislation to make the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the military illegal, to abolish a law which congress once made.
I hope that after hearing my speech you will feel as strongly opposed to the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy as I do. If you don’t I understand that everyone is entitled to there own opinion and I am just glad that I was given the chance to share mine with you today.
