image : Lots of cartoons have been made about the repeal of the law. (http://www.cagle.com/news/DADT10/main.asp, retrieved 21.1.2011)
One of the president Barack Obama's campaing pledges was to end the ”Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy, though
he offered no timetable nor specifics for acting on that promise. Obama has said that we shouldn't punish the
patriotic Americans, who are willing to serve their country, though he also admitted that the progress could take
longer than one would like (The Huffington, Post Jan. 10th 2009).
The major issue on the debates has been that ending the ”Don't Ask, Don't Tell” wont affect the military readiness
and morale. The Senate Armed Services Committee held two days of hearings, which conclusion was that a
repeal of the ban ”would present a low risk to the military's effectiveness even during a time of war” said Sen.
Carl Devin, who chaired the panel.
The Don't Ask Don't Tell policy was finally ended on 22th December 2010, when president Barack Obama
signed the repeal. ”I say to all Americans, gay or straight, who want nothing more than to defend this
country in uniform, your country needs you, your country wants you, and we will be honored to welcome
you into the ranks of the finest military the world has ever known,” Obama said (The Washington Post,
Dec. 22th 2010).
http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/military_history.html (retrieved December 30th 2010)
http://www.soulforce.org/article/808 (retrieved December 30th 2010)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/12/18/ST2010121803394.html?sid=ST2010121803394 (retrieved December 31th 2010)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/dont-ask-dont-tell-timeline/ (retrieved December 31th 2010)
http://www.cmrlink.org/HMilitary.asp?docID=336 (retrieved December 31th 2010)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/10/obama-says-he-will-end-do_n_316524.html (retrieved January 14th 2011)
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2010/1218/In-historic-vote-Senate-moves-to-end-don-t-ask-don-t-tell (retrieved January 14th 2011)
