Bush on Black Soldiers

I am pleased to read George Bush’s comments on the “astounding devotion” of black soldiers (Commentary, Feb. 26). He could not be more right that soldiers who fight for this country’s ideals while being denied its rights are truly among the most outstanding Americans.

This is equally true for a group of soldiers the President neglected to mention: those who are homosexual. Like blacks, they have defended this country throughout its history while being denied its rights. Also like blacks, lesbians and gay men have “established a record of pride in the face of incredible obstacles.” The most incredible of those obstacles is the present policy of trying to prevent lesbians and gay men from serving this country in its armed forces, even when that is their wish. The sad truth is that the military Establishment is trying its best to make sure that lesbians and gay men are not allowed to demonstrate their love of this country. It would be difficult to maintain the fiction that lesbians and gay men are this country’s enemies if we acknowledged that many of them stand side-by-side with heterosexual soldiers in the ranks of the country’s heroes.

DAVID F. LINK

Encino