Clinton Change on ‘Don’t Ask’ Policy

* Regarding President Clinton’s desire to revise the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding homosexuals (Dec. 12): The policy is SNAFU, because it flies in the face of current scientific knowledge. It has been almost 30 years since the American Psychiatric Assn. struck homosexuality from its list of pathologies. Many of our NATO allies (e.g. Canada and Holland) allow gays to serve openly in their armed forces.

“Don’t ask, don’t tell” seems to be an accommodation to the anxieties of some heterosexuals. Integration of blacks caused some whites anxiety; opening of careers for women caused some men anxiety. We now know that these fears were ill-founded. We are now witnessing a similar response by heterosexuals to the possibility of gays serving openly in the military. In time, I believe, we’ll realize that these fears were also bogus.

The military needs to shape up, modernize its thinking on this issue and disestablish the policy, which has done so much harm not only to the lives of individuals who have been unfairly cashiered from the services but also to the nation, which has been deprived of their skills as soldiers.

JOSEPH GIUS

Los Angeles

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Re “Verdict Is In for ‘Don’t Ask,’ ” editorial, Dec. 14: With few exceptions, people calling for full and open integration of gays into our military have had little or no military experience. The military is a unique institution requiring close association in sometimes extreme circumstances. Jumping into a foxhole with a gay is not something most young heterosexual males want to experience. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines must rely on one another in combat. Forcing heterosexuals to associate with gays on a close personal basis and opening the door for avowed gays to assume command would be wrong.

I hope we let the military in on the decision-making on this issue. Obviously our president has no firsthand knowledge to fall back on.

JIM THOMPSON

Redondo Beach