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February 3, 2010
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A great day for ROTC
Finally, there is movement on repealing "don't ask, don't tell." It's high time--and when it's done, it will reverberate very interestingly indeed in higher ed, where a great many private colleges and universities don't allow ROTC on campus because of DADT. The thing is, those campuses for the most part have not allowed ROTC on campus since the Vietnam era -- when the issue wasn't gays serving in the military, but the military itself. Since the 1990s, though, faculties and admins at Columbia and Harvard, among others, have been quite explicit that they don't want campus-based ROTC units because they don't like the military's discriminatory policies. With DADT repealed, those campuses will be challenged to be as good as their words--and will be pressed to bring ROTC back.
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Comments:
Maybe I am just a cynic, but I nurture the impression that if DADT is repealed, a new mantra and twisted logic for keeping ROTC off campuses will arise. As you noted, while DADT is problematic, it isn't the primary motive driving these left-wing academics to resists ROTC. They are driven by a deep-seeded hatred of the military. While DATD provides a very useful screen, I anticipate a new line-of-reasoning to emerge from these folks upon its pending appeal. Their new logic may fail, but I have never known a leopard to change its spots.
I have the same impression, w. If it's not DADT, the case against might be made along the following line: female officers in some branches of the military have to wear hats that look different than those of male officers. It will be suggested that the females' hats don't have the same "cache" as the more traditional hats of the males, and that the females will thus be perceived as being second-class officers. Therefore, the military disrespects women and ROTC should not be allowed on campus. If not hats than reason XYZ will do just as well. It's always something.
Sorry, should have added at "t" to "cache".
Not a bad day for gay and lesbian servicemen and servicewomen, either...
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