MAST / OCT. 29, 2010
INTERNATIONAL 7
INTERNATIONAL LAW
Don’t ask, don’t ell”: Progression or egression?
Of the 1.4 million men and women in service, 1.6 percent are homosexual and more than 22,400 service national Intern members stay silent about their sexuality. gsam@plu.edu Courts are challenging the 17-year-old law as discriminatory. English Professor David Seal, who served as a none United States Congress authorized the National nse Authorization Act In 1993, which included commission officer in Germany during the Vietnam “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy banning open War from 1970-71, described his experience in close osexuality in the armed forces under the premise quarters with other soldiers and dismissed the policy lternative sexual orientations may threaten unit as unnecessary. “Every other major military allows homosexual ion. rginia Phillips, one of 35 federal judges on the individuals to serve,” Seal said. Junior ROTC member Eric Gross believes the law ornia District Court, struck down the policy nconstitutional on Sept. 9, 2010, stating that it is necessary for keeping a strong image of the armed forces. es the Along with and Fifth unit cohesion, ndments. the most forceful hillips a r g u m e n t d for an against the law’s unction repeal addresses 12 to the propensity ediately for violence. ontinue U.S. Army discharge Captain Patrick soldiers Linford identifies d violating the issue as a “don’t possible source don’t of hazing and policy. discrimination. sident “’Don’t ask, a m a ’ s don’t tell’ was st to the put in place h Circuit because of overt t of discrimination, als to issue specifically in y on the promotions, and ction was it was a way ed Oct. to eliminate allowing the issue by arges to mandating nue until silence on both er review. parties,” Linford bate on said. “I feel “don’t a legitimate don’t c o n c e r n policy PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVECOMMONS.COM for violent divided e r i c a n s . Students from Vassar University organized with Soulforce to stand against the “don’t ask, r e p e r c u s s i o n s e are don’t tell” policy at the Armed Forces Recruitment Center in Times Square, New York on exist.” O o l e y arguing Sept. 20, 2006. contends that the rule violence is an iminates st the LGBT community, and there are those who illegitimate concern and not a reason to continue a ve it is necessary for unit cohesion and violence practice that treats homosexuals as an inferior rank in society. ntion. “The people who [bash] people within the military OTC member junior Robert Denning believes the y provides a middle ground between the two don’t do it because of their orientation, but because of the person they are,” Ooley said. “Soldiers have a ersonally, I think ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is a good certain respect for one another as long as their comrade y. It’s the closest thing to neutral between the two is doing their duty; they could care less who they are ” Denning said. “I don’t agree pushing farther ‘doing’ in their bunk.” The case arguing between unit cohesion and a repeal making it so people can be openly gay.” phomore Jake Ooley, public relations executive discrimination could determine an era of progressive Harmony, contradicted the assertion of peace legislation on gay rights or affirm that the military is een the sides, emphasizing that the situation is an entity dissimilar to any culture in society. “Old habits die hard,” Gross said. ample of stagnating human rights progression. Proceedings on the repeal of the legislation t one point in time African Americans were not ed to serve either,” Ooley said. “It’s sad that at will continue in the following months through ay and age Americans have not progressed and collaboration the courts and the executive branch. ill in the mindset of our founding fathers.” tivists claim 13,500 soldiers have been arged since the adoption of the policy in 1993 innumerable potential service members have discouraged.
French Law
xis Briggs
Roma are deported Victoria Harkin International Intern
harkinva@plu.edu
13,500 soldiers discharged because of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” law
1.6% of those in the service are openly homosexual
In France, the Roma, also known as Gypsy, have been facing deportation in a move by President Sarkozy to crack down on illegal immigration. This is the sixth time in eight years that France has tightened its immigration laws. This law includes increases in the length of time illegal immigrants can be held in detention from 32 to 45 days, lengthens the time before a case goes to a judge and contains an amendment that allows the government to single out the Roma for deportation. The Roma are “a new public enemy,” said Assistant French Professor Rebecca Wilkin. The Roma or Gypsy emigrated from northern India and spread north and west through Europe. For centuries, the Roma have been rejected and often persecuted. It seems that the Roma are disliked even more than North Africans, who were the previously distrusted group, Wilkin said. This is not the kind of immigration that most Americans are familiar with. “We’re used to the kind of people who come and stay – that’s the American model,” Wilkin said. “But what do you do about the people who move around and aren’t part of the community?” Deportation across Europe is the option being chosen, and it is not popular within the European community. “The expulsion of the Roma is probably the most controversial part of the European debate, and it is bringing France into conflict with its partners in the European Union,” said Peter Grosvenor, associate professor of political science. The French government, which has barely escaped legal action from the European Union, agreed to change the immigration law to allow the free movement of the Roma without deportation.