Lost in Translation
Jun. 11th, 2007 04:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stevekensonInteresting op-ed piece from Stephen Benjamin, former Navy Arabic translator discharged under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, along with dozens of other qualified Arabic linguists... not that such men and women are at all needed in the military at this time. The key points:
“Consider: more than 58 Arabic linguists have been kicked out since “don’t ask, don’t tell” was instituted. How much valuable intelligence could those men and women be providing today to troops in harm’s way?”
“As the friends I once served with head off to 15-month deployments, I regret I’m not there to lessen their burden and to serve my country. I’m trained to fight, I speak Arabic and I’m willing to serve. No recruiter needs to make a persuasive argument to sign me up. I’m ready, and I’m waiting.”
How does this fail to be considered “not supporting our troops” while any talk of actually bringing them home or providing them the support they need is “defeatist” and “weakening morale”? Maybe the President believes God will provide translation, speaking in tongues style...
“Consider: more than 58 Arabic linguists have been kicked out since “don’t ask, don’t tell” was instituted. How much valuable intelligence could those men and women be providing today to troops in harm’s way?”
“As the friends I once served with head off to 15-month deployments, I regret I’m not there to lessen their burden and to serve my country. I’m trained to fight, I speak Arabic and I’m willing to serve. No recruiter needs to make a persuasive argument to sign me up. I’m ready, and I’m waiting.”
How does this fail to be considered “not supporting our troops” while any talk of actually bringing them home or providing them the support they need is “defeatist” and “weakening morale”? Maybe the President believes God will provide translation, speaking in tongues style...
