Posted by David Lightman at 3:15 p.m. CST
WASHINGTON -- Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva was the first American to be wounded in the Iraq war nearly four years ago.
He stepped on a landmine, broke his right arm and injured his leg so badly it had to be amputated.
Wednesday, flanked by Reps. Christopher Shays, R-4th District and Martin Meehan, D-Mass., he came to Congress with a plea.
"I'm an American who fought for his country. Who'd have ever guessed the first American wounded was a gay Marine," Alva said.
He and the lawmakers, and another 107 House members, introduced legislation that would repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay service personnel.
Shays noted that he regularly visits the National Mall and Arlington Memorial Cemetery, and wonders, "How many of those men and women (buried at Arlington) happened to be gay? Obviously we don't know, and it doesn't matter."
They introduced their bill in the last Congress, and had a similar number of backers, but the measure got nowhere.
He and the lawmakers, and another 107 House members, introduced legislation that would repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay service personnel.
Shays noted that he regularly visits the National Mall and Arlington Memorial Cemetery, and wonders, "How many of those men and women (buried at Arlington) happened to be gay? Obviously we don't know, and it doesn't matter."
They introduced their bill in the last Congress, and had a similar number of backers, but the measure got nowhere.
This year, though, Democrats control the agenda and Meehan now chairs a key House Armed Services Committee subcommittee. And the House Judiciary Committee Chairman is Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who is gay.
At least, lawmakers said, the bill will get a hearing this year.
"It will still be an uphill climb," Meehan said, "but the November election can mean only good things."
So far, only three Republicans support the measure, and conservative groups are still wary of the idea.
"No matter how times have changed, homosexuals in the military still threaten unit cohesion," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, an activist group, "and putting tolerance ahead of the military's mission is bad policy."
Meehan, though, pointed to recent polls as evidence attitudes are changing. His optimism is buoyed by recent polls. In July 1993, when "don't ask, don't tell" became the military's official policy for dealing with gay personnel, an NBC/Wall Street Journal survey found 52 percent of those polls opposed allowing gays to serve while 40 percent favored the idea.
By 2004, though, a CNN/Gallup poll found 63 percent in favor and 32 percent opposed.
Alva Wednesday was joined by other gay service personnel to make a point. "When Eric Alva lost his leg in Iraq," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, an activist group, "it didn't matter whether he was gay or straight, only that he was a courageous American serving his country."
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Comments
"No matter how times have changed, homosexuals in the military still threaten unit cohesion," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, an activist group, "and putting tolerance ahead of the military's mission is bad policy."
Fine, let's ban homophobic people from the military. That should solve the problem.
Thank God Harry Truman didn't use Perkins logic, or we would still be segregating blacks in the military.
Posted by: Tony | February 28, 2007 3:38 PM
I hope his veterans' benefits don't suddenly disappear because he told the truth. After all, the soldiers at Walter Reed who have been living in appalling conditions are now being punished for telling the truth to the media.
Posted by: Cheryl | February 28, 2007 4:46 PM
The above article starts off by saying: "Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva was the first American to be wounded in the Iraq war nearly four years ago."
This being the Tribune, I checked out the accuracy of this claim. According to ABC News, Alva was the first Marine (NOT the first American) to be "seriously" wounded in Iraq. And an article in the Dallas Morning News 2-18-07 makes no claim that he was the first anything, only that he was "one of the first Texans wounded".
Sgt. Alva's sacrifice was real enough. He doesn't deserve some Swamp reporter embellishing it. I'd suggest that Mr. Lightman check on this and if needed, make the appropriate correction.
Posted by: bruce | February 28, 2007 5:03 PM
I knew a guy in AIT that turned out to be gay. Discovered it nearly
a year later. We actually ended up at Ft. Lewis as permanent party
together.
As I recall, nobody cared.
Tony Perkins couldn't carry his M14 magazine.
Posted by: C.Morris | February 28, 2007 6:01 PM
"the soldiers at Walter Reed who have been living in appalling conditions are now being punished for telling the truth to the media.
Posted by: Cheryl | Feb 28, 2007 4:46:55 PM"
Cheryl,
You are right. Nothing gets you in more trouble in America than
shouting out the truth.
Posted by: C.Morris | February 28, 2007 7:26 PM
You know, this particular blog has inspired me to wax philosophical.
We Americans are proud of our 'free speech', but I wonder is it really effective?
There are other forms of speech;
1. True speech;
We seem to employ the 'free speech' as a device to either attain
'true speech', or to subvert 'true speech'.
2. Secret speech;
This is the real gold standard of speech in America. The politicians and hidden persuaders hold our 'free speech' in contempt.
Hey, it's 'free' after all, which actually means 'CHEAP SPEECH'.
Secret speech, on the other hand is bought and paid for with
huge sums of $$$.
Secret speech is the speech that matters in America.
Posted by: C.Morris | February 28, 2007 7:42 PM
Bruce, try dealing with the substance of the article, just once.
You got awful quite in the other thread about following the troops views in Iraq. I guess you're not so big on that idea now that someone has shown you that the troops don't believe what you thought they did.
Posted by: Tony | February 28, 2007 10:45 PM
So Bruce, it isn't enough that he was maimed fighting for your rights you have to belittle him. If you look closely you will see the first word in the article is the WORD MARINE. If you hate the Tribune and The Swamp so much...why do you continue reading it?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | March 1, 2007 5:57 AM
"So Bruce, it isn't enough that he was maimed fighting for your rights you have to belittle him."
Nessie,
Why does Bruce hate the gay troops?
Posted by: C.Morris | March 1, 2007 8:08 AM
It's amazing how the reporter and the left wing moonbats cheapen and belittle Sgt. Alva's real and heroic sacrifice by embellishing his actions.
The moonbats don't like veterans, because veterans vote overwhelmingly Republican (57% for Bush in 2004) and support the anti-terrorism mission.
Posted by: bruce | March 1, 2007 8:47 AM
Lochness, Bruce is correct. Even though he ID's as a Marine, the article still states FIRST AMERICAN. Apparently not true, as Bruce points out. Also, Bruce is not belittling Eric Alva in anyway, he is questioning the accuracy of the article. Why do you Loony Lefters time and time again show an uncanny INABILITY to read, comprehend and understand? It really underscores my belief that you folks are just plain dumb and dumber.
Regardless of his sexuality, Alva is a hero. And, here is something for you Loony Lefters to chew on: Regardless of sexuality, anyone who wants to serve in the military -- and can -- should be allowed to without any fear of who they are.
Posted by: John D | March 1, 2007 9:13 AM
First I'd like to thank this brave Marine for his service to our country. May God bless him and the rest of our service men & women.
Second, It is unfortunate that this man happens to be gay, but as a serviceman, he should be afforded every benefit coming to him for serving our country.
Third, we should all keep him & others like him in our prayers. That he may realize that even though he is a homosexual, that he act with chastity and abstain from homosexual behaviors. The same applies to any adult, straight or gay that does not abide by God's plan for men and women and marriage.
Just because we realize that his homosexuality is sinful does not justify hatred towards any homosexual.
www.ReyFloresAmerica.blogspot.com
Posted by: Rey Flores | March 1, 2007 9:20 AM
Conservative religious groups need to shut-up & quit trying to insert their radical Christian ideas onto Americans thru laws & legislature.
They live in a country that allows them to worship their religion as they so choose without any interference from the government. There are gay soldiers who fought and died just as bravely as any other for this country & its principles & no one is in a position to try and smear that.
Posted by: RomanB | March 1, 2007 10:24 AM
"The moonbats don't like veterans"
Bruce, please point out any post by a liberal on these boards that has criticized or disparaged veterans.
"support the anti-terrorism mission."
And, as the poll you yourself linked to shows, they do not believe the war in Iraq is furthering the anti-terrorism message.
Posted by: Tony | March 1, 2007 10:41 AM
Doesn't Britain allow homosexual soldiers? Didn't they just pacify Basra so they could withdraw? Amazing they did that w/ poor unit cohesion as a result of allowing openly gay soldiers.
Posted by: john | March 1, 2007 10:54 AM
Bruce, I think your missing something here. You have not proven anything with your remarks. All you say is that you found an article that indicates he was the first Marine wounded and another one he was one of the first wounded. He could very well have been the first Marine and American wounded. Think about it! The first American wounded could have been a Marine. So why don’t you keep searching until you find what you’re looking for and while you’re at it maybe you’ll find those WMD.
Keep in mind Bruce according you’re your sources things are going swimmingly in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Brian | March 1, 2007 10:56 AM
Bruce
There must be a lot of self hating moonbat veterans out
there voting against themselves, errr, or something.
Posted by: C.Morris | March 1, 2007 12:20 PM
Given the Army's and Marines' recruiting problems, it is a feeble excuse to exclude gays. For cryin' out loud, CNN had a Pentagon colonel say last week that they are considering recruiting of foreigners, without permanent residence (green card) or refugee status in the US, like in the 50's and early 60's in exchange for immigration (e.g., actor Bo Svenson).
Posted by: Gary Dee | March 1, 2007 12:24 PM
Why does the Family Research Council continue to be cited in news articles such as this? They offer opinons, not facts. Their opinions are based in beliefs, not repeatedly provable, non-objective science. Quoting them only makes the newspaper look like sensationalists and gives a kind of validation to a group that will say anything hateful that provokes fear to gather money and sway elections.
Posted by: Greg Rogers | March 1, 2007 3:01 PM
just a history lesson - "don't ask , don't tell" was a clinton initiative
another fact -- in Colin Powell's 1st autobiography, he stated the entire initial briefing was dominated with pres clintons agenda to discuss gays in military -- somalia was pushed to the side which had been high on powell's agenda -- within a few months we had the blackhawk down event
I do not understand human sexuality and I take care of people for a living
I also do not care who this soldier has slept with - nor do I care who any other soldier has slept with
(I sure as HELL don't care who anna nicolle slept with)
I do applaud his service to his country and thank him for his sacrifice
the debate needs to be on keeping his brethren from the same kind of harm he experienced while honoring all of our men and women in uniform by achieving their main objective -- our safety
Posted by: tom | March 1, 2007 4:29 PM
I, for one, don't give a damn what Tony Perkins or any of the other bigots in the "Family Research Council" have to say about anything. Their bias makes any utterance from them worthless.
I thank Sgt. Alva for his service and sacrifice *and* for standing up for equality and against bigotry in our armed forces.
One has to wonder what if any military experience Mr. Perkins and his cronies at FRC have...
Posted by: Willyboy | March 2, 2007 9:24 AM