I have watched letters to the editor on "don’t ask, don’t tell" since they started appearing and find many good points on both sides.

Some letters I find both amusing and scary; amusing because I serve with people who think like that, and scary because I, well, serve with people who think like that.

After reading "Let your views be known" (letter, March 8) from a very senior officer, I have to ask if any other readers are starting to see a pattern. Most of the senior leaders’ letters are against a change, and many I picture standing on a box of Bibles with quotes in hand as to why it is immoral.

Both sides argue that most servicemembers view their side overwhelmingly. I think senior leadership really has no clue what the common soldier feels on this issue. A soldier will say what he thinks someone with a lot of rank wants to hear.

We have equal opportunity pounded into us regularly. We are trained to view a soldier as a soldier, period, not as a woman or man, not as white, black, Hispanic; we care not what religion you practice or don’t practice, and so on. I don’t think adding sexual preference to the equal opportunity mix will be that disruptive. There will be growing pains, but we will adapt. After all, it’s what we’re trained to do, right?

How about a real anonymous survey? We do surveys for all kinds of stuff that are mandatory for 100 percent of assigned personnel. Let’s do a militarywide survey and see where the views of the military really stand on this subject.

Arguments about cost are not valid. I have seen mandatory surveys for the silliest of things in my many years wearing this uniform.

Sgt. 1st Class William J. CaswellForward Operating Base Falcon, Iraq

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