Dear Senator McCain,
Please consider you opposition to the 'Don't ask, don't tell' legislation.
I am a veteran, 4 years honorable service in the US Navy. I was ship’s company aboard the USS Nimitz and served when we attempted to rescue the hostages from Tehran in 1979. I also served in the South Pacific.
My younger brother is a West Point grad and served 5 years as an Army officer after graduation.
While neither my brother nor I are gay we both served along side fellow soldiers and sailors that were clearly homosexual. There was never any problem with morale, job performance, social interaction or any other negative effect.
Men and women went about their work, respected each other and bonded in the unique way in which only those of us who serve together can.
I have a great deal of respect for you. Had you won the nomination in 2000 you would have received my support. I always thought of you as a man of conviction. But your constant and senseless stance against gays in the military makes you look foolish or worse yet, a puppet of the religious right wing.
The top military brass in this country supports this change. All or at least most of our allies already allow gays to serve openly. Stop stonewalling. Otherwise History will record you as a once great man who behaved like an ignorant fool.
There will always be bigots. There will always be racists and those who are afraid of "others" that are "unlike" them. But all of the people I served along side, ALL of them, may not have all agreed on everything and we all have our different opinions but trust me when I tell you: this is a none issue to the men and women serving in our armed forces.
You recently commented that, “Great leaders lead!”. Then Senator, be a Great Leader and lead. Let those who want to serve, serve.
Yours sincerely,
Rob Cox
USN, 1976-80 (active) 1981-82 (inactive reserve)
Gunners Mate Technician 2nd Class
US Naval Weapons Station, Guam
USS Nimitz CVN68
