Policy should be ‘don’t know, don’t care’

Editor:

I believe President Obama is among the very deepest of thinkers we’ve had in the Oval Office. As much as I admire him for his intellect, at times I wonder if it will become his Achilles’ heel.

Deep thinkers have a propensity to over-think and become trapped “inside the box,” as it were. To me, Obama’s recent support of the proposed mosque at Ground Zero seems to be a result of over-thinking.

In a place so sacred as this hallowed ground, it would seem we ought to let spirituality be discovered, not imposed by any one religion or another.

I also believe Obama’s approach to changing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is a result of being trapped inside the box.

He seems to struggle for a solution that will produce as little tension as possible, when all the while the solution could not be any plainer than the nose on his face.

Our civil rights guarantee to us, among other things, the right of privacy and the right to choose. Put another way, these two constitutional guarantees translate into a de facto “don’t know, don’t care” policy. In other words, it should be self-evident that when a squadron leader asks a new recruit if he is gay, the recruit should answer, “I don’t know,” and the recruiter should respond with, “I don’t care.” End of story.

Whether it’s the military or anyone else, for that matter, the details of our private lives - good, bad or otherwise - are none of their damned business. Sgt. Schultz said it best when he said, “I know nothing … nothing.”

David Stahl

Idaho Springs

Courant carries on a fine tradition

Editor:  

 I knew the Stiff family and was upset when ownership of the paper they founded changed hands. A trip to your website today, Aug. 13, left me with a smile, especially the friendship and steps human interest story. Way to go, and carry on. Well done!

                Wade A. Misko

former ink slinger