Former father of DADT now wants policy repealed

Military poster: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

How’s this for an indication to how much things have changed in less than two decades? General Colin Powell, who was one of the original architects of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and argued in 1993 that repealing it would negatively effect the military’s “cohesion and well-being”, has now come out on Fox News (of all places) saying that “things have changed” and that it would now be best if DADT were thrown out.

"Things have changed. That was 17 years ago," Powell said when asked about his past support for the ban during an appearance on ABC's "This Week." Powell said that he is "personally of the view now that attitudes have changed," adding that it's "perfectly acceptable" to repeal the law so long as the voices of the men and women in charge of executing the policy are heard in the process.

Part of me wonders if Gen. Powell only opposed repealing DADT as he did in ’93 because of popular perception, as opposed to it being his actual conviction that DADT is morally sound? Of course, the vice-versa can also be asked: is it possible that he’s only arguing against it now because of the growing pro-gay, anti-discrimination sentiment? Only he knows. And frankly, it’s irrelevant. The more opposition DADT has, the better. With the recent Senate panel and House votes giving the Pentagon the power to dismiss the policy at their discretion (as far as I know), that infamous legalization of systematic anti-gay discrimination in the US Military is clearly on its last legs. Something we can all cheer for.