VOA标准英语2010-Proposed Policy Change Re-ignites Debate

Should gays be allowed to openly serve in the US military? Recent efforts by the Obama Administration to overturn “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” a 17-year-old policy that prohibits gays from serving openly, have resulted in a controversial debate.

Emily Lause | Washington DC 08 April 2010

 
A recent study estimates 66,000 homosexuals currently serve -- about two percent of the total in uniform.

Should gays be allowed to openly serve in the US military?  Recent efforts by the Obama Administration to overturn “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” a 17-year-old policy that prohibits gays from serving openly, have resulted in a controversial debate.  It pits those who believe gays undermine morale¹ and disrupt cohesion² against those who believe discharging soldiers because of their sexual orientation³ is a violation⁴ of civil rights.  On VOA’s April 4, 2010 Encounter Program Michael Bowman, VOA correspondent and senior news analyst⁵, and Elaine Donnelly, founder⁶ and president of the Center for Military Readiness, spar over the proposal to change the current policy.

Donnelly (left) does not support repealing⁸ “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and further adds that she is opposed on principle to allowing gays to serve in the US military.   She believes that homosexuals are among the many groups who are simply not eligible⁹ to serve in the armed forces. One reason she does not support this “controversial” repeal⁷ is because the military leads the way for social change. “It would cause a lot of problems,” she said. “There is no positive case for repeal of this law.”  She believes that an unambiguous policy of barring homosexuals from serving in the military would discourage them from enlisting¹⁰ in the first place.

Bowman (right), who reports on national issues for VOA and who cast himself in the role of surrogate, says many in the gay community believe that a repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is necessary for homosexuals to serve honestly in an organization that stresses integrity, honesty, and personal valor¹¹.  “Telling them they cannot serve openly is, in effect, forcing them to lie; forcing them to violate the very core of military service,” he says.

Of the twenty six countries that participate militarily in NATO, twenty two allow homosexuals to serve.  Bowman says the countries which do not allow homosexuals to serve are Saudi Arabia, Iran, Cuba, and North Korea. “[This is] not a list of countries that the U.S. would want to add itself too,” he said.

Donnelly shoots back by saying that the differing policies are due to the differing military methods between European countries and the United States. “If we wanted to “Europeanize” the American armed forces, sure we could do that,” she says. “But they’re not role models for the United States.”
 

1 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

2 cohesion   

n.团结，凝结力

参考例句：

• I had to bring some cohesion into the company.我得使整个公司恢复凝聚力。
• The power of culture is deeply rooted in the vitality,creativity and cohesion of a nation. 文化的力量，深深熔铸在民族的生命力、创造力和凝聚力之中。

3 orientation   

n.方向，目标；熟悉，适应，情况介绍

参考例句：

• Children need some orientation when they go to school.小孩子上学时需要适应。
• The traveller found his orientation with the aid of a good map.旅行者借助一幅好地图得知自己的方向。

4 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

5 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

6 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

7 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

8 repealing   

撤销，废除( repeal的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• In addition, repealing the alternative minimum tax would also help. 此外，废除替代性最低税也会有所帮助。
• Repealing the investment tax credit. 取消投资税款扣除。

9 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

10 enlisting   

v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的现在分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）

参考例句：

• He thought about enlisting-about the Spanish legion-about a profession. 他想去打仗，想参加西班牙军团，想找个职业。 来自辞典例句
• They are not enlisting men over thirty-five. 他们不召超过35岁的人入伍。 来自辞典例句

11 valor   

n.勇气，英勇

参考例句：

• Fortitude is distinct from valor.坚韧不拔有别于勇猛。
• Frequently banality is the better parts of valor.老生常谈往往比大胆打破常规更为人称道。