DON'T ASK: It was good policy

Regarding the president rescinding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - I think they are making a big mistake. The liberals who pushed for this don't understand the minds of military men. As a veteran, I know that this will result in more beatings and abuse of gay soldiers, as no straight man wants to take a communal shower with a guy who's checking out his package. That usually results in beatings.

It would be no different than expecting military men to bunk with women. It shouldn't happen. You would have to create a "third sex" for gays, and segregate them accordingly, since gay men shouldn't bunk with men (the object of their temptation), and lesbians shouldn't bunk with women (also the object of their temptation), any more than straight men should bunk with straight women. The last thing a gay soldier needs to do is create enemies among his teammates by his very behavior. That would destroy much-needed camaraderie in a wartime situation. You'll end up with situations such as mentioned in the movie "Gods and Monsters."

KATHY EVANS

Coeur d'Alene