The popular news website that I chose to check out was Yahoo! News. I've always like the layout of Yahoo!--whether it be their hot topics, free webmail, search engine, or maps.
The article
The interdisciplinary article I chose to read was "Senate votes to end ban on openly gay troops." This topic interests me because my husband is in the military, and this has been a very controversial topic at his workplace and amongst military families.
Key points of the article
- The Clinton-era policy of "don't ask, don't tell" has been overturned to allow gays to serve in the military.
- Gays will not have a fear of being kicked out of the military for being openly gay.
- A "study, released November 30, found that two-thirds of service members didn't think that changing the law would have much of an effect" (Flaherty, 2010, para. 22).
- Obama will sign the bill sometime this week. Changes would slowly take affect over the course of many months.
See the article by clicking here: Senate votes to end ban on openly gay troops
Problem
The interdisciplinary problem that the article addresses is the impact that allowing openly gay members may have on all current military members. This problem doesn't just benefit gay members of society--it changes the entire way the military functions.
Disciplines Involved
Psychology. This discipline would be required because allowing openly gay people to serve in the military would affect all current military members. Both gay and straight military members would feel the repercussions of this change as the "don't ask, don't tell" policy is overturned. Addressing psychology would help solve this problem because we would see how the ending of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy has impacted military members.
Politics. This discipline would be required because allowing openly gay people to serve in the military has been a process that has involved Congress and voting. There has been a lot of back and forth discussion about this topic and it has also been attacked by certain Senators. Addressing politics would help solve this problem because we would see the role that politics has played on the overturning of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that was first enacted during the Clinton era.
Law/Government. This discipline would be required because allowing openly gay people to serve in the military changes a law that has been in effect for almost two decades. There is a reason that this law was originally approved; therefore, the process to repeal it involves many steps. It also involved the two of the three branches of government: executive and legislative. Addressing law/government would help solve this problem because we would see how changes in laws, past and present, make an impact on society today.
Web sites that address the disciplines:
Psychology. The article Murdered soldier's parents: Repeal "don't ask, don't tell" gives readers a completely different idea of how this law can impact the lives of soldiers and their families. Barry Winchell, a soldier in the US Army, had been harassed and beaten by other soldiers, including his superiors, because they thought he was gay. The constant harassment was taking a toll on his performance and ultimately led to his death. Winchell's parents received letters from other gay soldier's who experienced the same torment as their son; they were all scared to go to their superiors for risk of getting kicked out of the military (Kuttleles and Kuttleles, 2010, p. 2).
This article will aid in solving this interdisciplinary problem by providing insight on the psychological affects that this law has made. See the article by clicking here: Murdered soldier's parents: Repeal "don't ask, don't tell"
Politics. The article In historic vote, Senate moves to end "don't ask, don't tell," Chaddock discusses the votes and the politics involved in repealing this 17-year old law. This repeal is referred to as "a move Democrats compare to President Truman's ending the ban on racial segregation in the military in 1948" (Chaddock, 2010, para. 1). The House passed the repeal by a vote of 250-175 and the Senate passed the repeal by a vote of 65-31. The votes were dominated by Democrats.
This article will aid in solving this interdisciplinary problem by understanding how politics have played a huge role in initiating the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and how it will also play a huge role in its repeal. See the article by clicking here: In historic vote, Senate moves to end "don't ask, don't tell"
Law/Government. The article Senate votes to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" discusses the overall "don't ask, don't tell" policy and the steps that will be taken to repeal it. The two parts of the Legislative Branch, the Senate and the House of Representatives, have voted this week to repeal the ban on openly gay people serving in the military. Obama, of the Executive Branch, will be signing the bill sometime next week. From there, the Defense Secretary and Joint Chiefs Chairman will "certify that the military is ready for such a change" (NPR Staff and Wires, 2010, para. 21). This could take several months.
This article will aid in solving this interdisciplinary problem by understanding how law and government will help or hinder the repeal of this 17-year ban. See the article by clicking here: Senate votes to repeal "don't ask, don't tell"
References
Chaddock, G.R. (2010, December 18). In historic vote, Senate moves to end "don't ask, don't tell." The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2010/1218/In-historic-vote-Senate-moves-to-end-don-t-ask-don-t-tell
Flaherty, A. (2010, December 18). Senate votes to end ban on openly gay troops. Yahoo! News. Retrieved from http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101219/ap_on_go_co/us_gays_in_military;_ylt=Am57Mgkf7N_oD5I_TdeEnFys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNqcmVnNGJ1BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAxMjE5L3VzX2dheXNfaW5fbWlsaXRhcnkEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwMxBHBvcwMyBHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNzZW5hdGV2b3Rlc3Q-
Kuttleles, P. & Kuttleles, W. (2010, August 17). Murdered soldier's parents: Repeal "don't ask, don't tell." CNN Opinion. Retrieved from http://articles.cnn.com/2010-08-17/opinion/kutteles.dadt.son_1_barry-winchell-fort-campbell-army-commendation-medals?_s=PM:OPINION
NPR Staff and Wires. (2010, December 18). Senate votes to repeal "don't ask, don't tell." NPR. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2010/12/18/132164172/-dont-ask-dont-tell-clears-vital-hurdle?ps=cprs
DISCLAIMER: This blog is an assignment for an Interdisciplinary Studies course at National University. It is not a real blog.
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