Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

The Senate voted to repeal DADT Saturday, with both Sen. Pryor and Sen. Lincoln voting yes. The bill now goes to President Obama because the House has already voted for repeal. In Arkansas, Rep. Snyder voted for repeal while Reps. Boozman and Rep. Ross voted not. Rep. Berry, who apparently has checked out of his office early, did not vote.

My position on DADT has been pretty firm: This should be primarily a military issue and not a moral/social one. If the military supports the ban, uphold it. If the military supports repeal, repeal it. It’s hypocritical and cowardly for the rest of us to dictate this policy from our air-conditioned ivory white towers.

That said, I don’t think the military has come to enough of a consensus to warrant a change. The Marine Corps is definitely against it. Moreover, Democrats should not have pushed through the matter during a lame-duck session.

That would mean that, with Republicans controlling the House, DADT would not be repealed no matter what the military wants. But the voters have spoken, and elections have consequences.

DREAM Act – Change it and pass it

The Senate on Saturday voted down the DREAM Act, which would have granted citizenship to illegal aliens brought to the United States before age 16 as long as they serve in the military or attend college. Sen. Lincoln voted for it. Sen. Pryor voted against it.

Sixteen is a tad old for what supporters should be trying to accomplish. We should be trying to help people brought to America as young children become citizens of their homeland. A 16-year-old is not a young child.

Lower the age of eligibility to somewhere between 6 and 10 and then pass the bill.

On being a dad

I have made the following statement in the past about having children: “It’s worth it, but it’s barely worth it.”

That was in reference to the financial strain, the limits it places on you professionally, the friendships it turns into acquaintanceships, the reduced sleep, etc., and did I mention the financial strain?

Last night, my wife called as I was driving home and said my girls, 9 and 6, were peering out the window looking for me. Whenever lights appeared in the cul-de-sac, they were running to the door. Both ran outside and greeted me when I arrived.

It’s worth it.

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg is Time’s Person of the Year

Interesting, though long, read here. Zuckerberg comes off as a somewhat nerdy but earnest and even caring person – who has changed the world.

I’m on Facebook but rarely use it. It’s a good thing and I’m glad it exists, but I find it too shallow and intrusive and don’t really care that my fifth-grade classmate doesn’t like President Obama.

While I was reading the article, I had a “friend” request from somebody named Kevin Wood. I don’t know how Kevin Wood is. I’ll probably confirm just to be nice.

Column: Arkansas should make adult ed more available

My Arkansas New Bureau column this week is about the need to rethink our education system, particularly in light of the continuing economic slowdown. Arkansas – and the rest of the country, frankly – is stuck in a mindset where education begins in kindergarten and ends for most of us at 18 or, if we go to college, 22 or 23. But that’s not the way the work world works now. Adults now need to update their skills – in fact, often retrain themselves. Unfortunately, in Arkansas, adult education is relegated to second-class status.