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Topic: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (Arabic Translation)

Atavist
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 14189

posted 31 May 2007 11:49 AM

Am I the only one who finds it incredibly OBVIOUS why the minute any sane and intelligent Arabic translator in the US Armed Forces is asked to go to Iraq, he develops a lisp and starts walking funny?

Maybe it's just me, but I have a sneaking suspicion that, for some odd reason, Arabic speaking translators just do not want to end up translating "You are squeezing my balls too tightly, and the positive electrode has come off again" for some CIA interrogator in some dank cell of the Abu Ghraib US Amusement Park...

Nah - must just be my imagination...there surely must be hundreds of other reasons that 58 US Army Arab linguists could have decided that Olive Drab is no longer the New Pink since Emperor George II ramped up the War on (some) Terra...

From: "Sitting stoned, alone in my backyard..." | Registered: May 2007 | IP: Logged

Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560

posted 31 May 2007 11:50 AM

Do you have any sources to back this up?

From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

Atavist
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 14189

posted 31 May 2007 11:59 AM

There are quite a few showing up today - here is a sampling if you're interested:

http://foi.missouri.edu/federalfoia/repnumofgay.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2479777.stm

http://www.counterpunch.org/bryce05312007.html

[ 31 May 2007: Message edited by: Atavist ]

From: "Sitting stoned, alone in my backyard..." | Registered: May 2007 | IP: Logged

oldgoat
Moderator
Babbler # 1130

posted 31 May 2007 05:21 PM

Well, those are good links alright. The loss of these particular language experts is notable because the shortage has been high profile. I wonder what the overall numbers are on people leaving the military under don't ask don't tell.

From: The 10th circle | Registered: Jul 2001 | IP: Logged

remind
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6289

posted 31 May 2007 05:52 PM

Well to be fair, 1 is current, 1 is from 2005, and 1 is from 2002.

From: "watching the tide roll away" | Registered: Jun 2004 | IP: Logged

Atavist
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 14189

posted 01 June 2007 03:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by remind:
Well to be fair, 1 is current, 1 is from 2005, and 1 is from 2002.

To be FAIRER, I did write "...since Emperor George II ramped up the War on (some) Terra..."

I had heard about the problem on the news, then just did a little googling...there are quite a lot of articles bemoaning the loss of Arabic speakers in the US Army - I just gave the first three...

From: "Sitting stoned, alone in my backyard..." | Registered: May 2007 | IP: Logged

bigcitygal
Volunteer Moderator
Babbler # 8938

posted 01 June 2007 04:10 AM

quote:
Am I the only one who finds it incredibly OBVIOUS why the minute any sane and intelligent Arabic translator in the US Armed Forces is asked to go to Iraq, he develops a lisp and starts walking funny?

(bold added)
Am I the only one that finds this description problematic?

Hint: If you want to say/imply they were gay, or accused of being gay to get them out of Iraq because they weren't saying what the PTB want to hear, or somesuch, then perhaps you could simply say that rather than resort to homophobic stereotypes?

From: It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent - Q | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

Atavist
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 14189

posted 01 June 2007 04:20 AM

quote:
Originally posted by bigcitygal:
(bold added)
Am I the only one that finds this description problematic?
Hint: If you want to say/imply they were gay, or accused of being gay to get them out of Iraq because they weren't saying what the PTB want to hear, or somesuch, then perhaps you could simply say that rather than resort to homophobic stereotypes?

Nothing of the sort! I merely supposed that the implication was obvious - perhaps I was being too cutesy? I can be a touch florid, now and then.

The implication was that, if you are an Arabic translator being sent to Iraq and you've got a brain in your head, you can DELIBERATELY act like a gay stereotype to GET THE HELL OUT QUICK.

[ 01 June 2007: Message edited by: Atavist ]

From: "Sitting stoned, alone in my backyard..." | Registered: May 2007 | IP: Logged

Malcolm
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5168

posted 01 June 2007 05:58 AM

"Don't ask, don't tell" is a homophobic joke. And it hasn't stopped the system from outing members ever since it was introduced as the first compromise of principle in the Clinton era.

Of course, a lot of service people in the US also think it's stupid.

I was at a conference once where some United States Air Force Reserve folk asked me "what does Canada do about 'don't ask don't tell'?" I described the Canadian policy as "tell me if you want - I don't care." It struck most of the Yanks as eminently sensible.

From: Regina, SK | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

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