Blog #4

Chiefs Wary on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell': Top Officers Want Time To Assess Lifting Gay Ban - Tom Shanker, New York Times

In this particular article, the issue surrounding the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy is being addressed. Obama recently called for a repeal on the current policy that was implemented over 16 years ago. However, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey and Airforce Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz believe action should be taken more steadily. Both generals expressed to the Armed Service Comity that the consequences of doing so would be indeterminable. They suggested that action to do would be more suitable when the United States is not engaged in war.

I found this article under Google news specified in relations to the United States. This article is important in the sense that it relates to an ongoing battle of ethics, politics and constitutionalism. In recent years, there has been an increase in advocacy for gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender rights with issues such as Prop. 8. Additionally, the controversy surrounding the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy is not unfamiliar to the general public. There has been much hesitation to accept the fact that the policy is unethical and immoral. In a sense, it is a form of discrimination where soldiers are not asked to discuss their sexuality. However, should it become apparent that they are homosexual, they risk being relieved from their duty as a U.S. soldier.

This article is timely and due to the fact that it has recently been addressed by Obama and is receiving evaluating by the Armed Service Comity.
There is potential conflict between equal rights advocates and individuals against homosexuality.
The article appeals to human interest because it brings to question the constitutionalism and whether or not the policy could be considered a violation or individual rights.

This article could pass as a local story in the Mercury News considering it is a national topic. However, if the writer were attempting to further distinguish it for a local paper, they could perhaps focus on bay area residents that have been impacted by the don't ask don't tell policy.