How can it be ethical to allow someone to die for their country as long as they do not disclose that they are gay?

So, if someone serves in the military, honorably, and no one knows this person is gay, it's fine, they can risk their life. But if a civilian comes forward and says, "hey, he's gay, I know so." Well, then that person must be removed from service. Simply because we know? Not because of conduct. Not because someone saw something. Simply because we know.

Don't ask, don't tell is not an ethical policy. It's blatant discrimination. Our military has more fools in it than gays. Look at the damage they do.

President Obama needs to show some character on this issue. He doesn't need to hide behind Congress.

Come on Mr. President, show some political courage. Issue the order. No more discrimination. Sexual misconduct on base or on duty? Wrong. ...
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The management of the Empire State Building in New York decided to throw a little party in celebration of 60 years of communist rule in China. 30,000 people were invited to attend the ceremonial red and yellow lighting of the historical building. Others were invited to stay home to avoid "complications". (source: BBC News)

The communist regime is responsible for the deaths of millions of people. The Chinese government is a totalitarian cancer on the planet.

Of course, we continue to export jobs to China and import finished goods from China. So why not throw them a party!

My question for you is this: Was it ethical for the management of the Empire State Building to participate in the celebration of 60 years of communist rule of China?

I say no. I say it's an abomination. The act sickened me. I was ashamed this story did not get more press and produce more ...
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Mark left this as a comment but I think it deserves to be opened as a full topic....let's discuss this.

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OK, here's another business question for everyone. Is it ethical to terminate an employee because of “performance” even though no one has discussed with the employee their perceived lack of performance? Even though that person’s manager has provided good reviews and the employee appears to be meeting the expectations laid out by the manager? The situation is that another “manager” in the organization perceives “problems” with this individual and wants to replace this person in the organization. The question raised a few days ago was about whether to notify this person they are on a PIP (performance improvement plan) or to simply terminate. No detail of the “problems” exists (to date) and no one has attempted to counsel the individual at risk.

Lockerbie bomber freed, returns to cheers in Libya

TRIPOLI, Libya – The only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing returned home Thursday to a cheering crowd after his release from a Scottish prison — an outrage to many relatives of the 270 people who perished when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded.

President Barack Obama said the Scottish decision to free terminally ill Abdel Baset al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds was a mistake and said he should be under house arrest. Obama warned Libya not to give him a hero's welcome.

Despite the warning, thousands of young men were on hand at a Tripoli airport where al-Megrahi's plane touched down. Some threw flower petals as he stepped from the plane. He wore a a dark suit and a burgundy tie and appeared visibly tired.

He was accompanied ...

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Ok, I'll admit it. The first couple posts were somewhat political. But they are still questions of ethics, not politics. I hope you will enter into discussion on those topics---from an ethical viewpoint because those issues are important. They are important enough to spark division.

Now it's time for a business question.

You are the manager of a medium sized company which produces a food product. Because of the economy, business has been very, very slow. So slow, the business might not make it through the recession.

One day you are out checking the plant and make a terrible discovery. One of the machines is leaking oil into the vat where your food product is mixed before baking. It's not just a drop, it's a steady drip of machine oil. You taste some finished product but are unable to detect any flavor difference in the product. You have no idea how long ...
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