Tom Torgesen would not approve of some rhetoric currently bouncing around the Pentagon, although article is by a member of the Air Force, not his beloved Navy. Still, it would appear that Torgesen's most basic premise, that the armed services don't want to serve along side gay men and woman, may be changing.

No word on what the Senatorial candidate may think about the award-winning essay that notes there is no evidence that unit cohesion is effected by having openly gay members.

But, I found the Times' article somewhat disturbing for a wholly different reason. Another article notes that members of the public who believe that abortion should be legal in most cases has shrunk, while those who believe it should be illegal have grown in number.

I'm probably opening a box that I shouldn't, but I'll just go ahead and say that I believe very firmly in the right of women to choose how, when, and where the reproduce, including access to abortion. That's just me.

The point is though, if the military, surely one of the nation's most conservative institutions, is becoming open to sexual orientations other than straight, how is it possible that a huge segment of the general population -- a block that just elected the nation's first black president -- is getting more conservative, at least where abortion is concerned?

I wonder what Torgesen thinks about abortion. He does say he's a Democrat, and I suppose gay men don't have to worry too much about abortion.

Anyone with any thoughts, please chime in.