--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and…" description: "\"Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/michael-mullen-13631_allowing_mr-chairman-speaking-for-myself-and-myse_1196228.jpg" --- # Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and myself only, it is… ![“Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at this issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy that forces young men and women…” quote by Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/michael-mullen-13631_allowing_mr-chairman-speaking-for-myself-and-myse_1196228.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/michael-mullen-13631_allowing_mr-chairman-speaking-for-myself-and-myse_1196228.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93f/michael-mullen-13631_allowing_mr-chairman-speaking-for-myself-and-myse_1196228.jpg) > “Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at this issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy that forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens.” [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that openly serving LGBTQ+ individuals in the military is morally right and that policies forcing concealment harm service members. **In simple terms:** He supports allowing gay and lesbian service openly. Key Takeaway Advocate for inclusive military policies. Themes equality military LGBTQ+ honor policy Mood thoughtful advocacy Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - recruitment - unit cohesion - policy reform - leadership training Key Concepts civil rights military ethics social justice Questions to Reflect On - What impact does openness have on morale? - How can policies balance privacy and duty? A Different Perspective Opposition may cite unit cohesion concerns or tradition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowing/) [Allowing Gays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowing-gays-924836/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Chairman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairman/) [Chairman Speaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chairman-speaking-3569558/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fellows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellows/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Openly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openly/) [Openly Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openly-right-3569557/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Personal beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-beliefs/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Serve Openly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve-openly-924840/) [Things to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-to-do/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/) ## Related quotes > [It is my position that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/it-is-my-position-that-allowing-gays-and-lesbians-to-serve-openly/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I think the decision that's been made with respect to allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-the-decision-that-s-been-made-with-respect-to-allowing-gays/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I support allowing homosexuals to serve openly in our military and eliminating the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-case/i-support-allowing-homosexuals-to-serve-openly-in-our-military-and/) [Ed Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-case/) > [I care a great deal about LGBT U.S. servicemen and women being able to serve openly and honestly. Since early in my career, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-brockmann/i-care-a-great-deal-about-lgbt-u-s-servicemen-and-women-being-able-to/) [Suzanne Brockmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-brockmann/) > [Gay Marriage should be legal. Not allowing gays to marry, is saying they're less than... EVERYONE deserves equal rights. Real talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-munn/gay-marriage-should-be-legal-not-allowing-gays-to-marry-is-saying/) [Olivia Munn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-munn/) > [I'm not ashamed to be a Christian. But you don't have to be in the pew every Sunday to know that there's something wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-m-not-ashamed-to-be-a-christian-but-you-don-t-have-to-be-in-the-pew/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Our allies, Great Britain, Australia, Israel, some of the strongest militaries in the world, allow transgender people to serve openly and have experienced no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allyson-robinson/our-allies-great-britain-australia-israel-some-of-the-strongest/) [Allyson Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allyson-robinson/) > [Effective immediately, transgender Americans may serve openly, and they can no longer be discharged or otherwise separated from the military just for being transgender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-carter/effective-immediately-transgender-americans-may-serve-openly-and-they/) [Ashton Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-carter/) > [We all have faith in something: usually a mixture of some personal beliefs with modern science. I am not like that. Mostly I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/we-all-have-faith-in-something-usually-a-mixture-of-some-personal/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“ CONVERSATION GUIDELINES What is the secret to good conversation? Shared interest in the subject; easy, natural flow from topic to topic; humor, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/conversation-guidelines-what-is-the-secret-to-good-conversation/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [“Do you believe in an afterlife? Do your personal beliefs include a life after death?—no matter how they phrase their snotty test, do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/do-you-believe-in-an-afterlife-do-your-personal-beliefs-include-a/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Friends could be more influential than spouses. Hence selection should be based on attitude not apparel, on outcome not outlook, on personal beliefs not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruna-idowu/friends-could-be-more-influential-than-spouses-hence-selection-should/) [Haruna Idowu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruna-idowu/) > [We make movies to endorse our own personal feelings. I am not, in fact, a documentary filmmaker. I've got my personal beliefs, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/we-make-movies-to-endorse-our-own-personal-feelings-i-am-not-in-fact/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [I've always been so curious about death. With my personal beliefs as a Baha'i, we believe that birth and death are very similar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-baldoni/i-ve-always-been-so-curious-about-death-with-my-personal-beliefs-as-a/) [Justin Baldoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-baldoni/) > [“What is held real is based upon personal beliefs that drive perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-is-held-real-is-based-upon-personal-beliefs-that-drive-perception/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) ## More by Michael Mullen > [Every Sailor has the potential to lead," said Mullen, "I don't care if it's a seaman recruit or someone higher ranking than myself. Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/every-sailor-has-the-potential-to-lead-said-mullen-i-don-t-care-if-it/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I worry a little bit about - quote - "regime change." We haven't had a great deal of success with that in years. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-worry-a-little-bit-about-quote-regime-change-we-haven-t-had-a-great/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [Some 70% to 80% of all who join the military will return to the civilian workforce. They'll return to communities, and one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/some-70-to-80-of-all-who-join-the-military-will-return-to-the/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'm blessed to be in a command position in a Navy this good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-m-blessed-to-be-in-a-command-position-in-a-navy-this-good/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [The truth is, we live in deeds, not days; in actions and thoughts and feelings, not heartbeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/the-truth-is-we-live-in-deeds-not-days-in-actions-and-thoughts-and/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'd have no problem serving under any president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-d-have-no-problem-serving-under-any-president/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I think anybody in our - in the, in the national security apparatus has, has got to take full cognizance of their responsibility for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-think-anybody-in-our-in-the-in-the-national-security-apparatus-has/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'm very concerned about the nuclear weapons development for Iran and the destabilizing influence it has and they have in that part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-m-very-concerned-about-the-nuclear-weapons-development-for-iran-and/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [Too often we just look at these glistening successes. Behind them in many, many cases is failure along the way, and that doesn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/too-often-we-just-look-at-these-glistening-successes-behind-them-in/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [When I go there to Afghanistan or Pakistan, the question both asked - and if it's not asked, implied - is, 'Are you staying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/when-i-go-there-to-afghanistan-or-pakistan-the-question-both-asked/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [The best day was when we got bin Laden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/the-best-day-was-when-we-got-bin-laden/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I would like America to remember those who have served and those that we've lost and their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-would-like-america-to-remember-those-who-have-served-and-those-that/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I've been pretty clear about saying that I think that the No. 1 threat to our national security is our debt. And we've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-ve-been-pretty-clear-about-saying-that-i-think-that-the-no-1-threat/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'm a Vietnam veteran. I was here when there was no public support, not just for the effort in Vietnam, for the mission in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-m-a-vietnam-veteran-i-was-here-when-there-was-no-public-support-not/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [It is my position that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/it-is-my-position-that-allowing-gays-and-lesbians-to-serve-openly/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) [Explore all 49 Michael Mullen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) ## More Allowing quotes > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Is the minor convenience of allowing the present generation the luxury of doubling its energy consumption every 10 years worth the major hazard of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-brower/is-the-minor-convenience-of-allowing-the-present-generation-the/) [David R. Brower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-brower/) > [When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-are-not-honoring-the-present-moment-by-allowing-it-to-be-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Once again I was shamelessly allowing myself to be defined by another person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginny-babcock-kinflicks/once-again-i-was-shamelessly-allowing-myself-to-be-defined-by-another/) [Ginny Babcock Kinflicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginny-babcock-kinflicks/) > [Even when I was saying I was Agnostic and trying to figure out my thoughts, I felt God was allowing me to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/even-when-i-was-saying-i-was-agnostic-and-trying-to-figure-out-my/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [By allowing multiple partners to contribute, an open platform can nurture an entire ecosystem of developers and apps. Good products integrate and become great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/by-allowing-multiple-partners-to-contribute-an-open-platform-can/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [When you ask for patience, what you get is a line at the bank. In other words, life gives you the people, places, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/when-you-ask-for-patience-what-you-get-is-a-line-at-the-bank-in-other/) [Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/) > [Sometimes, I get afraid it has defined me, that sense of grief, loss and illness. But actually, it is about allowing myself to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-get-afraid-it-has-defined-me-that-sense-of-grief-loss-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Meditation is actually a very simple exercise in resting in the natural state of your present mind, and allowing yourself to be simply and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/meditation-is-actually-a-very-simple-exercise-in-resting-in-the/) [Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/) > [When you're still, and some actors are really brilliant at that, you bring a kind of energy to you as opposed to sending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-byrne/when-you-re-still-and-some-actors-are-really-brilliant-at-that-you/) [Gabriel Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-byrne/) > [The only reason I would write a break-up song is because my own problem of allowing myself to relate to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zola-jesus/the-only-reason-i-would-write-a-break-up-song-is-because-my-own/) [Zola Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zola-jesus/) > [I just think fashion is about enjoying yourself and being comfortable in your skin and allowing you to be you - all the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-just-think-fashion-is-about-enjoying-yourself-and-being-comfortable/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [I don't think there's any harm at all in allowing a kid to fantasize. In fact, I think to stop people from fantasizing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-harm-at-all-in-allowing-a-kid-to-fantasize/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [All I wanted to do was put together one of the best home maths systems in the world, and that's what we've done. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-vorderman/all-i-wanted-to-do-was-put-together-one-of-the-best-home-maths/) [Carol Vorderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-vorderman/) > [I want to deal with the homeless situation here in Washington, D.C. I think it is a travesty that we've got men - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-deal-with-the-homeless-situation-here-in-washington-d-c-i/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Browse all 916 Allowing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. 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