I just never understood the hoopla around Don't Ask Don't Tell, are Americans really that brainwashed about their military? I mean it's pretty standard for most of the population in any country to have that sense of patriotism, but even among liberal arts gays?

I refuse to believe it.
I understand it's about equal rights, but why would you put so much pressure on an institution to accept a minority while not scrutinizing that same institution at all for what it actually does? It's like arguing that you want LGBT people to be part of a terrorist organization and acting like it's a victory when they get accepted. It's just more manpower for reckless destruction of lives while defending the economic interests of very few, as they also take advantage of empoverished youth who have no other pathway to a better life (since most full scholarship packages in the States nowadays come with service in the military). Equal rights! Gays can be free! But not the gays in the countries that get bombed by drones.