An Army of 1 in 10

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff yesterday placed his personal beliefs ahead of human decency, equality, and national security. General Pace stated that he believes homosexuality to be immoral and that gay Soldiers should continue to be subject to being fired for a condition they did not choose. What I found interesting, is that he said that adultery was also immoral (it is) but made no mention of enacting a policy to separate adulterous service members.

“I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way,” Pace told the newspaper in a wide-ranging interview.

Pace, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and a 1967 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, said he based his views on his upbringing.

He said he supports the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell policy” in which gay men and women are allowed in the military as long as they keep their sexual orientation private. The policy, signed into law by President Clinton in 1994, prohibits commanders from asking about a person’s sexual orientation.

“I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts,” Pace said.

You believe that homosexuality is immoral? Fine — I can deal with that. You don’t like homosexuals? I can deal with that too. You want to use your ignorant bigotry as a platform to defend a policy which continues to prove its ineffectiveness and that harms national security? Big problem. I would argue that a Soldier who cheats on his wife is less trustworthy than the Soldier who has been in a stable relationship with someone of the same gender for years.

Adultery is immoral; the General won’t get any argument from me on that. It erodes trust and potentially damages the combat effectiveness of the unit. Homosexuality’s morality is subjective and is based on a person’s belief system and has no bearing on a Soldier’s duty performance.

Let’s level the playing field then: I will be willing to accept DADT as a permanent policy if a new policy is enacted whereby adulterous Service Members are automatically separated from the military and barred from re-entry with no possibility of appeal. While we’re at it, let’s remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:28: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. This means that any married Service Member who, uh, partakes in the viewing of pornography will also be subject to the adultery policy.