The right of gay Americans to serve openly in the American military is not an issue that ranks in my top ten most important issues facing America today. However this weeks public/political discourse stemming from Marine General Pace’s remarks implying not only that homosexuality is immoral but that such “alleged” immorality makes “said” homosexuals morally unfit for service in the American military aside from its absurdity spotlights issues that do rank in my most important top ten.
General Pace’s comment and the responses or substantive lack thereof from the spectrum of our alleged political “leaders” should give most Americans cause for concern.
I’m an average American citizen who happens to have been born heterosexual/straight.
I didn’t really realize this until I was about 15 years old when upon reflection it all began to make sense why in second grade I wrote “I love you” on Tracey Smith’s desk, why in fifth grade Ronnie Nelson, Rich Cromer, and I made a daring daylight raid on Tischbein’s Pharmacy in order to liberate a Penthouse magazine, which, “back in the day” was not shelved behind the counter. We grabbed it, slapped the money on the counter and ran.
Get it?
I may not be qualified to say what makes us who we are but I suspect we are all born with our sexuality encoded in our system’s “hard drive.” No pun intended. Think about it. I never sat around and pondered whether I wanted to chase “girls” or “boys.” I new the first time I saw Tracy Smith she was the one. I may not have known what it was that I wanted at age seven, I just new she had it and I wanted it from her. Not from Ronnie, Rich, or any of the guys, but from Tracy, Vicky, Liz, Amy or any number of girls or women to follow. Only they had it in varying forms best exemplified in my case at age seven by Tracy.
It wasn’t ‘till I was much older that I learned that not all other people were wired the same in this regard. Not so surprising really.
But is this really correct? Are we really all the same and just some among us “choose” yes “choose” to be gay?
In fact I believe we are really all the same. Gay or straight we are the same. I was born straight just the same as my good friend David Mixner was born gay. As we say in the Marine Corps, “same same.”
Straight people long for spiritual and physical acceptance just like gay people. Same same.
Gay people face loss, disappointment and the full spectrum of life’s challenges just like straight people. Same same.
And, more to the point my gay friends didn’t sit around one day and decide to be gay; they, like me and my lust for young Ms. Smith and a long string of women to follow, well they were born that way. Same same.
In fact when I hear people, usually men, talk about how being gay is a “choice,” I kind of wonder. Being straight wasn’t a choice for me nor was being gay a choice for any of my gay friends. Lusting after women in my youth (now just my wife) just kind of came naturally. There was no decision involved; Hmmm do I want to chase women today or men. I don’t think so.
So at the heart of General Pace’s comments regarding homosexuality and the political response lies a dishonesty that we all in our hearts recognize, and yet our political leaders not only sidestep this dishonesty but more importantly they ignore the fact that this particular dishonesty is anathema to the most fundamental principal of our American Democracy: Equality for all.
And by sidestepping this dishonesty and looking the other way they give it life and the resulting never ending distraction to some of the greater challenges that face our country today.
Such lack of leadership and integrity should be cause for alarm on the part of all Americans particularly those that self identify as “Democrats.”
The unwillingness to lead and embrace the fiduciary responsibility of elected office to protect the “little guy” is un-American. Hitler was a bully, (politely stated), he targeted the weak. Conversely Lincoln was a hero, he advocated on behalf of and protected the weak. We should accept nothing short of Lincoln like behavior from our political leaders in all circumstances and anything short of that is troubling. It’s one thing to be proven wrong it’s another to be morally weak in the face of prejudice and inequality.
Indecisive leadership and an unwillingness to “go through the door first” for fear of political death most recently got us into Iraq, and in our past allowed McCarthyism, segregation, and slavery, to name but a few.
When asked about General Pace’s comments Senator Clinton said “it’s for others to conclude” whether homosexuality is immoral. Critique: Indecisive, and lacking any moral strength, but typically political.
Senator Obama’s comment was “I do not agree with General Pace that homosexuality is immoral. Attempts to divide people like this have consumed too much of our politics over the past six years.” Critique: Displays a keen grasp of the obvious but generally indecisive, lacking resolve, and weak.
Governor Richardson said the comment was “unfortunate… Throughout my entire career I have fought for equal rights and against discrimination of any kind.” Critique: Me, me, me, me, me, and I’m the best.
Senator Brownback said in a letter to President Bush “personal moral beliefs” should not disqualify anyone from a position of leadership in the U.S. military. “General Pace’s recent remarks do not deserve the criticism they have received,” the letter said. “In fact, we applaud General Pace for maintaining a personal commitment to moral principles.” Critique: Here’s a hanky wipe your tears. There was a time in America when such an argument was used in support of segregation on all levels of American society.
Furthermore, philosophically speaking, if homosexuality is in fact a moral “condition” and acting on this condition is in furtherance of that condition, isn’t that then acting out one’s “moral beliefs?” And therefore according to Senator Brownback’s own logic he should applaud gay Americans and servicemen and women for their physical commitment to their moral principles. Right?
In some regards I concur with Senator Brownback to the extent that General Pace is entitled to his personal opinion, however misguided. With that said, General Pace is not a politician and we as American citizens don’t want our military leaders weighing in on cultural issues but rather leading our military and effectively and efficiently killing our enemies.
Additionally, General Pace’s response reveals an amazing lack of judgment on his part which in itself is cause for concern coming from the highest ranking officer in the military. The correct answer General was: “I’m a Marine, I don’t make the laws, I see that within my role in the military that the will of the people as expressed through the legislature and directed to me by my Commander In Chief is carried out and timely executed. And as it relates to gays in the military we are instructed not to inquire into servicemen and women’s sexuality and for those who are gay and serving they are instructed not to reveal their sexuality. If in the future we are directed by our Commander In Chief and or through the United States Congress to modify that policy we will comply.” It is, General, that simple.
And the reality is, there is and always will be gay men and women serving honorably in our military. General Pace and I have served with them and surely been impressed, albeit perhaps unknowingly.
Furthermore to inject “sexual morality” into a philosophical discussion of what qualities are required to be a part of the most efficient military i.e. killing organization in the world’s history is a little preposterous. “Sgt. John Binotz it’s come to our attention that you like guys. As much as we’d love to send your sorry ass to Iraq to kill Muj. you’re not morally qualified by virtue of your desire to bugger your buddy.” Give me a break, Alexander the Great was not stymied by his sexuality and we as a nation should not allow sexuality to handicap our military either.
But ultimately what is troubling as indicated above, is that those from both parties who seek to lead our country in the future are willing to look the other way out of political convenience.
I really have no skin in this game other than I’m a true believer in the promise of equality for all Americans regardless of the color or their skin, religious beliefs or lack thereof, gender, nationality, political beliefs, or who they want to sleep with.
And to that end to argue that there should be a different standard applied to an American based on how they entered this world and who they are sexually attracted to is frankly un-American. Yes un-
American. Accept it, homosexuality is not contagious, and at least for me, gay marriage doesn’t threaten my marriage, and as far as the military is concerned the policy should be “don’t ask don’t care but can you do your job.”
Finally, from our political leaders we should demand some moral courage to stand and fight for the most basic American principals of equal opportunity and exact justice for all regardless of how they are wired. Otherwise, we shouldn’t be alarmed by the continued dismal lack of leadership in Washington D.C. that from both sides of the aisles gave us Iraq, continue to fund Iraq, and can’t get much of anything positive done, save for funding their next campaign.
Paul Hackett