Honor Over All
“Honor over all” - the last three words of "Anchor’s Aweigh." Only at the Naval Academy would the football fight song end with a reminder that in all things, our honor must supersede all other considerations. Accordingly, it was only fitting of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, USNA ’68, to say that DADT implicates the honor of those who must lie in order to serve the country they love, but also the integrity of the institution that forces these lies in the face of Core Values that are its bedrock.
Honor, Courage and Commitment are the Naval Services’ Core Values. As a Naval Academy graduate, I have always believed that DADT has been a cancer to those values and has harmed my Navy and our national defense. I was pleased to hear Admiral Mullen voice that same conviction. In its sad, sorry history, DADT has made a mockery of an institution that demands the highest level of integrity from its members, while requiring some to either lie outright or by omission in order to remain in the ranks – regardless of their competency, bravery and devotion to duty. My Navy deserves to be better than that and I applaud Admiral Mullen for saying so.
One group, who’s integrity, or rather its lack thereof, was unmentioned by Admiral Mullen, should not go unnoticed. This group is those who oppose repeal of DADT. The opposition to allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in our military is premised on falsehoods, fear-mongering, and a lack of moral courage on the part of many. Let’s all be honest, the vast majority of those who oppose gay service do so because of their personal sectarian belief that homosexuality is immoral. Yet, rather than saying so directly, they mask their bigotry behind arguments that gay service undermines unit cohesion or effects good order. Their arguments invoking showers and foxholes merely spin ridiculous myths of inappropriate, unprofessional behavior not grounded in reality. Their claim that gay service will cause a mass exodus insults the professionalism of our troops. They make these ignorant claims with no evidence and in the face of every study ever conducted on the subject as well as the experience of our allies and our own forces in combat now. How does doing so reflect any sense of honor?
Even more lacking in honor are those such as John McCain, USNA ’58, who should know better but whose opposition to gays in the military isn’t based on great principle but rather political expediency. His campaign slogan, “Country First,” is just short-hand for his real guiding motto, “Country First, Except When It Might Cost Me An Election.” How otherwise does one explain his flip-flopping on DADT – just because the JCS Chairman took a position that McCain cannot support because he faces a right-wing challenge in the Arizona Senatorial Republican primary?
Admiral Mullen was right, in the end it always does come down to integrity. It always has.
02-23-10 By Paula M. Neira, Lieutenant, USNR (1985-1991) |
5 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Moshe P. in Arizona on March 03, 2010 at 02.05 am
In reading the recent articles a troop comes to mind; Gary Matlovich, TSGT,USAF who was the Air Force NCO OF THE YEAR in around 76. What ever happened to him? HOW could it be that a guy like THAT would be “Unfit” to serve?? We’ve been a VOLUNTEER force for about 40 years now. ANYBODY who volunteers to wear the same uniform as I deserves the same regard for the same service! How many gay spouses have had to bury their servicemember without recognition? Had to bring up their family without Our Country’s assistance? Without the benefits that their straight neighbors enjoyed for their and their spouse’s sacrifice?
This is just WHY?
I say this to congress: You charge us all our tax, give us ALL OUR RIGHTS!
Failure to do so makes ANY tax an unapportioned tax. It would be an easy thing to do the RIGHT thing and recognized these patriots. ACT NOW!
Dino in Washington, DC on February 25, 2010 at 02.22 pm
PBS Newshour did a story last May that two or three of those 1000+ Retired Flag Officers had died by the time Elaine Donnelly started circulating her petition and one denied ever signing it. Hmmmm. Someone should research this throughly.
Bill on February 24, 2010 at 06.12 pm
Sorry, an error above: I credited Tea Baggers with being OK on LGBT issues. Actually, the boo’ing of a homophobe was at the CPAC convention. As for Elaine Donnelly and her website, she clearly has power beyond her reality—but in Congress perception becomes reality. Sadly, I presume the Luddites will invite her to testify at upcoming Senate hearings, as they did in past Congressional hearings. She will be ridiculed again, but will also have real power, especially with her notorious list of 1000+ retired flag officers who supposedly are against ending DADT. That list was waved by at least 2 Senators in the recent hearings with Gates and Mullen.
Dino in Washington, DC on February 24, 2010 at 03.52 pm
Thank you Paula. As you said those who are working hard to keep DADT on the books are the ones with no honor or integrity. Most reading this blog are familiar with Elaine Donnelly the Executive Director of the so-called “Center for Military Readiness” operated out of her spare room in her residence in Livionia, MI with possible single digit membership. Their webpage is http://www.cmrlink.org, which should be called the Elaine Donnelly vanity site. She was recently at the C-PAC Convention in Washington, DC (surprise). She headed a panel discussion of something called the “Military Culture Coalition” <<snicker>> Read on http://www.cmrlink.org/HMilitary.asp?docID=368 and her statment regarding the testimony of Admiral Mike Mullen. Donnelly, who has never worn a military uniform a day in her life, accused Admiral Mullen, a Commissioned Naval Officer since 1968, of “letting the troops down”. She also implies that Admiral Mullen was using US Servicemembers as “props” when he asked them for their feedback on DADT repeal on a trip to Amman, Jordan. She basically asked out loud how any servicemembers could “risk their carrers” and disagree with the Military’s Highest Ranking Officer in the presence of the media. Funny, I don’t think Donnelly has said that before about any other issue. The tone of her press release is more hysterical than usual which is an encouraging sign that maybe Donnelly and her ilk are finally getting the message that the game is up. Elaine Donnelly in her closing statement “how does this improve military readiness”. I got an answer for you Elaine. Integrity, transparency, openness, honesty and being forthright are key ingredients to military readiness. Like the honor codes at the US Federal Service Academies. Once again Paula, thank you for your article and your service and your courage. When don’t ask don’t tell is repealed it will be because of brave, thoughtful and committed people such as yourself.
Bill on February 23, 2010 at 08.19 pm
So far, no high ranking military officer seems to demand continuation of DADT. Too many, however, want “study” as suggested by Adm. Mullen and Sec. Gates. Silly. End DADT now. Today. Immediately. Even the recent Tea Bag Convention seemed to support ending DADT (they boo’ed an overt homophobe), so maybe there wouldn’t even be a temporary firestorm from the far right. Let’s get this over with long before the November elections, and get on with our American adventure into the 21st century!