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Nov. 20, 2009
Rabbi David Aaron: How to make every second of your life come first
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Nov. 19, 2009
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Jonathan Tobin: ADL Crosses the Line with Report Bashing Obama Critics
Nov. 18, 2009
Rabbi Yonason Goldson: What Judaism has to say about the secret of the Mona Lisa's smile
JWisdom.com: The (Jewish) Dating Game with Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff (8 minutes)
Nov. 17, 2009
Steven Emerson: How Does the 4th Amendment Impact Terror Finance Investigations?
JWisdom.com: If Frank Sinatra married Edith Piaf with Rabbi Y.Y. Rubinstein (2 minutes) Life lessons from what would be regarded as the most inappropriate lyrics ever sung
Nov. 16, 2009
The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : When borrowing is stealing
JWisdom.com: Deconstructing faith with Rabbi Warren Goldstein (9 minutes)
Nov. 13, 2009
JWisdom.com Sarah's subjective reality with Rabbi Sroy Levitansky ( 6 minutes)
Caroline B. Glick: Obama's failure, Netanyahu's opportunity
Nov. 12, 2009
The Kosher Gourmet By Marialisa Calta : A sweet sweet potato treat
JWisdom.com Does God get tired? with Rabbi Harvey Belovski ( 5 minutes)
Nov. 11, 2009
Rabbi Avi Shafran: Jews and money: When anti-Semitism isn't
JWisdom.com Marriages are not made in Heaven with Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff (VERY fast 15 minutes)
Nov. 10, 2009
Michael Doyle: Author of book exposing CAIR ordered to remove supporting documents from Web
JWisdom.com If the creation so loudly shouts the existence of the Creator, why aren't more people believers? with Rabbi Naftali Brawer (9 minutes)
Nov. 9, 2009
Mark Steyn: Shooter exposes hole in U.S. terror strategy
JWisdom.com It's never too late to have a happy childhood with Sarah Chana Radcliffe (5 minutes)
Nov. 6, 2009
Rabbi Berel Wein: Choosing to hear
JWisdom.com Zero to 1/60th: How to Empower An Hour with Gavriel Aryeh Sande (7 minutes)
Caroline B. Glick The mullahs' big week
Suzanne Fields A Fallen Wall for Fallen Man
Nov. 5, 2009
The Kosher Gourmet: Three scrumptious -- but simple -- butternut squash dishes
JWisdom.com Hidden Hints: Unlocking Faith & Prayer with Rabbi Jay Yaacov Schwartz (10 minutes)
Nov. 4, 2009
Tom Hamburger and Kim Geiger: Should prayers be covered?
JWisdom.com When God played peacemaker With Rabbi Sroy Levitansky (5 minutes)
Nov. 3, 2009
Martin Peretz: Beware, Barack. Beware, Rahm. Beware, Axelrod
JWisdom.com Are you are closet idolater? With Sara Yoheved Rigler (10 minutes)
Nov. 2, 2009
Paul Greenberg: The Holocaust is now on Facebook
JWisdom.com Abraham's Strange Change With Rabbi Yitzchok Fingerer (5 minutes)
Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review March 16, 2007 / 26 Adar, 5767

Don't ask, don't tell — for the devout

By Debra J. Saunders

Debra J. Saunders
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Peter Pace defended the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy by explaining that he was brought up to believe that "homosexual acts between individuals are immoral" in an editorial board meeting with the Chicago Tribune.


It shows that something is off-kilter in American journalism and politics when — in the middle of a war — the predictable news cycle followed, with "don't ask, don't tell" critics branding Pace as a bigot, and demanding an apology. Stop the presses: Someone in the military has issues with homosexuality. Big story?


Some Americans think homosexuality is a sin. Who knew? They even dare say as much in public. Apparently, American media believe something must be done about that. We can't have people expressing their religious beliefs in public, now can we?


The best way to promote tolerance for gays, however, is not to muzzle people who disagree. "Don't ask, don't tell" critics should stick to arguing the issues.


It will be a sad day in America if tolerance for gays is won because intolerance of devout Christians, whose faith tells them homosexuality is a sin, prevails. You want tolerance? Exercise it. Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, issued this how-dare-they statement: "What is immoral is to weaken our national security because of personal prejudices. Gen. Pace's comments were irresponsible, offensive and a slap in the face to the gay men and women who are currently serving their country with honor and bravery."


Translation: You can't call us immoral. If you do, you have to apologize. But we can call you immoral, secure in the knowledge that no one in the media will ask us to apologize.


I can't get all that exercised. As a San Francisco Chronicle columnist who supports the Iraq war, I get called immoral (and worse) every week. I don't agree, but people have a right to their opinions.


Be it noted, Pace, a Catholic, also supported military sanctions against adulterers, whose behavior he also called "immoral." Because there is no politically powerful lobby for adulterers, there have been no calls for Pace to apologize. Before I continue, let me mention that I don't like "don't ask, don't tell." It's a wrong-headed policy that hurts America's national security by keeping good people who want to serve their country out of the military. A federal audit found that "don't ask, don't tell" has cost the military some 10,000 troops, including professionals with important skill sets — most notably 322 linguists and 54 Arabic specialists — since President Bill Clinton promoted the policy in 1993.


Just as important, a caring country does not marginalize people who, I believe, came into this world gay or lesbian. America is strong precisely because it offers opportunities to all, just as San Francisco has a unique flavor because of its history as a haven for homosexuals. I also like how some of the same people who lament that President Bush did not listen to dissenting voices on the Iraq war now argue that Pace should not voice his personal opinions. They are advocating a de-facto "don't ask, don't tell" policy — but for traditional Catholics.


It's too bad that the Chicago Tribune determined that Pace's comments on gays were more headline-worthy than his criticism that Democratic plans to hamper the troop surge could endanger the lives of American troops.


In ultra-sensitive America, what you say is more important than what you do.


To the modern American media, it is worse to hurt the feelings of gay troops than it is to pass legislation that puts all combat troops at risk.

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© 2007, Creators Syndicate

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