A Reflection on the Unreflective Gen. Pace

In the interview directly below this entry, I commented that for many people, religious views are inherited, and not often formed by reflection.  Here’s a case in point.  Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, said yesterday, in testimony before congress, that “We should respect those who want to serve the nation but not through the law of the land, condone activity that, in my upbringing, is counter to God's law."

General Pace, do you still have your baby teeth?  Are you constantly outgrowing your shoes?  Have you learned to tie them yet?  Does your voice occasionally crack?  Have you experienced acne as yet?  Does your mommy still potty train you?  In your upbringing…in your upbringing…, General Pace, when will you grow up and begin to think for yourself, little man in the big boots?  Still playing with guns?  Still taking orders from authority figures?  My God, our armed forces are in the hands of a presumed adult with delayed onset thinking-for-oneself maturity issues.

“God’s law,” to someone who takes the Bible literally (non-thinkers), says that acting on same-sex attraction is a capital offense; that they should be killed.  Unreflective people who are used to taking orders just might execute this one if called upon.  Pun intended. It’s the logical outcome of Voltaire’s horrifying observation that “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” 

I’m wondering how we can show respect to those who want to serve the nation “but not through the law of the land.”  Yes, that’s it; let’s keep gays as second class citizens.  Oh, sure, they are willing to lay their lives on the line for our country, but suggesting that they deserve equal treatment is going too far.  Many of the presidential candidates are willing to lower the drinking age to 18 under the reasoning that if you are willing to serve your country you should legally be served a beer.  To see the relationship of that argument to gays in the military requires reflection.  But, since the Bible says…well, you know what it says…why bother?

Comments

[Bob Cornwall]

Steve,

You need to have an e-mail component to this!!

[Barry]

Steve, very well said! I sometimes wonder though, how many of our "leaders" are actually intellectually immature and how many are simply self serving power hungry panderers to the right or any other group that will serve their needs. Hmmm, maybe that's the same thing!

Thanks and keep up the fine work.