General Pace's "Upbringing": What Are His Views on Muslims, Since It Informs His Views on Gays?

[CorpGovActivist]

Citing his "upbringing," the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff proceeded to enjoy a freedom denied to the vast majority of those he outranks: giving his candid view on "don't ask, don't tell," publicly and on the record.

For my part, I'm glad to see that he didn't soft pedal his answer - because it serves as a stark wake-up call for those who may be laboring under the false belief that DADT has rendered the issue moot.

However, I'm a little bit stunned at how tepid the response has been here.

Imagine, instead, if Pace had shared how his "upbringing" informs his view of Muslims' beliefs.

How Pace views gays - inherently "immoral" - raises questions about how he views the GWOT (that's the acronym in military circles for the Global War on Terrorism), and how he views Muslims.

True military leaders like General Wesley Clark have wrestled with this issue, and many have overcome their own "upbringing" and biases.

In the GWOT, we need thinkers who are capable of seeing things in shades more subtle than black and white.

In the GWOH - that's the Global War on Homophobia - we could use some more vocal allies, too.

- Dave

[leveymg]

1. Dave - Why do think TIME published this now?

Comes at exactly the same time AIPAC has managed to pressure Democratic Congressmen to excise the measure expressly forbidding Bush from attacking Iran without Congressional approval. I see this as an effort to try to isolate Pace from his base of support among progressive Democrats, and that has everything to do with his role in resisting White House efforts to escalate tensions against Iran.

I disapprove of expressions of bigotry, as well, but I also see the bigger picture about what's going on here.

Do you see it otherwise?