I don’t believe someone who defends morality and opposes perversion is a bigot (“Pro-repealers’ motives impure,” letter, July 5). I think someone who believes homosexuals in any way equate to murderers is simply ignorant and misguided.

The idea of homosexuals openly serving in the military isn’t simply a matter of civil rights and equality of skills. All of the arguments I’ve heard really have basis in another debate: Is homosexuality a choice, merely a behavior that can be changed? The answer is something every person has decided for themselves. For the letter writer, the answer is homosexuals should be arrested and tried under the law. Though he didn’t say this outright, it’s a safe assumption based on the comparison to pedophiles.

For others, the answer is quite the opposite: Homosexuality is something that occurs naturally.

Who is right and who is wrong? We can argue about the Bible, the law, morals and civil rights. In the end it’s only distracting from the reality that we are all human beings and everyone has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Why must we judge one another? I believe I heard somewhere that “judgment is reserved for God” and “judge not, lest ye be judged” and “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

I thought religion was about love, tolerance and forgiveness. Yes, I remember these teachings from Sunday school. I also recall another bit of nonsensical gibberish about doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. I don’t remember lessons about excluding people because of anything that made them distinct — except that it is deplorable. I was never issued a mold with instructions to reject anyone who did not fit into it. I was taught that intolerance leads to tragedy. I believe that the letter writer’s vicious comments are tragic.

Sgt. Samantha K. Pang

Baghdad

Withstand forced immorality

I thought our mission was to fight and win America’s wars. Now we see that the military is the chosen battlefield of the gay lobby and homosexual special interest groups to further their political agenda.

This is a very divisive issue. Ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” will have a devastating effect on readiness, recruitment and retention, and will destroy cohesion within the ranks.

As a chaplain it is my obligation to enable soldiers to exercise the right to the “free exercise of religion.” It is my sacred duty to safeguard that liberty. Now I will no longer be allowed to freely exercise my religious beliefs. Jude and Paul clearly condemned homosexual behavior as sinful (Jude 7, Romans 1:26-27). Throughout history many philosophers and ethicists, back to the ancient Egyptians, have recognized that homosexuality is deviant, anti-social, anti-family and even perverted. Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). But now, Caesar is suddenly demanding of me the devotion that I must give to God alone. Caesar, through a change of policy, is demanding that I deny my faith.

I will not deny Christ by sitting through a mandatory briefing instructing me I must embrace the homosexual movement, and I will not allow myself to be subjected to “Gay-Lesbian-Transgendered” month.

[Adm. Mike Mullen] seems to be saying that there is no longer any room in the military for people who believe in traditional morality. This isn’t about homosexuals being allowed to serve. It is about the members of a radical political movement wanting the full power of the federal government behind them so they can criminalize and eradicate dissent. We who hold onto traditional family values may soon be persecuted. Who are they to impose their immorality upon me?

First Lt. (Chaplain) Stephen Andrew Missick

Camp Cropper, Iraq

Migrated