nizing over how best to integraternsodomites into the Corps? These menrnthought about war and how to win it.rnThe most tragic casualty of a peacetimernmilitary is the abandonment ofrnmoral courage. It is in peace that wernneed courage most, for it is the virtuernthat prevents the political culture fromrnintruding too deeply into the militaryrnculture. Because the military is the violentrnarm of the Republic, it must neverrnbecome corrupted by politics. The military,rnmore than any other organization,rnmust resist change until the case is compellinglyrnmade that the change is good.rnOnce progressive sociology invades thernmilitary sphere, an institution where traditionrnhas practical value, it renders thernmilitary no longer warlike but confusedrnand weak. The conspicuous absence ofrnmoral courage today has landed thernCorps behind the soup line in Somaliarnand has cost the lives of 240 Marines inrnBeirut.rnThe Commandant writes, “The greatestrncontribution our Corps has made tornthis Nation, or will ever make, is not thatrnwe win wars, but that we make Marines.”rnA cleverly veiled lie. That the MarinernCorps produces disciplined patriots wellrnequipped to shoulder leadership inrnAmerican society is to its eternal credit.rnMarines don’t get to “guard the streets ofrnheaven” simply because they are vigilantrnwarriors. They earn that right becausernthey are good men. Nevertheless, oncernthe Corps is no longer recognized principallyrnfor its unequaled ability to vanquishrnour enemies on the battlefield,rnbut is instead praised as a factory for producingrngood citizens, the sociologistsrnhave taken over.rnDoes the Commandant imply that herncan take a queer and make him a Marine?rnShould the Corps turn in its cannonsrnand open a charm school? Perhapsrnsuch a plan is one of the alternate uses ofrnthe Armed Forces that the administrationrnis considering. 1, for one, refuse tornsupport any such agenda. I did not acceptrna commission from the MarinernCorps, nor did those officers with whomrnI served, to advance the agenda of homosexuals,rnanymore than we did to rebuildrnhomes in Dade County or to subordinaternthe pursuit of success under fire tornthe career aspirations of feminists.rnBut mine is a small voice. Surely,rnthere must be one man among the seniorrnofficers of the Corps who willrnmuster the courage to say, “I will notrncount myself among those who allowedrnsodomites to wear the Eagle Globe andrnAnchor and will do all in my power to resistrnso wretched an indignity.” Thoughrnhe may lose his career and his pension,rnhe will preserve his credibility andrnself-respect. Do not hope for such arnman, however. After all, only one Englishrnbishop stood up to Henry VIII, wellrnaware he had more at stake than hisrnpension.rnThe Commandant concludes hisrnmessage with this plea: “It is not characteristicrnof Marines to quit their posts,rneither under fire or when things are notrnto their liking. Those of you whose pridernin the Corps, sense of duty, honor, andrnpersonal moral values run so deep, arernexactly the ones needed to remain onrnwatch to provide a steady hand.” Understandingrnquite clearly what thernCorps’ position on the issue of sodomitesrnis to be, I wonder which of my “personalrnmoral values” still interest the Commandant.rnChristopher Check resigned hisrncommission as a captain in thernMarine Corps. He joined The RockfordrnInstitute last December as associaterndirector of The Center on the Familyrnin America.rnFROM COVER-UP TO WHITEWASHrnThe REAL King PapersrnTHE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.,rnPLAGIARISM STORYrnEdited by Theodore PappasrnA publication of The Rockford Institute.rn107 pages (paper). Only $10 (shipping and handling charges included)rn”The sordid tale of what has become of our institutions of learning and scholarship.”rn—Samuel Francisrn”A work of great seriousness, expressed in a lucid style (a rare combination).”rn—John Lukacsrn”I would not want it said, a century from now, that there was no one willing to stand by Theodore Pappasrnin his advocacy of the integrity of the academy . . . “rn—from the Foreword by Jacob NeusnerrnTO ORDER BY CREDIT CARD, CALL: 1-800-383-0680 OR SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER (MADE R^YABLE TO THErnROCKFORD INSTITUTE) TO: King Book, 934 North Main Street, Rockford, IL 61103 (Discounts available for bulk orders.)rn40/CHRONICLESrnrnrn