- Ret. Col. Stewart Bornhoft
Dave Gainer forwarded the following letter to us from retired army colonel Stewart Bornhoft.
He wrote that it was his hope that Texas representatives Joe Barton, Chet Edwards, Gene Green and Dr. “No” Burgess read the letter.
To the 194 Representatives, the 12 Senators, and the 4 Service Chiefs who now find themselves in a minority, we know how you feel. We’ve been there.
When you cast your vote or wrote your letters this week to prolong the prejudice and hypocrisy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, you made a decision that put you on the wrong side of history. There are those in the majority who now are eager to “name and shame” you, but I suggest a higher path. While you shall certainly be held accountable, you still have a chance to set a better course. Act now to voice your support for the goals of the Pentagon Working Group and the policies that will implement honest and open service. We extend a hand to you, hoping you will not push it way and remain sitting in the path of progress, but instead take that hand, stand, and walk forward with us. We will all get there faster.
The declaration of the ideal that all of us are created equal, with the inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness still needs to be fulfilled. It’s taking a long time for arc of the universe to bend toward justice. Since that declaration, it took more than a century for women and racial minorities win the right to vote. It took even longer for them to be able to serve equally in the military. Ironically, by our invisibility, we’ve always had the right to vote. Soon, we will secure the right to serve equally, without equivocation or discrimination.
Our nation was founded on the principles of majority rule, minority rights, and limited government. But the first does not trump the second, and the third exists to ensure that. So, a decision has been made to move forward. We respect your right to your views, but hope you will now join with the 4 out of 5 Americans who favor honest and open service. It’s the right thing to do.
Respectfully,
A Retired Army Colonel
