Military Expert Questions West Point's Reward of Pro-Homosexual Dissent
by Chad Groening
August 11, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A conservative military watchdog says she intends to question West Point Military Academy officials about why a former cadet was given an award for a thesis objecting to the U.S. military's ban on homosexuals serving in the armed forces.
Second Lieutenant Alexander Raggio describes himself as the straightest guy imaginable; but in his senior thesis at West Point Academy, he argued that the military's policy banning homosexuals from service is not only wrong but harmful to America's armed services. For his controversial paper, the then-senior cadet received an award from the Academy's English Department.
This incident has led Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, to wonder what officials at the Academy were thinking. "I do intend to bring this to the attention of some of the people in the leadership roles at West Point," she says. "I think it ought to be questioned."
Donnelly says this is the first she has heard of Raggio's commendation from the English department, but news of the faculty's conferral of honor on a graduating cadet for his pro-homosexual thesis has given rise to some grave concerns. "Certainly," she asserts, "it does call into question the judgment of those who gave this award.'
Despite Raggio's personal beliefs, the Center's spokeswoman points out, the young officer is obligated to enforce U.S. military policy. "Congress says homosexuality is incompatible with military service -- that is the law," she notes. "So if, as an officer in the Army, this particular person was aware of homosexuality that was occurring within the unit that he commanded, he would be obligated to dismiss that person.'
Apparently, Donnelly says, when Raggio wrote his thesis, he was saying the ban on homosexuals serving in the military should be lifted. "That is a very unusual view," she asserts, "and he is certainly entitled to his opinion." However, the military readiness expert observes, studies have clearly shown that homosexuality and military service are not a good mix.
Raggio is entitled to his First Amendment rights of free speech and expression, Donnelly says. "However," she adds, "I question the judgment of the leadership at West Point, who would recognize such an essay and give it an award that can be used for a purpose contrary to military policy.'
Second-Lieutenant Raggio has said he plans to pursue a 20-year career in the military and believes there is no reason why homosexuals should not be allowed to serve. Although the West Point graduate is not the first in the armed services to voice opposition to the ban, his is believed to be the first instance in which military officials have acknowledged an objection to its long-established policy on homosexuals with an award.
Chad Groening, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
