Honoring the wrong man

While I respect differing views on issues, and support freedom of speech, I do find it sad that Indiana University would award Gen. Peter Pace anything. 

Mind you, the award is funded not from student fees, but private funds. Regardless, this man is the epitome of bigotry and homophobia. 

How can a public university lend any credence to such a man who represented our armed forces, which includes thousands of talented and dedicated gay and lesbian soldiers. 

As president of Union Board in 1990, we stood up to the military’s stance on gays in the armed forces, and we banned the recruiting by ROTC in the Indiana Memorial Union. I am proud of that resolution not only as a gay man, but as a former student leader – we showed respect for all students, regardless of sexual orientation.
It is one thing to have the general speak on campus and be open to questions; it is entirely different when a university I am proud to call my alma mater bestows an award upon one of the highest-profile homophobes in the country/nation. 

IU should have also invited retired Gen. Keith Kerr, an openly gay man, to be on hand as Gen. Pace is given his award to tell him how he feels about gays in the military. 

Gen. Kerr served 43 years in the military and was a dedicated soldier. Can Gen. Pace honestly say that soldiers like Gen. Kerr are not right for the military? Gen. Kerr is the one who should be receiving an award from IU. And IU alumnus and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates should not get one dime for his defense budget until gays and lesbians are allowed to serve openly. 

We are in a senseless war, and the military wants to discharge gay soldiers who speak Arabic because they are gay. It simply baffles me that any soldier who wants to serve their country would be turned down and that awards are given to those who support it.