No surprises

Kelley School Dean Dan Smith is quoted in the Feb. 17 Indiana Daily Student as expressing surprise that people are focusing on Gen. Peter Pace’s religion-based beliefs (that homosexual acts are immoral), beliefs he is entitled to hold.

I personally place Gen. Pace’s public statements in a certain context. This context includes the fact that in the early 19th century, many slave owners expressed belief that the Bible approved of slavery. The torturers of the Inquisition were acting in line with their sincere beliefs. This has been true of religious-based terrorists of all stripes. Hitler sincerely believed when he ordered the murders of Jews, Roma (gypsies), the mentally ill and homosexuals that he was acting to create a healthier human race.

It is not that Gen. Pace has no right to express his beliefs. But when a public figure makes a public statement calling into question the morals of millions of his fellow citizens, including numerous faculty, staff and students at IU, Dean Smith should not be surprised that some people object to having the University honor him.

Stephen Arnold
Bloomington