Jack Moline
Director, Public Policy, Rabbinical Assembly

Jack Moline

Jack Moline has been rabbi of Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria, Virginia, since 1987. He is past chair of the board of Interfaith Alliance.

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It is time for sacred impatience

Despite public and military support for overturning Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the legislation which bans openly gay service members, political, military and religious leaders cite a variety of objections to changing the law.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) worries that allowing gays to serve openly would impact troop "morale;" Marine Corp Commandant Gen. James Amos says that a policy change may affect "unit cohesion" and "combat effectiveness." Among the religious leaders opposed to overturning Don't Ask, Don't Tell is Catholic Archbishop for the Military Services Timothy J. Broglio, who fears that chaplains would be forced to compromise their principles in accepting "objectively disordered" homosexuality, adding that he "can never condone -even silently -homosexual behavior."


What beliefs are behind banning gays in the military? What's the role of religion in this debate?

I don't deny that adjusting to the notion of homosexuality as normative is difficult. My own deeply ingrained prejudices -- reinforced by culture, upbringing and religious teachings -- were very difficult to overcome. However, particularly in this place at this time, the notion that such prejudices should be institutionalized by our government of equal rights ought to offend. And just as we today celebrate the abolitionists, suffragists, labor organizers, voting rights activists, and disability advocates who were filled with sacred impatience to make the promise of America a reality, it is long past time to fully enfranchise members of the human family with same-sex orientation.

I don't for a minute deny a person of faith the right to hold to beliefs about human nature or righteous behavior. However, a chaplain who cannot abide homosexuals, or who believes that non-believers are damned, or who dismisses the validity of a particular posture of faith (or no faith) ought to consider some other means of employment, perhaps within a home denomination. The law of our land must reflect the instructions and values of the foundational documents of the United States, and should not be held hostage to the religious principles that set themselves above the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

I adhere to an approach to Judaism that recognizes the binding nature of Jewish law on every Jew. Over the course of two thousand years -- and in some instances over the course of my short lifetime -- scholars and practitioners have come to understand that their reading of Biblical instructions had to be reinterpreted to do away with retributive justice, slavery, polygamy, misogyny and even the way we worship. Now is the time for people of faith who recognize the evolutionary nature of tradition to take this next step, and to politely but firmly reject the notion that those who have no room for change in their perspective can presume to stifle necessary consideration of progress toward affirming the holy nature of every child of God.

By Jack Moline  |  November 15, 2010; 4:10 PM ET Save & Share:  Send E-mail   Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Yahoo Buzz   Del.icio.us   StumbleUpon   Technorati  
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Dear A P A G A N P L A C E:

Even though A Public 'BAR" or Tavern or Pub is Not the Army or military Base: Here is something to assuage your Pro-"G" stance in a none military context but also an analogy that makes "RULE"obeying the King of da Pentagram.

Suppose me was "G"ay, and me mighty "HORMONES" is pulling on me 'Credentials' or simply Tempting i to have a coochy Poochy fantasy moment soto spake'th. NOW

Imagine me is on some Ave or Street and me see a "BAR" [Not displaying any sign stating either NOt for "S"straights or NOt for "G"] and me walks-in. Then me looks and see mostly Guys but less Gals. Then i head on down to the BAR and propside on a stool.

Then i call over a Bar tender compliment him on the Joint, smile and then order a "Gin-n-Tonic" or a "Brewski"(Slancha//Cheers!) THEN

me see a nice (Hot?) guy sitting next to me on me Left. He pans & Looks at me briefly, i smile a little then me stair around and while babying me drink i look up and see a sign that says "RULES:" #1: NO GAY Activity Allowed., #2: NO DRUGs & Dealing Allowed. etc.. Note: i'm in a State or Town that Allows Bars or any Business simply Say, "Gays D A D T". Now

On me right suddenly this Hot looking (unknowing to i) TRansvestite sits down. Now, Suppose i get Promted 1st by JACK (the Straight) on me Left, we talk about the score or approve of the Music or the smell of Food. Then on me right JACKIE (the "G") comes on to me asking if i can buy 1st drink and She [HE] will buy the 2nd rounds. NOW

Then as we chat back & forth, left & right while getting somewhat 'Tippsy' suddenly look at "Jackie" (the "G") who gots me more excited than "Jack" (the "S") and w/out any SIGNALs, i say, loud enough for "Jack" to Hear and the Bar-Tender, "are yo GAY"? NOW

suppose Jackie and me is getting closer, even touching, and me orders another round (bloody Mary for Jackie) but the Bar-Tender interrupts and say, "Can't Serve YOU's anymore NO Openly Gays Allowed, please read the signs." Wow!

So Jack on the Left is also a little tipsy & tells the Bar Tender who he knows, "AH JOE, common, give them "G"s a Drink they don't bother anybody" and Joe the Bar Tender Says, "F--Y-- Jack!" Then Jack, Teed-off, shows JOE middle-Finger and tels him "F--Y-- too!" THEN

Joe's Bouncers come over & Joe tells them that Jackie & me art "G" and refuse to Serve Them "G"s Cause its "RULE" & they broke-IT" Then the Bouncer (MIKE) kindly asks Jackie & me, "Kindly Leave Now!" But WE Refuse. SO

When the Bouncer grabs me Jacket & says, What I Tell ya" as he Pulls me off the stool. Now Jack tells MIKE, "YO, leav'm alone Man!" Then Mike Grabs Jack & me and pulls. Them I Punch MIKE Hard at his Voice-Box. THEN Jackie stands up, gathers items, grabs me and says, "Lets get the "F" outahere boy!" But, as we Run we get Blocked.

WEll , YE/YO can imagine the Hell that broke Loose. Note: IT was only a [Bad] Dream. OYE...!

LESSON: Even if USA is a BACON for all da World to see & Smell, DAT 'NO', means NO! Not YES!

Posted by: woodstock-41 | November 18, 2010 8:34 PM
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If only more clergy spoke like the Rabbi here, and louder.

(And, keep working on it, JJ. DADT does *not* protect LGBT troops from bashing, in fact, it tends to mean that LGBT troops (Or those perceived to be so,) can't report anything done to them through the chain of command or be free from harassment.


The existence of 'Nazi-like bullies and bashers' doesn't make their injustice *right,* just cause it can seem safer to be silent. People can still be silent if they want to, without suffering injustice when they can't, or cause someone says 'It's better for you.'

But more importantly, the existence of bigotry doesn't justify more bigotry. The Uniform Code of Military Justice is supposed to be *uniform,* not single out minorities for lesser status and arbitrary punishment.

In reality, it just isn't. DADT is a failure, even by its own terms.

Posted by: APaganplace | November 18, 2010 9:55 AM
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Amerika's [SECULAR] U.S. CONSTITUTION & U.S. LAW has a "Binding Nature" on EVERY Straight & none Straight, Advantaged & Disadvantaged CITIZEN, Aliens & Visitors.. BUT, not via Chalakah, Nor Sharia LAW.

So it has come to pass THAT,

The GAY/Fay-ga-lay] Community/Ummah Question for Us to realize is that Sweet Sweet U.S.A. is NOt Nazi Europe of 1930's+ that openly discriminated, pogromed & Mass SHOAH'd the GAY's, the GYPSYs et al by mostly Catholics and Ishlami's.. So,

TODAY; America Can't Mass Murder The Gays here. Besides being Organized like a Religion?, that none-Straights appear in the Millions and in each State Of The UNION and Have Lots of Assets among their kind.. and also make-up a big VOTER & potential Charity-Giver/tithe block/source.

But Gay's need to know, Here or in Israel or Iran or Arabia or even Russia et al, that "LOOSE LIPS'" Sinks Ships. And that "PRIDE" [Being Openly queer'd] or "PROUD" that it can get one Killed. And

We all read Newspapers and or Watch T.V. or Internet etc.. about how GAYS commit Suicide brought on by Straights making Fun or Bullying Them, or Get Banged Around etc.. FOR BEING OPEN in PUBLIC/CIVIC. Not MILITARY! So,

U.S. "G" Military Personnel are Very Safe therein, more secure than in Public.! So "DADT" should be Left Alone.

And if one adheres the old saying, "If object is thrown Up it [surely] will come down; That it can or will be fatal if the DADT is 'Repealed'. Repeat; It Will SECURE the Safety of Military None-Straights. So,

All 3-Three SECTtions WIN!

1} None-Straights &
2} Their "CHAPLAINS" System {a CHURCH already Established, "iNSTEAD OF CONSTITUTION deep within in U.S. GOVERNMENT} and
3} and the STRAIGHTS will also benefit! Therefore
Leave DADT ALONE!

Note: This is NOt the "Impatient 1980"s WHERE:

the Question of the day,today was/is, "WHAT TO DO NEXT?" and wherefrom the Impatient Citizens of U.S.S.R. (Russian Union) stirred themselves up into the "RUSSIAN HiGH 1980'S+ frenzy;

similar to America's "HIGH 1960's", driven by a 'Feeling' of an "APOCALYPSE" among them (Youth etc.) Justly as the 'Impatient 1960's Youth"s movement here RISE-UP ANGRY resulting in the American real "IMPATIENT 1970's"..

So America's & elsewhere are now going through their "POST 'PISCES-AGE' era Correction's moment includes correcting their Religions own Writings within to reflect the AQUARiUS-AGE.

Note: Most None-Straights are Tough & can Hit Back & hurt. But are Patient?

So DON't Repeal the DADT since gays (95%) don't go into th Military!i[WE] don't Need to Hear a Straight Soldier killing a None-Straight Soldier! And

Eventhough WE[i] Amerik's are a "BEACAN' of DEMOCRACY for all to see; That it does not mean that America should Welcom with open-Arms ALL None-Straights in America from Foreign Nations that Persecute or reject them therein or treated them as "Refuznick's.

A STRAIGHT LiFE WINS!

Posted by: woodstock-41 | November 16, 2010 9:09 PM
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Flawlessly logical and honest. It is too bad that such thinking is alien to us.

Posted by: rcvinson64 | November 16, 2010 5:19 PM
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