Miller should review West Point honor code

To the editor:

Say it is so, Joe.

The phrase “Don’t ask, Don’t tell,” takes on a whole new meaning with the revelation by U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller (and I paraphrase) that he won’t answer questions that are too personal. Of course, “Don’t ask, Don’t tell,” also has a more visible recent history of differing sexual preferences being both accepted “wink, wink,” and when revealed, used as a reason for dismissal from military service.

Perhaps Joe’s ability to walk the narrow path between truth and not truth has lessened over time. As a West Point graduate, a younger Joe presumably was familiar with the Academy’s honor code. That code, a rule of thumb for a person’s further ethical development, has been described in a Wikipedia entry as:

1. Does this action attempt to deceive anyone or allow anyone to be deceived?

How about that computer break in and falsifying of information in Fairbanks?

2. Does this action gain or allow gain of a privilege or advantage to which I or someone else would not otherwise be entitled?

What about misrepresenting your financial situation and residency to get a low-cost resident hunting and fishing license?

3. Would I be unsatisfied by the outcome if I were on the receiving end of this action?

Is Joe encouraging us to remind him to be dissatisfied with his own behavior of accepting government benefits? Be encouraged Joe. Dissatisfaction is spreading.

And Joe, are you really saying you won’t admit to anything unless we back you into a corner? Are you relying on the Fifth Amendment to not incriminate yourself? But you’ve already discounted that escape route by advocating a return to the original Constitution.

In sum, an older Joe seems to have wandered in the campaign wilderness, having lost the ethical compass of his younger days.

Take heart Joe. The U.S. military is closer to advocating telling when asked, or even telling before being asked. Well, Joe, maybe the better path for you is also “Do ask and do tell.” And say it is so.

It’s past time to leave the messy land of deceit and go home, wherever that is.

Mike Chmielewski

Veteran: Captain

U.S. Air Force

Palmer