A couple of weeks ago, singer and celebrity personality Lady Gaga led a rally in Maine in an effort to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in regards to homosexuals serving openly in the military. The policy, enacted in the 1990s, prohibits service- men or women from openly disclosing their sexual orientation or preference and prohibits superiors in the military from investigating those individuals’ sexual backgrounds. In essence, it sets a standard of non-disclosure for homosexuals and bisexuals currently serving in the military.

As the gay rights movement continues to progress, the policy has come under increasing scrutiny. Opponents to the policy view the law as discrimination; they argue that it’s unconstitutional to prohibit someone from having the right to disclose their sexual orientation. They are, constitutionally and common sensibly, right in their argument. As the social mores of America continue to change and progress, the laws made during certain periods of time must change and progress as well. We should not, however, lose sight of the past; rather, it’s our civic responsibility to remember the events of the past, and to find landmarks that continually mark our progress towards a better future.

With this point made, I ask you to think about how far we as America have come as a nation. In thinking about the steady progress that America has made, I then ask you: how often do you think about how far we’ve come?  In the 1990s, when the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was enacted, it was viewed as an achievement. And an achievement it was; prior to the policy’s enactment, homosexuals were subject to cruel abuse in the military, whether they served openly or not. They were not protected in any capacity; superior officers, should they wish, could investigate the background of the sexual orientation of a serviceman, and get them discharged on accusations of homosexual conduct. Crazy, right?

But that’s our mindset; we often don’t think about the landmark events of the past that have helped to shape our present. Sure, we can sit here and say what we believe and what we don’t believe. That’s the mindset of the present. I’m sure that many, like myself, believe that it’s due time that the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy be repealed. In the day and age that we live in, it’s no longer necessary. But as much as I’m against the policy presently, I’m willing to give the lawmakers who enacted the policy credit where credit’s due. It was the oxymoronic necessary evil. It was the next logical progression in a civil rights movement that has become what it currently is.

If you need another relevant example, one needs to only look at the Prohibition policy that was enacted in the United States in the 1930s. The era that Prohibition led to in the United States is even the subject of HBO’s newest original series, “Boardwalk Empire.” We can look back on that law now and say how ridiculous it was. I mean, I personally can’t imagine not being able to come back to my room after a long day of work and enjoy an ice cold beer. But back then, temperance was the name of the game. And, in theory, Prohibition was a good idea. Sobering up the country can never be a bad idea…until it catastrophically fails.

From examining this country’s history, most recently with the gay rights movement and the demonstrations to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, we can see that progress is born from the necessary mistakes that we all have to make. This lesson is a universal one, not only applicable to the social progressions of our nation but to our own individual progressions as we grow older.

We’ve been told time and again: mistakes are part of life. There’s really no way around them- you’re going to make them no matter how hard you try not to. My point in this column, I guess, is to urge you to not look at those mistakes as catastrophic failures; rather, look at them as necessary steps in the formation of your individual self. Everything we do, no matter how menial it may seem, is a stone in the construction of your character.

Marcus Tullius Cicero, a Roman philosopher, said it best. He said, “History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity.” Take these words to heart: it will do you well.

To contact The Ionian’s Ryan Karpusiewicz, e-mail him at [email protected].