I admire this code. I am thankful that it guides our military. And as we begin to reflect on the overall meaning of the Clinton presidency, I certainly understand the appeal of and am personally attracted to anyone in public life who seems genuinely to care about truth-telling and personal integrity. I m afraid not. In the first place, and with due respect to the Founders, who put much store in their sacred honor, I cannot see how honor is necessarily sacred or intrinsically linked to sanctity.
Honor has two main meanings.
It can refer to public reputation, or respect paid by others. It can also refer to personal fidelity to a code of conduct. Sanctity means holiness or godliness. As far as I can tell, there is no logical or necessary conjoining of honor and sanctity. Indeed, these two ideals are frequently in the sharpest possible conflict with one another.