In defending the military's ban on homosexuals Powell pointed out that homosexual behavior is inconsistent with maintaining good order and discipline. The discussion that he and Schroeder had on this issue is reminiscent of the same bit of confusion that Mr. Chad exemplifies in his moral thinking. The Congresswoman's reply to the General was that such thinking would have kept him, a Black man, out of the mess hall a few decades ago all in the name good order and discipline. I'm reading here from the Conservative Chronicle , June 17, 1992. Powell's tart reply is loaded with wisdom and moral clarity.
Skin color is a benign, non-behavioral characteristic.
Sexual orientation is perhaps the most profound of human behavioral characteristics. The comparison of the two is a convenient but invalid argument. With that I agree. He points to the fact that skin color and moral behavior are two categories of things and to compare the two is like mixing apples and oranges. The General demonstrates some moral clarity in this discussion.