There are at least two things societies and institutions share. First, neither is ever perfect. Neither is is ever completely straight. But no person willing to lay down his or her life to serve this country should live in shameful secrecy.

That’s why the possible repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” -the military policy banning gays from serving openly in the military- is a hope that the military will more accurately represent the people. But it’s also an open challenge to those same civilian people to accept the diversity of our nation.

This isn’t just about civil rights for gays, but that is important if we want to be a true democracy and the military that protects it and us worthy of the task. It’s so much more complicated than that. The military is allotted berth to conduct itself, and there is much in military life that baffles, frustrates or rankles some Americans.

Military life is less concerned with civil rights than the need for discipline and rule of law. Words like “morale” and “cohesion” are used to defend keeping gays in the closets of America’s military barracks because military culture is less democratic than our civil society.

The irony is unfortunate and indefensible in the minds of many Americans. Recent polling demonstrates a majority think “Don’t ask don’t tell” should be repealed. But others, especially those serving in the armed forces, many who are Christian conservatives, haven’t had their voice surveyed yet. But despite how warm and fuzzy civilians like to feel, it’s the troops that go to war and deserve balanced treatment.

The Uniform Code of Military Conduct not only prohibits homosexuality, but in short, anything other then the missionary position between man and wife can get you tossed into the clink.

That is why the congressional hearing two weeks ago was important for two reasons. First, they mutually called for an end to the policy enacted at the beginning of the Clinton era. Until the law was changed, they would research the matter internally and recommended a commission assess what changes the repeal might produce within the ranks of the armed forces.

That may mean the military easing its sexual prohibitions across the board. After all, controlling sexual expression is very effective for maintaining control. Much of organized religion shows us that.

The law will need to be changed which brings us to the mid-term elections later this year. Unfortunately, gay issues tend to not go well when at a national level, just like the elections in 2004 and 2006 where gay marriage was a hot button issue.Many independents voted Republican and it was out of conservative Christian teachings saying marriage had to be defended.

So maybe the military will kill “Don’t ask don’t tell.” But many Americans aren’t optimistic about the midterms. If the far-right wins over liberals, this country will show its military we are far from the Land of Liberty each enlisted man and woman, straight or gay, signed up to defend.