
 |
|
February 13, 2012
Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away
Menachem Wecker: Business Schools Teach Real Estate Despite Troubled Housing Market
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
|
| |
Jewish World Review
Jan. 12, 2006
/ 12 Teves, 5766
Solomon Amendment: Issue of hypocrisy
By
Jonathan Turley
| 
|
|
|
|
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Following oral argument on Dec. 6, the U.S. Supreme Court is now pondering
the wisdom of Solomon. The Solomon Amendment withholds federal funds from
any school that does not provide the same access to military recruiters as it
does to other potential employers. Law schools have rallied against the rule for
violating their nondiscrimination policies as well as their constitutional rights of
speech and association. In the balance are the right of Congress to condition the
receipt of federal funds, the right of free speech-and literally billions of dollars
that could be lost by schools unable to reconcile anti-discrimination policies
with their receipt of federal money.
This case has presented a difficult question for academics who generally
support gay rights. Last year, this issue was presented to my law school faculty
when we were asked to join the Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights
(FAIR) in challenging the rule. Twenty-six law schools have joined the coalition,
though many have done so anonymously to avoid any retaliation from the
government. As a legal commentator, I have long supported gay rights and
opposed the ban on openly gay citizens in the military. Yet I spoke against
joining FAIR. Despite my personal respect for academics on the other side of
this issue, I continue to believe that schools are not just wrong on the law but
hypocritical in their positions in this litigation.
The first problem with this case is the anonymity of many schools. (To its credit,
George Washington University Law School joined as a named institution).
Basically, these schools are asserting the principle of nondiscrimination while
trying to avoid any of the costs of principle. These schools are hiding their
identities not only from the government but also from their alumni. It is a
disturbing lesson for their students-assuming that their students even know
their position.
PRINCIPLE HAS A PRICE
If it is true that military recruiters are engaged in a discriminatory policy, then
the schools should bar them from campus. Instead, schools are allowing the
interviews to go forward-interviews that they have analogized to the
segregationist policies of the Civil Rights period. If the Solomon Amendment is
discriminatory, then schools should refuse to cooperate and accept the
consequences for such a principled stand. What schools cannot do is to engage
in a practice that they consider morally wrong while claiming no moral
obligations to stop.
When I raised this issue in the past, I was told that schools could simply not
afford such a stance. After all, the University of California alone could lose
hundreds of millions of dollars in universitywide grants. Of course, this merely
sharpens the age-old test of principle v. price. According to legend, Winston
Churchill once asked a socialite if she would sleep with him for 1 million
pounds. When she admitted that she would, he offered one pound. "Winston!
What sort of woman do you think I am?," the woman objected. He responded,
"We have already established what you are, now we are just haggling over price."
Law schools appear to be only haggling over the price of principle. Thus, we
have decided to assume the appearance of principle while avoiding its costs.
There is also the question of the propriety of law schools entering this litigation
as parties. There are many on faculties and within student bodies who agree
with the policy and legal arguments of the military. I do not. However, there was
no reason why professors have insisted on schools taking an institutional stand-
rather than have professors litigate as individuals. Advocates wanted the
imprimatur of law schools to support an otherwise shaky legal argument.
Despite the appellate ruling in favor of the schools, Congress is on good legal
ground in its position. Allowing military recruiters on campus does not force a
law school to endorse the practice. Indeed, the school may warn students that
the recruiter is viewed as discriminatory and practice free speech denouncing its
presence.
Moreover, the Supreme Court has never held that the military policy on gays is
Unconstitutional and has so far refused to give sexual orientation the same
protection as race, religion, national origin or even gender. Thus, the military is
not engaged in an unconstitutional act.
Finally, the fact that the military is on campus does not force students or a
school to associate with anti-gay views-any more than recruiters from anti-
abortion or pro-abortion-rights groups are associating their views by their mere
presence on campus.
The Supreme Court will most likely uphold the Solomon Amendment. Law
schools will then have to face the moral question that they sought to avoid in
this case: whether to continue a practice that they consider morally and legal
wrong-or just continue to haggle over price.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Jonathan Turley is a law professor at George Washington University.
Click here to visit his website. Comment by clicking here.
ARCHIVES
© 2005, Jonathan Turley
|
|

Arnold Ahlert
Mitch Albom
Jay Ambrose
Michael Barone
Barrywood
Tony Blankley
Lori Borgman
Stratfor Briefing
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Richard Z. Chesnoff
Ann Coulter
Greg Crosby
Alan Douglas
Larry Elder
Suzanne Fields
Frank J. Gaffney
Bernie Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg
Julia Gorin
Jonathan Gurwitz
Paul Greenberg
Argus Hamilton
Victor Davis Hanson
Betsy Hart
Ron Hart
Nat Hentoff
Marybeth Hicks
David Horowitz
Jeff Jacoby
Renee James
Paul Johnson
Jack Kelly
Ed Koch
Ch. Krauthammer
Michael Ledeen
John Leo
David Limbaugh
Kathryn Lopez
Rich Lowry
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Ann McFeatters
Dale McFeatters
Dana Milbank
Jeanne Moos
Dick Morris
Jim Mullen
Deroy Murdock
Judge A. Napolitano
Bill O'Reilly
Kathleen Parker
Star Parker
Dennis Prager
Wesley Pruden
Tom Purcell
Sharon Randall
Robert Robb
Cokie & Steve Roberts
Heather Robinson
Pat Sajak
Debra J. Saunders
Martin Schram
Culture Shlock
David Shribman
Roger Simon
Michael Smerconish
Thomas Sowell
Ben Stein
Mark Steyn
John Stossel
Cal Thomas
Dan Thomasson
Bob Tyrrell
Ben Wattenberg
Diana West
Dave Weinbaum
George Will
Walter Williams
Byron York
ZeitGeist
Mort Zuckerman

Robert Arial
Chuck Asay
Baloo
Chip Bok
Dry Bones
Lisa Benson
John Branch
John Cole
J. D. Crowe
John Deering
Brian Duffy
Everything's Relative
Mallard Fillmore
Glenn Foden
Jake Fuller
Bob Gorrel
Joe Heller
David Hitch
Jerry Holbert
Lee Judge
Steve Kelley
Jeff Koterba
Dick Locher
Jimmy Margulies
Rick McKee
Michael Ramirez
Kevin Siers
Jeff Stahler
Ed Stein
Danna Summers
John Trever
Gary Varvel
Kirk Walters

Mr. Know-It-All
Dr. Peter Gott
GET A JOB! by Marty Nemko
Richard Lederer
Frugal Living
Tech Maven
On Nutrition
Bookmark These
Bruce Williams
|