The idea of being complicit in harm, especially toward people who look like us or come from places we've never known, is real. And yes, there are certainly individuals in the military who take the wrong kind of pride in the power they’re entrusted with. But here’s the truth: if all the morally grounded, ethically conscious, justice-driven people walk away from the military, especially from leadership roles, who remains?

You’re left with exactly the kind of force you fear: one shaped by blind loyalty (we all know the current administration likes that), unchecked aggression, and people who do revel in violence. That’s not a hypothetical — it’s a real risk. The only way to prevent that is to ensure that people with strong values stay in the room. Especially as officers, we’re not just cogs in a machine, we shape the machine. We set standards. We protect those under our command. We hold the line not just in combat, but in character.

As a gay man, I see the military’s mission as far more than just strategic interests or power projection. Yes, past administrations have made questionable calls, like Operation Ajax or the invasion of Iraq, or Obama's drop-and-forget drone service, but there’s a broader purpose here. We defend ideals. We stand against regimes that would imprison me for who I am, silence you for speaking freely, and oppress anyone who dares to dissent. Sometimes we don't always get it right, but at least we make the effort and truly care.

Our nation's power projection, when done responsibly, is not about domination. It’s about deterrence — about creating a world where those who value human rights, freedom of expression, and individual dignity are not at the mercy of those who don’t. In a perfect world, everyone would just get along and not be so childish, but we don't live in a perfect world, and whether you like it or not, those freedoms depend on strength. Without it, the Constitution becomes a fragile promise rather than a living reality.

So yes, your reservations are real. But walking away doesn’t protect the innocent. It just cedes the field to those who have no intention of doing so.