The following is a Counterpoint column.

By Beverly Meredith

The young gay and lesbian patriots who were arrested at a Greensboro military recruiting center are to be commended for their courage. They stood up to the unjust and discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.

Many soldiers believe that it is a privilege to put their lives on the line in service of this country and its principles. By that extraordinary commitment, the soldier declares that those founding principles are utterly more important than the life that he or she may lose in their defense.

It should be humbling for a society that, through the very denial of enlistment to openly gay and lesbian soldiers, has to face the unfairness of a law that strays so far from our country's character and is so undeserving of any soldier's sacrifice. There have always been gays in the military, and there will continue to be, but to wink and pretend otherwise dishonors their service.

We are a great country, but we are not perfect. We must honestly ask ourselves why we would deny rights of service, as well as other civil rights to men and women simply because of sexual orientation. There is no shame in homosexuality, only in the requirement that it be kept a secret. That goes for civil life as well, but can be particularly poignant when we consider our gay and lesbian service people. Are we comfortable as a country, asking young men and women to forgo their rights, while they embrace the privilege of defending ours? Even to the point of sacrificing their lives?

The only shame here is in a country that does not live up to its potential of justice and equality for all.

We have made similar mistakes in our military history — the segregation of black soldiers up through World War II and the absence of recognition of the services that they provided. We realize the injustice now and are a better country for it. The military subsequently worked hard to integrate soldiers and to become an example of institutional equality. Becoming a better country often requires us to look ourselves in the mirror and see where we could be better, and to recognize injustice when we see it.

We may be a great country, but we are not finished. Thank you, Matt, Jessica, Stacey and Alex, for holding up the mirror and reminding us that there is still work to do.

The writer lives in Liberty.