Her Calling Requires Exemplary Conduct Highest Standard For Those Who Fly Bombers, Integrity Should Be A Character Issue That Never Goes Off Duty.

Only in the make-believe land of the modern American media could a person accused of adultery become a national celebrity. In real life, extramarital sex is a cause of deep personal suffering, bruised careers, smashed families, epidemic disease and profound societal decay. But who wants to face that?

Poor Kelly Flinn. Her court-martial hasn’t even begun and feminists are already grinding their ideological axes and leaping to her side. Twice, the mighty New York Times has stationed her on its front page as our next national martyr. Soon, the daytime talk shows will be lining up to air her story.

In short, she is about to become a pawn in an orgy of denial regarding the corrupt values of America’s popular culture.

Before this whole thing gets completely out of hand, consider a few questions:

Should pilots who can fly nuclear-armed jets around the world be persons of the highest moral character and professional discipline?

Given the well-publicized problems of sexual misconduct in the armed forces, should the military seek and enforce a standard of conduct higher than that in civilian culture? Should it do so even when the wrongdoer is a woman? Or should enforcement of its rule against adultery only apply to male drill sergeants?

It is true that the military has winked at randy conduct for a very long time. Which doesn’t make it right. But now, women have begun serving alongside men in high-tension combat roles. This requires the military to enforce its highest standards of discipline and integrity. Combat’s no 8-to-5 job; for those who fly bombers, integrity should be a character issue that never goes off duty.

The other charges against Flinn are serious, too. They include failure to obey a lawful order and making a false official statement.

Flinn is a role model, the first woman to pilot a B-52. She chose a career that requires extreme self-discipline. Yet she chose to commit adultery with a liar who turned out to be married. In the fallout, she allegedly lied to superiors and disobeyed an order. This is not grounds for a prison sentence. But it was valid grounds for a disciplinary proceeding.

And, it’s a tragic reminder of what happens in the real world when promising people engage in Hollywood’s favorite sport.

, DataTimes MEMO: For opposing view, see “Target in a wild, bluenosed yonder”

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