It makes sense, in other words, that DADT’s repeal did not weaken morale or risk our mission readiness, but rather allowed us to improve our work together. The only thing we lost were outdated prejudices. It allowed strong leaders like Commander Sarmento to live his life openly and honestly, and it showed me that the Navy can learn from its mistakes. A pioneer in my field (and hero of mine), Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, once said, “The most dangerous phrase in the language is, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’” I take that maxim to mean that we should overcome our fears and look to renew ourselves and our institutions, clearing out the obsolete and self-defeating, lest stagnation and ignorance destroy us.