It’s simple fairness: women as well as men should be required to register for the draft

Newsweek via MSNBC ^ | 5 Nov 2001 | Anna Quindlen

[ChuckHam]

Nov. 5 issue

[ChuckHam]

Another lib that just doesn't get it. The draft is our emergency manpower tool. MANpower is what we need if we have to rely on the draft to reinforce our military in the event of a major war or wars. We already have too many females in the military right now. We don't need anymore REMF's than we already have. If we resort to the draft it's because we need more trigger pullers and women just won't fill the bill.

[hispanarepublicana]

The day I can pay as little for dry-cleaning as a man does, I'll register.

[WIMom]

And I'll register when men have babies.

[max61]

The day I can pay as little for dry-cleaning as a man does, I'll register.

Wear men's clothes and you'll get charged the same rate as a man.

---max

[rogers21774]

The day I can pay as little for dry-cleaning as a man does, I'll register.

You can. Just wear mens clothing.

[pubmom]

Send Anna if she believes females should go.
Or is she too old, hmmm?

[Jumper]

No person should discriminated against based on gender, race, religion, creed, color or national origion.

This is clearly gender discrimination.

I served 20-yers in the military; still work for DOD. This oversight should be immediately corrected so that all citizens are equally vested in the Nation, as both citizen and resource!

[ikka]

The US military is not about "FAIRNESS", it is about "RESULTS". Something that social engineering types like Anna choose to ignore.

[Austin Willard Wright]

It's simple fairness: nobody should be required to register for the draft.

[jpsb]

Since women are now serving in combat units, there really is no reason why women should not be subject to the draft as well as men. Personally I think it is crazy to send women into comabt, but if we are going to do that then there is no reason not to young women just like we threat young men and draft them also.

[BikerNYC]

It's simple fairness: nobody should be required to register for the draft.

I think there should be registration. And if we need people (25-35 years old), they should be randomly chosen and get a letter in the mail that they are needed. But service should not be compulsory. Let societal pressures and the marketplace and one's own conscience determine if a particular individual goes. If not enough go, then there is not much worth saving.

I think that women should register as well. If they are needed, in whatever capacity to help the national effort, they should be randomly chosen as well (but only one of two parents should be asked to serve). It seems ridiculous to presume that women would never be needed under any any circumstances or in any capacity, no matter how far from combat.

[hispanarepublicana]

Ah! The "Ellen Degenerates" look!

[Blake#1]

If you have an ineffective female combat partner in combat, what are you supposed to do? Die for her? Or follow the old "foxhole rule"? Shoot her first for your survival.

[pubmom]

Those women have committed to serve our country in that way voluntarily, it should have no bearing on drafting females.
Many women in that age bracket are already wives and mothers, this would make a mess of things.

Sorry I'm old-fashioned, men are supposed to protect women.

[Austin Willard Wright]

I disagree with the premise. We don't need a draft. Right now, the goal should be simple and narrow: kill and destroy Bin Laden and his cronies. After that, we should focus on the the even more realistic goal of defending U.S. territory, not acting as world policeman. A draft is not necessary for such a policy.

[BikerNYC]

I disagree with the premise. We don't need a draft.

I think you're right. But that says nothing with respect to whether there should be registration.

[ST.LOUIE1]

...it's because we need more trigger pullers and women just won't fill the bill.

Huh???? Hell, man, a monkey can pull a trigger.

I agree, however, that women shouldn't be drafted.

Not because women aren't capable. They are.

Too many children have lost their dad during a war.

No need for them to lose their mother the same way.

If a woman wants to join up on her own....more power to her.

[Osprey]

The day I can pay as little for dry-cleaning as a man does, I'll register.

Whats good for the goose, Killed the Gander!

[Don Myers]

"It's simple fairness: nobody should be required to register for the draft."

Do you know someone close to you who would be affected by a draft and who doesn't want to go?

[jpsb]

Sorry, but if women are allowed to serve in combat units then there is no reason not to draft them too. Since our military is now gender nuetral, why should a young man be subject to a draft and not a young women? Used to be that women only served in non combat units. That has all changed so the laws dealing with the draft need to change too.