Another argument against women in the military

[Garegaupa]

I've been reading many interesting discussions concerning women in the military on these boards, but there is one subject that has been little mentioned. I'd like to get some comments on that.

Just so that's clear: I'm against women in the military (in combat positions, at least, but I suppose most positions in the military will become combat positions during a conflict). I agree what has been said about women lacking the necessary physical strength and endurance, being more prone to injuries, disrupting unit cohesion, not being mentally suited for combat and so on.

But, many people say, if a woman can perform as well as a man, shouldn't she then be allowed to serve where she pleases. I still say no. And now we're getting to the point of this post:

I am (both as a Christian and as a man) thoroughly convinced that men should protect and cherish women, and that any man who would willingly send a woman to fight in his stead is a criminal.

Since this view (as far as I can see) hasn't come up too often in the debate over whether women should serve in the military or not, I'm starting to wonder if I'm the only person left on the planet who thinks this is a good principle. Ladies and gentlemen, what are your opinions on this matter?

Best regards, Garegaupa

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Notice how many lawsuits the women in the military file against their superiors."

And what about the ones who don't?
Do you know one FReeper woman in active duty or FReeper woman vet that has?
The issue of the thread is women in the military, not just in comabt.

[PayrollOffice]

I agree with you, but the Coast Guard is different. It's not the Army, Navy or Marines. Women do not belong in units sent to see direct bodily contact with the enemy, as in the Army and the Marines. Women in he Airforce, I could understand, however.

[wardaddy]

You better stop it or I'll send you one of those old M.S.D. doohickeys you guys made me put on every ship when they hit a US port.....burning sh!te.....yum yum....

Take care.....you ought to be recruited by the feminist proponents...you are convincing!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"I agree with you, but the Coast Guard is different. It's not the Army, Navy or Marines."

Somehow I don't think that the Coast Guard personnel in San Diego who just came back
from 6 months deployment in Afganistain would agree.
Nor the families of Coast Guard killed in Viet Nam.
The Coast Guard may normally be under the DOT, except in war, but at all times they are subject to the UCMJ.

[calmseas]

Agreed. That you for the reminder.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"you are convincing"

Yes, I am convinced that ALL who serve their country should get the same respect.
I have never said I want women in combat, that call is up to the Commander-in-Chief.

[PayrollOffice]

The Coast Guard may normally be under the DOT, except in war, but at all times they are subject to the UCMJ.

I hereby honor all who have sacrificed their lives to defend our Republic. There is no higher honor than to give one's life for one's country.

[wardaddy]

hell....i sure can't disagree with snippet.

[cva66snipe]

Back in my day women were only on hospital ships and/or non-combat ships. But Bush SR. changed that in 1989. In 2001 President George Bush was the 1st Commander-in-Chief to use women combat pilots doing actual combat sorties.

Yes Bush Sr. had a lot of policies that were not in the best interest of the military. Some of them we are still just beginning to see the result of. Some were obvious from the beginning.

[PayrollOffice]

PC is a big time killer, it seems. At the heart of this is the women's right to vote, which seemed like a good idea for a long time, but now has come back to haunt us.

[Bigg Red]

I agree with your view.

[Bigg Red]

...woman is not mentally suited for the military

For starters, women do not have the warrior instinct and the quicker reflex arc.

[cva66snipe]

Well actually I consider a woman my equal when it comes to rights and my treatment of them. But I recgonize the biological and physical differences as well. Each sex has their GOD given purpose and abilities. There are indeed some physical manuvers a man can't do that a woman can and vice versa. In the overall picture men are generally more suitable for combat both physically and pyschlogically. There are exceptions to every rule but this is true in general. Even the drop out rates in basic due to injuries say as much. It doesn't mean one sex is weaker it means that sex is more adapted for that task. Each sex has their strenghts and weaknesses and we need to live by that instead of going against nature.

Right now with our military as over extended as it is and combat ready units at a low those units should be manned by men. The shortage is not due to lack of male volunteers it is due to the ever choking budget restraints and troop strenght cut backs from Bush Sr term through the present with no relief in sight. One ship a carrier to be exact went out in mid 1993 with no womens berthing facilities. They used the medical isolation rooms and sick bay as berthing areas. Clinton had to have a one up on Bush Sr it seems. This at a time when men were being booted from careers they had invested up to 17 plus years into. In that respect PC has done it's damage well.

[Bigg Red]

Thanks for that explanation. And thank you for serving our country. (Good writing too.)

[walden]

Exactly! And who are the men on the planet with the biggest self-esteem problem? Arabs, of course. Hmmmm. What to do?

Well, we send not just armies of women, but armies of OLD women-- like me! Pre or post menapausal, cranky, hot-flashes, the whole works. I mean, we've been kind and caring, loving and nurturing for years. Been there, done that. So me and my friends are now ready to kick some Arab *ss.

Just think of the effect on the self-esteem of Arab men--heck, we won't even have to kill them, they'll all kill themselves. :)

[Oztrich Boy]

I somewhere read that there are more girl babies born each year than boys. But during WWII there were amazingly more boys born than girls. Nature's way of compensating?

During wartime there is a tendency for people to marry young and get pregnant early.
Both more first births and younger mothers increases the male birth ratio.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"I somewhere read that there are more girl babies born each year than boys."

Total US Population (March 2000)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
274,087,000 100 %
Female
140,154,000 51 %
Male
133,933,000 49 %

[danmar]

has been said about women lacking the necessary physical strength and endurance,

Let me tell you something. If I were to be some hot shot in need for body guards guess what I will be only hiring...exactly, only women. It is proven that women are more agressive in their duty when the "honcho" is a male(Ghadafy comes to mind, his entire personal detail are women) and vice versa.
OTOH in combat situations(all out war),women will have some pretty tough times against male counterparts to the same degree. I am 6'5" 300lbs second DAN in karate do trained to kill(4 years military service duty)on a whim. Give me your strongest women to counter me!(Janet Reno excluded)

I still get a good laugh when a 5,5 little CHP officer pulls me over.You should see the look on their faces!Priceless
You draw your own conclusion from my statement.