NOW vs. POW

Opinion Journal ^ | 03/26/03 | COLLIN LEVEY

[Pokey78]

We have a different understanding of women in the kitchen this week. Army Specialist Shoshana Johnson, a chef in the Army, is now one of the American POWs in Iraqi custody.

"I thought she was cooking," her aunt Margaret Henderson remarked on the "Today" show Monday. No such luck. Ms. Johnson and four male comrades were captured when their unit reportedly took a wrong turn near Nasiriya, south of Baghdad. Ms. Johnson's face has now been displayed to the Arab world as a propaganda trophy, testifying to some kind of a great Iraqi "victory."

[wardaddy]

Nah..that's Rocky. I wish...she "really" loves Rocky. He's the real alpha male in the family.

I'm just the drone/donor husband...lol....just kidding. My wife is a terrific mate and mother....an incrdibly good mother who btw gave up a handsome Cracker Barrel executive slot to raise our boys. Hard to raise two in diapers and be any kind of mom flying around all week in corporate jets.

We miss her money but her responsibility is invaluable to me and our sons.

[dandelion]

Yes, I am a stay at home mom too! I had to work when my daughter was young (I at least got the first three years in, but then it was work or don't eat) but when I met David, he wanted me to be able to stay at home with our children. My husband has done everything possible to allow me to be at home with first my daughter, and now my son. He works impossible hours just so I can stay with them. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity, and humbled that a man would do that for me and our children.

It was only because of David that I could quit my job teaching and become a full-time mother for my daughter in her teen years, and later my little son. It made all the difference in my daughter's life for me to be there during her adolescent years, and now she is a young woman ready to serve her country as well (Air Force, ship out date July 8). I praise God for a man like my husband, who allowed me to be with my children. And now my service to my daughter has become service to my country. Never underestimate the jobs we women do, even as mom. You too, are changing the world!

God bless Shawna's mother, she is caring for her little granddaughter beautifully I can tell. I pray that all these brave POWs will be reunited with their families.

I am going to put the names in front of me and pray for them every night by name. I hope you all will join me in these prayers for our troops.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Really, I am sorry. After I posted my comment, I think I may have offended you. I was only teasing. I apologize.

Best wishes.

[dandelion]

Dude, your dog is great looking too!! Sorry, I'm a sucker for puppies, especially big ones...

[Pan_Yans Wife]

You are blessed with a strong and compassionate wife who puts her family first. Remind her how important she is. You have chosen really well.

Best wishes.

[wardaddy]

I knew you were kidding and even if you hadn't been ...no problem. My skin's thick enough for Hermes purse leather.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

:)

[Doomonyou]

I'm just a stay-at-home mother.

And may God Bless you, and thank God I'm married to one. You are the defender of the American Family.

[wardaddy]

I will relay that to Rocky...he might even blush.

He's a great family dog but he's no pet...he's pretty territorial and aggressive with strangers. Likewise in all good common sense and no matter how much we love him, we don't leave him alone with the toddler or baby. Even though I doubt he'd ever snap, if he did...well I hate to think about it.

A few years ago, a strange man raised his voice at my girls and Rocky mauled his forearm pretty bad. Nice doctor bill.

Best dog I've ever had...he was my dad's closest companion while he was dying.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Thank you very kindly for being so nice. Hug your wife, she deserves it!

Best wishes.

[dandelion]

Big dogs need an alpha male to handle them! But they really can be the best protection - next to a Glock 21, but a Glock 21 can't lick your face.

[wardaddy]

LOL....and a Glock doesn't have radar ears either.

[Doomonyou]

you have freep mail.

[danmar]

Unlike what the author of this article states, women in combat is an indulgence. Women not in combat is not a "luxury". Even in the worst hellhole civil wars I've seen firsthand from west Africa to Latin America, women are rarely used in combat. This is not a new "Eureka of an idea". History has proven it's a poor idea that anyone with common sense should recognize immediately. There is no "G-d given right" to it and fairness has nothing to do with fighting.

Bada bing, bada boom my friend, just my thought exactly, no need to add anything, you just took my whistle away.

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

I think Shoshana is the only POW we know of, and 19-year-old Jessica Lynch of West Virginia is MIA. Pray for both.

[bart99]

Perhaps this will give Burke something to protest about rather than a golf tournament.

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

Unfortunately, I have to add another name to my earlier post. It appears there's another woman, Pfc. Lori Piestewa (22 y.o., Arizona) who is MIA, along with Jessica Lynch. They are two of at least four MIAs from that ambush in southern Iraq, so I guess we can just hope that they all found a good hiding place.

[chuckles]

Well, I have no problem with women in the military, but they should not be put in harms way. There are plenty of jobs stateside or in the rear they could fill. (I am now putting on my flame suit)Here it is!......What if the captured and killed unit had 3 or 4 more guys fighting instead of the PC quota of women? I know I wasn't there, and the girls may have fired back visciously while attacked and the guys might have been under the truck hiding, but I just believe there probably would have been more firepower with more guys. Thats just an opinion, but I have formed it over 50 years. You can take the roughest gal in the Army and put her against the average guy, and she will usually loose. That is just a fact and you can't wish it weren't true. I was in the Army and saw first hand that they couldn't keep up so they made the tests so they could pass. I saw the same thing in the phone company where I worked for 30 years. There were only a couple of women I would work with that could hold up their end of the work. The rest of them, I might as well do it all myself. Yes, there were men in that catagory also, but I could threaten to whop their arses if they didn't do their part.

I believe there is a place for them and I'm not trying to cut them out of their bennies, like college and such, but they shouldn't be subject to combat. Just like in WWII, the women freed up men to fight by doing jobs more suited for them. I'm an over weight old retired guy, but I bet I could whip the strongest female they got and there would be no hesitation to pull the trigger as I have already worked out the kill or be killed thingy years ago. Like I said, I know I'm using sterotypes and I wasn't there, but I figure I'm probably more right than wrong.

Ok, flame away!

[KneelBeforeZod]

male=XY

female=XX

[Orlando]

I saw that N.O.W. group in a Anti-American, Anti-troops,
Anti-Bush protest they look like the SS Iraqi units.

I wonder where N.O.W. is getting it's $$$$$ support, needs to be investigated. China ?