Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Moms In The Military? At What Price?
Family Research Council ^ | April 8, 2003 | Kristin Hansen

Posted on 04/10/2003 3:32:48 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

In a feature story in Tuesday's USA Today, Family Research Council's Dr. Allan C. Carlson said that the cost of sending tens of thousands of mothers to the battlefield is too great for our nation's children. "We've let an ideological drive to achieve perfect equality get in the way of common sense. No other nation has ever put so many women in combat or near-combat, and children are paying the price," he said. A prolific author, policy expert, and historian, Dr. Carlson is the Distinguished Fellow for Family Policy Studies at Family Research Council.

Pentagon numbers show that the amount of single parents in the military has almost doubled in size since 1992 to almost 90,000 today. Over half of the military's 200,000 women are mothers, many of them near the combat front lines.

"The strong and normal human instinct is to protect infants, toddlers, and their mothers," Dr. Carlson said. "Indeed, their wellbeing and security form the central purposes of every healthy nation. How did America get so out-of-sync with human nature and the lessons of human history?"

Dr. Carlson recounted how the 1970's convergence of the feminist movement and a manpower crunch in the armed services caused a boom of women entering the military, so that by 1980, the U.S. led the world in this category. In the 1990's, the Clinton administration eliminated key rules that had protected women from proximity to combat.

"The costs of this great social experiment have yet to be counted," Dr. Carlson said. "Social science research shows that young children effectively abandoned by their mothers for lengthy periods are much more likely to suffer emotional and mental disorders, more likely in later life to be in trouble with the law and abuse drugs, and less likely to succeed in school than children with their mothers available. Grandparents, day care centers, and even fathers cannot replace the unique parenting role of a mother."

Carlson urged President Bush to appoint a special Presidential Commission on Mothers in the Military Service to analyze the historical and anthropological records regarding the treatment of motherhood in times of war. This Commission would study the effects of mother-absence on small children, calculating the real social costs as well examine the military benefit system, to see if it actually creates incentives to out-of-wedlock births. "We must honestly measure the effects of pregnancy and maternity on military deployment and unit effectiveness," Dr. Carlson said. "America should protect the basic human rights of mothers and children...from foreign enemies and domestic ideologues alike."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iraqifreedom; kristinhansen; militarymothers
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 161-172 next last
To: Poohbah
I do not think you understand what the role of civilization is my friend. It is for the preservation and transmission of culture and virtue. Something you appear to lack.

The traditional or conservative approach of all civilizations has been to protect women and children. The women bore and nurtured children, training and educating them. Children carried on culture and virtues they were taught.

Placing women in harm's way undermines the foundation of civilization. The fact that we have is a further indicator that we do not value the transmission of culture and virtue. It appears that you are the by-product of that decline in civilization.

If you do not sense the visceral distaste of putting a mother of a baby in a front line role, you do not deserve to be associated with in polite society. And I would attest that Churchill, Robert E. Lee and George Patton would concur with my assessment.

61 posted on 04/10/2003 5:43:47 PM PDT by Don'tMessWithTexas
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: Lorianne
In some fields, balls are more valuable than seniority.

I'll wager this fellow is doing just fine. I have never worked for a woman and I never will.
62 posted on 04/10/2003 5:44:38 PM PDT by Pukka Puck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
I hear you.
63 posted on 04/10/2003 5:44:59 PM PDT by k2blader ("Mercy, detached from Justice, grows unmerciful." - C. S. Lewis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Illbay
I mention this here, because my opinion that women by and large do not belong in the military has gotten me called some rather choice names. My opinion is based on my faith-based moral principles. These are eschewed, and even downright condemned, by many here who consider themselves "conservatives."

We descend below the moral level of Israelites from 3000 years ago who excluded from war even FATHERS who had small child or were newly wed. Example:

When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken. (Deu:24:5)

And we send single mother of small children because we are to stingy to pay for her job training unless she enlists(she wanted to be a cook). This is an abomination before the Lord.

Free market fundamentalists are not conservative, they are idolatrous worshipers of god Mammon and they are gnawing at the fundations of Western civilisation. They are not better than the Commies.

64 posted on 04/10/2003 5:50:02 PM PDT by A. Pole
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Poohbah
I don't know about today, but when I retired from the Army the vast majority of single parents were men; something like 85 or 90%.
65 posted on 04/10/2003 5:52:19 PM PDT by csmusaret
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
Oh, brilliant rhetoric. I'm shocked and awed.
66 posted on 04/10/2003 6:12:31 PM PDT by algol (Not!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: All

6pm PDT/9pm EDT UNSPUN with AnnaZ!
Join Anna and Special Guest Hostess Diotima

Tonight, THUR, Apr 10th, 2003 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. PST
Aziz Al-Taee
Chairman of the Iraqi-American Council
www.IraqiAmericans.com

and the Unspun Debut of The Chamber-made Brigade's latest single
"Who's Next?"

ALSO... CRBs and Bone-Headed Lie-Beral Quotes ('cause you just can't make this stuff up...)

All this, plus your calls (and possibly more)
HERE to listen LIVE!

Call in! 1-868-RadioFR!

Click HERE for RadioFR Archives!

Click HERE for the RadioFR Chat Room!


67 posted on 04/10/2003 6:12:53 PM PDT by Bob J
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Righter-than-Rush
Bet you avoid doing business with all them uppity black folk that don't know their place neither, do you?

The GOP takes all kinds, but yours can just stay the hell away.

68 posted on 04/10/2003 6:19:45 PM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine (paleocons - working hard to defeat conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Pukka Puck
I don't have a problem with that requirement.

So long as the physical requirements are germane to the the branch of service. I don't see much need for pilots, for example, to hump 100 pound packs on 20 mile forced marches (although I'm sure there are women out there who could do that). They do need to be small enough to fit into the cockpit, have fast reactions and good vision.

69 posted on 04/10/2003 6:22:02 PM PDT by algol
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Tailgunner Joe
Did anyone hear the woman who called in to Liddy today on this issue complaining about women in the military and her husband who is over there and the preponderance of complications it brings.

Summed up but one facet of this social experiment succinctly.
70 posted on 04/10/2003 6:22:40 PM PDT by wardaddy (did I say that?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lorianne
Small children need more mommy time indeed. Ask most mommies on this forum.

No one says they don't need daddy too.
71 posted on 04/10/2003 6:23:43 PM PDT by wardaddy (did I say that?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: algol
I didn't survive Viet Nam on "rhetoric." And if you won't have any more respect for me than sarcasm don't insult my intelligence with your wise ass remarks. You are excused.
72 posted on 04/10/2003 6:24:20 PM PDT by kellynla ( "C" 1/5 1st Mar Div '69 & '70 An Hoa, Viet Nam Semper Fi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Chancellor Palpatine
"Bet you avoid doing business with all them uppity black folk that don't know their place neither, do you?"

Where the hell are you getting that?
73 posted on 04/10/2003 6:24:33 PM PDT by 429CJ (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: Pukka Puck
In some fields, balls are more valuable than seniority. ___ LOL I get the mental image of a job interviewer asking to see the man's balls instead of a resume.

I'll wager this fellow is doing just fine. ___ He may be. But he sure limited himself from a lot of opportunities. Meanwhile, many women are doing just fine as well.

I have never worked for a woman and I never will. ___ Probably for the best for all concerned. :)

74 posted on 04/10/2003 6:28:55 PM PDT by Lorianne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: 429CJ; Poohbah
I got it from this phrase.

I make it a point to avoid doing business with married women who have careers outside of the home. Don't preach to me about the less than 1% of women who work out of necessity. The reality that they have elective careers is enough for me. If they loved their families more than their own self-fulfillment, they wouldn't be in a second career... they would be home where they belong.

He consciously goes out of his way to be an ass in one paleo category, there's bound to be others.

75 posted on 04/10/2003 6:29:15 PM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine (paleocons - working hard to defeat conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: Pukka Puck
I have never worked for a woman and I never will.

Why not? Too gutless?

76 posted on 04/10/2003 6:30:37 PM PDT by Chancellor Palpatine (paleocons - working hard to defeat conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Chancellor Palpatine
Bet you avoid doing business with all them uppity black folk that don't know their place neither, do you?

The GOP takes all kinds, but yours can just stay the hell away.

Palp - bet you didn't pass the 6th grade. Let me guess, your from the DNC and grovel for the feminists.

77 posted on 04/10/2003 6:30:50 PM PDT by disclaimer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: William Terrell
It is indeed amazing isn't it?

We are now New Republic not Free Republic..lol
78 posted on 04/10/2003 6:32:12 PM PDT by wardaddy (did I say that?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Righter-than-Rush
I agree with you 100% . . . the children take the biggest hit. Why do you think I call myself June Cleaver. The problem is how to get back to what is right.
79 posted on 04/10/2003 6:34:53 PM PDT by June Cleaver (in here, Ward . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Lorianne
I don't think he's saying that at all. Mothers seem to be best suited naturally to care for babies/toddlers etc.
80 posted on 04/10/2003 6:36:30 PM PDT by June Cleaver (in here, Ward . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 161-172 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson