First Girl Lost in War

The Sun ^ | 24 March 2003 | Will Barker

[thegreatbeast]

It matters not what we want, the second hand on that clock goes forward. While there exists any group of women that will not have any opportunity denied them, that opportunity WILL NOT be denied them no matter if we are talking abortion or challenging and dangerous duties in the services. Our feelings won't put that horse back in the barn.
It is supposed to be true that women are better suited to absorbing high "G" impact during flight which gives them a certain edge in particular situations. They don't pass out as easily as men. And the most problematical thing about women in combat is that it makes MEN act goofy. They do things they shouldn't because there is a woman involved, things that they wouldn't do if it were simply men involved.
I too wish it could remain a simpler more romantic world but ...

[norcalvet]

It is hard to see sexism sometimes. If you exchange the sexes for race it is eaier to see.

You still aren't explaining yourself. You are putting the cart before the horse. Physical strength is significantly different between men and women. If physical strength is a criterion for combat effectiveness (which it is), men have a significant advantage over women in that area, so "discrimination" based on that is appropriate. Skin color has nothing to do with combat effectiveness, so it is a totally inappropriate consideration in the military, and thus racial prejudice has no place in the military. Convince me that physical strength is not important to combat effectiveness, or that men and women are no different in this area.

And standards should not be lowered to include women. Never.

Well guess what, they are. I've seen men "help" women in the military many times, and "studies" are often based on the results of such "cooperation." I don't put much stock in studies when they conflict with what I personally experienced. Physical fitness and training standards were significantly different for the sexes in the Marines last time I checked.

But women should not be kept out because men feel this need to protect them.

Again, you have it backwards. They are kept out of combat roles primarily because they do not add to, and in some cases detract from the combat effectiveness of the unit. The desire to protect women, is a secondary, although important consideration, and does not lessen the importance of men.

[wardaddy]

Have the PC FReepers gotten you yet?

G-d bless this sweet young gal. Damn shame.

Why we send girls into this baffles me to my core. Why so many FReepers seem to relish "babes in battle" is disturbing.

[norcalvet]

It's been fun bantering, but I need to go to sleep now. Apparently, this man needs a lot of rest.

[wardaddy]

I don't have to wonder and I hope when this war is over we'll all quit wondering for good and put this foolish notion where it belongs.

In the dustbin of discarded bad ideas.

[wardaddy]

Back with your Steinham platitudes and cliches I see.

How many kids do you have darling?

Since you hold "breeding" and "being home" in such high regard.

[farmfriend]

They are kept out of combat roles primarily because they do not add to, and in some cases detract from the combat effectiveness of the unit.

That is the same argument that was used agianst the integration of blacks. And it was true until whites got used to working with blacks. See this post for a better explanation. Yes, there are physical differences between the sexes and I realize that standards have been lowered in order to appease the feminists. That is wrong. But when women can meet the standards, they should not be held back because it might distract some man. That will only change if we integrate.

[IrishRainy]

Why concern yourself with other womens choices. If they are qualified to be there and they choose to be there why are you so worried about it?

Okay, this is a message board where people are allowed to post their opinion. You can either agree with their opinion or not, and you are free to express your opinion, to which they either agree or disagree. So that's how it works....got it?

[wardaddy]

I'm not going to take it any more.

What are you going to do hon? No one here has bashed or discredited this poor woman. Many of us simply think that women should not be in combat and we hope this policy changes. There is sound reasoning with infinite historical precedence against women in combat. Yes indeed...I regret more when a girl is killed or captured. I also lament more when children are killed by bombs than old folks. That is my nature. I am a male human. The military is not about choice or fairness.

[wardaddy]

You are not alone. I had babies to feed, and yes I'm the man but my wife "who stays at home and breeds" as some here put it needs her rest.

[farmfriend]

But they didn't, and that would leave me wondering if an Iraqi tried to rape that girl, six guys tried to fight and stop it and were killed, and she tried to fight to stop their murders, and was killed herself in the chaos, by an Iraqi furious she would stand up to him.

My point exactly. It is not OK for six guys to die protecting a women. And we are wrong for perpetuating the notion that men are the protectors and should die protecting women. It's disgusting.

[wardaddy]

I was gonna say that but refrained. The "I'm not going to take it anymore" comment rang that bell.

It's impossible to rationally discuss policy disagreements with the PC sensitive.

[wardaddy]

Mega BTTT.

This forum is on the skids on these threads. Sad.

[laz17]

Everyone should have an equal right to die

Sounds like an excellent recruitment slogan for the Palestinians. And they seem to be using it too, now.

[wardaddy]

BTTT...another sane voice amongst the shrill bleating.

[wardaddy]

Bless your wisdom and honesty.

[wardaddy]

what kind of society sends it's young mothers off to fight

Either a desperate one or a morally corrupted one. For whatever reason...it's a society doomed. For now...it's an indulgence we will grow to rue.

[wardaddy]

You need your own thread on this subject and offer your personal first person experiences with women in the military for all these vaunted social engineers to have to deal with.

Of course..the truth does not matter to them...only the intentions and fairness.

[wardaddy]

Well it's true for me. I once broke up a domestic dustup in a parking lot about 15 years ago. The guy was slapping the girl around. I jumped out of my car (against my girlfriends protestations) and engaged the hombre. As we were exchanging blows, his damn girl he'd been slapping jumped on my neck and started scratching my face and pulling my then rather long hair. I tossed her ass and called her a crazy bitch and told her she deserved him. Fickle. When I got back in the car my girl gave me a I told you so look.