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obamanut2012

(26,076 posts)
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 06:31 PM Jan 2013

What do these women think about women serving in combat?

Say, Colonel Tammy Duckworth?




Or these women on The Wall:

CAPT Eleanor Grace Alexander, USA
(Panel 31E Line 8)

2LT Pamela Dorothy Donovan, USA
(Panel 53W Line 43)

2LT Carol Ann Drazba, USA
(Panel 05E Line 46)

LTC Annie Ruth Graham, USA
(Panel 48W Line 12)

2LT Elizabeth Ann Jones, USA
(Panel 05E Line 47)

CAPT Mary Therese Klinker, USAF
(Panel 01W Line 122)

1LT Sharon Ann Lane, USA
(Panel 23W Line 112)

1LT Hedwig Diane Orlowski, USA
(Panel 31E Line 15)


Or Jessica Lynch and Lori Piestewa.




Or all the WWII female military members who were killed, and who were imprisoned for many years (and often died in) in POW camps, the thousands who received Purple Hearts and other BATTLEFIELD decorations. The female pilots who ferried unarmed planes through dangerous skies (because they weren't allowed to be armed). Women such as Cpt. Annie Fox.




Women have given their blood, their lives, their health for this country, receiving less pay, slower promotion tracks, fewer medical services, lesser decorations, and insults for their. Including the insults and tired cliches about women military on here.

Props to all who have served, are serving, and will serve. It's not for me, but hats off to those who are our female warriors.









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What do these women think about women serving in combat? (Original Post) obamanut2012 Jan 2013 OP
This message was self-deleted by its author Fresh_Start Jan 2013 #1
+1 Starry Messenger Jan 2013 #2
They've never seen me out trailrunning with male friends obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #3
And I guess someone forgot to tell these women that they can't lift stuff good. Starry Messenger Jan 2013 #14
Already saw someone (banned troll) Rex Jan 2013 #17
I have a close family member who is a Wounded Warrior obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #18
I've been against DADT since I learned about it. Rex Jan 2013 #24
Maybe they should adjust it so men should have the stamina to stay in labor for 16 hours Starry Messenger Jan 2013 #25
They've also never met my mother obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #28
Or my grandmother or her sister... Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #102
Same here. But then again the strongest people in my Rex Jan 2013 #29
Thank you for all your posts. Starry Messenger Jan 2013 #34
+1 obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #38
Nice! Rex Jan 2013 #74
lift things like mopinko Jan 2013 #78
I have a friend who is 5'6", 145 lbs and can dead lift 275 pounds DollarBillHines Jan 2013 #87
It's appalling that women are serving and have served in combat zones but aren't considered capable Gormy Cuss Jan 2013 #4
+1 obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #10
Love that pic of REP(!) Duckworth!! Wait Wut Jan 2013 #5
I do, too! obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #11
Tammy was interviewed yesterday. She is all for it. When asked how she lost her legs, whathehell Jan 2013 #6
What spirit...U go! nt sheshe2 Jan 2013 #58
She's great. I met her briefly and did some phone banking for her in the primaries. whathehell Jan 2013 #76
Thank you so much, for the work you did for her. sheshe2 Jan 2013 #79
Oh, you're quite welcome!...I've always been a fan and whathehell Jan 2013 #86
K&R Jamastiene Jan 2013 #7
We all learned that there is something much bigger than us Rex Jan 2013 #8
My word exactly: disrespectful obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #12
unbelievably disrespectful Rex Jan 2013 #15
You're welcome obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #20
I saw that! Rex Jan 2013 #26
Sgt Jennifer Hartman Skittles Jan 2013 #9
Thank you -- I hope others post names and phitos obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #13
I'm linking her photo obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #21
Add the lovely Carrie French Skittles Jan 2013 #23
Thanks Skittles. We shouldn't forget. JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2013 #80
Damn... some dust in my eye... obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #81
Brave women who deserve the full honors, rank and pay for their service REP Jan 2013 #16
From Zack Beauchamp's response to Ryan Smith's WSJ opinion piece... pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #19
Yay -- thanks for this! obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #22
"Wall Street Journal: Women Shouldn’t Be In Combat Because Men Poop" Starry Messenger Jan 2013 #27
Methinks Ryan Smith isn't married obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #30
Who does he think changed his diapers? Starry Messenger Jan 2013 #31
omg obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #39
Perhaps he lives 2naSalit Jan 2013 #60
This woman is pro-choice.... including if she wants to be in combat. firehorse Jan 2013 #32
This entire argument sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #33
Fine obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #41
Absolutely, sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #48
So, you are saying procreation is more important than equal rights obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #54
The Lebensborn sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #56
*whistle* obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #57
Is reality sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #73
I'm sorry, but if you're talking reality, then let's talk SEVEN BILLION PEOPLE... Moonwalk Jan 2013 #99
Overpopulation sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #108
That is simply not true, have you never heard of immigration? RB TexLa Jan 2013 #71
So, one side sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #72
What kind of stupid answer is that? Do you think we're going to have a war with only two sides? Moonwalk Jan 2013 #100
Refering to other people's sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #106
The scenario you describe is not what I was saying. RB TexLa Jan 2013 #111
I understand. sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #113
We all have to share the burden wryter2000 Jan 2013 #42
They shouldn't be, sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #51
Why only men? AtheistCrusader Jan 2013 #91
Men are biologically sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #92
Expendable? AtheistCrusader Jan 2013 #93
We've been lucky that way. sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #97
None of those wars threatened the survival of the populations mentioned. AtheistCrusader Jan 2013 #98
If we're involved in another Civil War (which was fought by a lot of immigrants on the North side)-- Moonwalk Jan 2013 #101
Slavery is wrong, whether for women or for men. ehrenfeucht games Jan 2013 #52
There's a HUGE difference between free choice and slavery. ehrenfeucht games Jan 2013 #47
..... obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #50
I served with sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #53
Oh brother zappaman Jan 2013 #61
it's not really fair for young poor men La Lioness Priyanka Jan 2013 #82
Same. No material difference. AtheistCrusader Jan 2013 #90
It sounds to me like women will have an unfair advantage in evading the draft... Moonwalk Jan 2013 #103
Why not draft them anyway. sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #107
Because infants and toddlers are distracting and will force the soldiers to split their attention... Moonwalk Jan 2013 #110
This Nation's success cbrer Jan 2013 #35
Women have served proudly Flora Jan 2013 #36
I agree obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #43
Post removed Post removed Jan 2013 #49
lololololol obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #55
What's so funny? You agreed with this: ehrenfeucht games Jan 2013 #59
LOL obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #62
Not to mention... zappaman Jan 2013 #63
I missed that! obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #64
Don't worry! zappaman Jan 2013 #65
hahaha obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #67
Perhaps, but I don't see it happening. Incitatus Jan 2013 #109
K & R Scurrilous Jan 2013 #37
Brigadier General Rhonda Cornum. (Ret.) AtheistCrusader Jan 2013 #40
And the point is...? sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #88
Just addding one to the OP's list. AtheistCrusader Jan 2013 #89
Nothing suggests sulphurdunn Jan 2013 #94
Thanks for posting! obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #95
HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Jan 2013 #44
I don't approve of anyone serving in combat! Pyrzqxgl Jan 2013 #45
National Defense is not a "Man's world".... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #46
Somewhere my mom is smiling mountain grammy Jan 2013 #66
That is such a cool story! obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #68
Excellent OP! Spazito Jan 2013 #69
Thank you! obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #70
K&R SunSeeker Jan 2013 #75
Have you seen OldEurope Jan 2013 #77
One of the many, many things we learned from Vietnam liberal_at_heart Jan 2013 #83
Thank you sarge43 Jan 2013 #84
Thank you -- I almost mentioned her in my OP obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #85
So what, since at least the Middle ages, one woman served with every 20 men in all Western Armies happyslug Jan 2013 #96
Sampson served in disguise, as an 11Bravo. That's the so what. sarge43 Jan 2013 #112
It's not that they can't serve on combat front lines Puzzledtraveller Jan 2013 #104
She would have supported it . orpupilofnature57 Jan 2013 #105
K & R! You wouldn't believe my nephews disagreement with this! mentalsolstice Jan 2013 #114
I believe it. I've heard sillier. sarge43 Jan 2013 #115
Great photo--that's at the WW2 Memorial. MADem Feb 2013 #116

Response to obamanut2012 (Original post)

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
2. +1
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 06:37 PM
Jan 2013

Unreal, isn't it?

I love the argument that we'd be afraid of shit and blood. Do they think women poop rainbows? Jesus.

obamanut2012

(26,076 posts)
3. They've never seen me out trailrunning with male friends
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 06:40 PM
Jan 2013

Even in that safe, controlled environment, "societal norms" quickly break down re: bodily functions and fluids and sounds.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
17. Already saw someone (banned troll)
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:05 PM
Jan 2013

post they were going to have to adjust the PT standards.

Really? WHY?

They made it all of 3 posts...

I doubt they ever served a day.

obamanut2012

(26,076 posts)
18. I have a close family member who is a Wounded Warrior
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:08 PM
Jan 2013

Literally, and also works for the WW organization now. He is 100% for this, and says all he ever worried about was being with someone who had his back and had grit, and that he served with many "kickass women." He has also always been very much against DADT, even while he was serving.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
24. I've been against DADT since I learned about it.
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:19 PM
Jan 2013

And thought that punishing men and women for loving each other was in itself an abominiation. FUCK, they have to fight and perhaps die...let them love who they want for God's sake! Tomorrow might not be there.

I met some women that put me in awe of their military prowess. Their grasp of battlefield strategy taught me many things at 4am in the TOCs ten billion tent fortress.

This was in the 1990s.

You sound like you have a wonderful family!

I never worried about my back, Army Strong really is just that.

Man or women, it is a matter of fact.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
25. Maybe they should adjust it so men should have the stamina to stay in labor for 16 hours
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:19 PM
Jan 2013

or equivalent. I can't believe that anyone who knows any women would say they were too weak.

obamanut2012

(26,076 posts)
28. They've also never met my mother
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:24 PM
Jan 2013

Or my grandmother. Who bought are like the Tasmanian Devil, even at their ages.

Sekhmets Daughter

(7,515 posts)
102. Or my grandmother or her sister...
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 06:48 PM
Jan 2013

both could pick up two 100lb sacks, one in each hand, and carry them up from the cellar or in from the barn.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
29. Same here. But then again the strongest people in my
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:26 PM
Jan 2013

life (growing up) have been the women more so then the men. So I get offended by that statement easily. I take it personally right off the bat.

Also, I refuse to equate the word 'strong' only to mean one thing. That is the narrowmindedness of a Freeper imo.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
34. Thank you for all your posts.
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:52 PM
Jan 2013

Last edited Thu Jan 24, 2013, 08:34 PM - Edit history (1)

It sounds kind of self-serving for me to say that all of the strongest people I've known have also been women, but my mom at 68 was still whacking redwood tree roots out of her backyard with a pickaxe.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
74. Nice!
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 03:14 AM
Jan 2013

We might be around the same age then. My mom is 66. She wouldn't think about whacking a tree, but is on our local school board and would lay into someone verbally if she smelled BS talk!

My grandmother (her mother) was a state delegate for the Democratic party on more than one occasion.

DollarBillHines

(1,922 posts)
87. I have a friend who is 5'6", 145 lbs and can dead lift 275 pounds
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 03:53 PM
Jan 2013

She can bench press 300.

She also makes gold medal-winning wines and is a world-class chef.

Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)
4. It's appalling that women are serving and have served in combat zones but aren't considered capable
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 06:44 PM
Jan 2013

of being labeled combat troops. I hate when anyone is sent into combat but in modern warfare, there really is no barrier to women being accorded the same opportunity as men to function in that role.

Wait Wut

(8,492 posts)
5. Love that pic of REP(!) Duckworth!!
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 06:47 PM
Jan 2013

I love that woman. I have nothing in common with her other than I own a uterus, but she gives me reason to fight harder...for everything and everyone.

It's only a (huge) plus that she defeated that moronic, teabagging, deadbeat dad, asshole.


As far as women serving in combat...yeah, they've been there forever.

whathehell

(29,067 posts)
6. Tammy was interviewed yesterday. She is all for it. When asked how she lost her legs,
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 06:53 PM
Jan 2013

she chuckled and said "Well, I didn't lose them in a barfight"!

whathehell

(29,067 posts)
76. She's great. I met her briefly and did some phone banking for her in the primaries.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 11:02 AM
Jan 2013

She ran against the asshat Walsh. So glad she beat him by a mile.

sheshe2

(83,771 posts)
79. Thank you so much, for the work you did for her.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 11:17 AM
Jan 2013

She is a remakable woman. I envy your meeting her however brief!

She is going to do great things for this country.

whathehell

(29,067 posts)
86. Oh, you're quite welcome!...I've always been a fan and
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 03:11 PM
Jan 2013

it was quite satisfying to work against that asshole Walsh.

As for our little chat, I was just walking out the door of her headquarters

and she thanked me for volunteering. I told her I was glad to work against Walsh

and was only sorry I couldn't vote for her, as my neighborhood had been re-districted

out of her district. She, of course, was lovely and gracious.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
8. We all learned that there is something much bigger than us
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 06:58 PM
Jan 2013

something that makes our individual lives seem tiny by comparison. We all went through that experience (women and men) from boot camp, through AIT and finally our first and next and last duty stations. It was large and always there in the room; that we had decided to take on the role of maintaining peace at the cost of life. It is so unbelievably disrespectful, imo, to diminish women in that role and cast them aside over age old sexist beliefs. There can be nothing more serious than that duty and to muck it up with Rushisms is grotesque.

I cringe when I see it, the old holdover values that were the same that kept a segregated Army.

We can no longer pretend to be ignorant of these truths - all people are created equal and must be treated fairly under that accord. Pretending one sex can kill better than the other is a horrible throwback, same as pretending one can defend better.

We are the apex predator on this planet and there is a reason for it. No one should deceive themselves into believing either sex is inferior when it comes to killing and protecting.

The sexism in the military needs to GO.

NOW.

obamanut2012

(26,076 posts)
12. My word exactly: disrespectful
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:00 PM
Jan 2013

And, it is exactly what was said about integrating the ranks re: race, too.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
15. unbelievably disrespectful
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:03 PM
Jan 2013

Thanks for making this thread! I cannot believe some here want to stick to outdated and quite frankly, sexist, ideas on combat and the military!

Skittles

(153,160 posts)
9. Sgt Jennifer Hartman
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 06:58 PM
Jan 2013

When she was in Iraq I sent her a card thanking her for her service to America (through anysolder.com). She had posted on Facebook that her worst fear was "being blown up in Iraq". A month later it happened. She was 21 year old.

http://www.iraqwarheroes.com/hartmanj.htm

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,340 posts)
80. Thanks Skittles. We shouldn't forget.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 11:30 AM
Jan 2013

A few lines from an English poem in World War 1 :

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
19. From Zack Beauchamp's response to Ryan Smith's WSJ opinion piece...
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:08 PM
Jan 2013
Smith’s scatological suppositions don’t stand up to scrutiny. As most know, irregular warfare against insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan blurred the lines between “combat” and “non-combat” roles, meaning that female soldiers have been fighting in combat in practice for roughly a decade. 292,000 American women served in combat zones during in these two wars, 152 of whom were killed in action. There is no evidence that these women’s bravery damaged “unit cohesion” or in any other fashion worsened the ability of soldiers to do their jobs.

The evidence from foreign militaries suggest the same. Several American allies in Afghanistan allowed women to serve in “frontline roles,” and found that it had no effect on the performance of the unit in question. Israel’s Caracal Batallion, the country’s famous mixed gender combat unit, has performed admirably in combat situations.

If Smith and the Journal were interested in gender problems inside the military, they’d be better served focusing on the growing threat of sexual assault inside the ranks rather than attempting to restrict women’s freedom to choose their career path. One third of military women have been sexually assaulted, roughly twice the civilian figure.

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/01/24/1490151/wall-street-journal-op-ed-women-cant-be-in-combat-because-men-poop/



obamanut2012

(26,076 posts)
22. Yay -- thanks for this!
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:13 PM
Jan 2013

Did you make this an OP?

My relative who was Special Forces also thinks Ryan Smith is an ass.

obamanut2012

(26,076 posts)
30. Methinks Ryan Smith isn't married
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:28 PM
Jan 2013

And didn't have sisters or female cousins. He really doesn't seem to know much about women and their sensibilities.

firehorse

(755 posts)
32. This woman is pro-choice.... including if she wants to be in combat.
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:44 PM
Jan 2013

On top of that, I can't help but think this world would be a lot better if grandmas were in allowed to rise to power and be at the negotiating table.

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
33. This entire argument
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:51 PM
Jan 2013

is predicated on an all volunteer military. Place it in the context of universal conscription. How's it sound then?

obamanut2012

(26,076 posts)
41. Fine
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 08:30 PM
Jan 2013

Although I am against the draft, for everyone.

Why would that change my mind? Are the lives of America's sons worth less than that of our daughters?

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
48. Absolutely,
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 08:44 PM
Jan 2013

at least biologically. A society may suffer massive male casualties in war and recover within a generation. It it looses its women, for any reason, its out of business in a generation.

obamanut2012

(26,076 posts)
54. So, you are saying procreation is more important than equal rights
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 09:01 PM
Jan 2013

And, because men can impregnated lots of women, and women can only get preggers about once a year, we have to protect the delicate flower wimmen and let the men go die so the surviving men can impregnate wimmen.

OMFG.



This really smacks of the Lebensborn, you know. For real. EWWWW.



 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
56. The Lebensborn
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 09:17 PM
Jan 2013

was established to provide male cannon fodder for the Third Reich, not to ensure the survival of Germany. It was the exact opposite of the point I made. As for your comment about the surviving males, prior to the shallow mockery, the answer is yes. It would be interesting if all things were equal, but they aren't. Only fools think otherwise.

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
73. Is reality
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 10:37 PM
Jan 2013

all that shocking to you? Is "just wow" a statement of denial or is it an epiphany? I would not wonder about this if you actually rebutted my argument rather than wowing and whistling.

Moonwalk

(2,322 posts)
99. I'm sorry, but if you're talking reality, then let's talk SEVEN BILLION PEOPLE...
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 06:39 PM
Jan 2013

BILLION. B-I-L-L-I-O-N. The earth is overpopulated, in case you hadn't noticed, and the death of millions in other countries doesn't make a dent in that or in those countries repopulating because of this. And here's another reality: Vietnam--58,151. That's how many died in the last war with a draft. Let's imagine that it was 50% female and you get 24,000 women. An appalling figure, but do you really think we couldn't repopulate the U.S. if we lost that many woman of childbearing age? Really?

Which is to say, I have this sneaky suspicion that we could easily repopulate the U.S. even if we drafted and lost a good many young women in a war (heaven forbid we do go to war and have to do that). And you're forgetting other realities. Like the fact that we can now fertilize eggs and keep them on ice. We could repopulate the U.S. by paying women from other countries to carry the fertilized eggs left behind by any men/women we drafted.

All of which means that your argument is outdated and NOT talking reality at all. It's from the previous century when a country could really suffer from the loss of it's young men and women. We'd suffer if there was ever a draft and a war requiring that many young men and women, yes, but not in the same way. All we'd have to do is open our doors to immigrants and we'd be back up to snuff in no time. SEVEN BILLION PEOPLE, and a lot of them want to be U.S. citizens. We'd have no problem at all repopulating. I promise you.

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
108. Overpopulation
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 07:32 PM
Jan 2013

certainly diminishes the value of a human life. Doesn't it? It opens the pit to all kinds of violent population reducing adventures.

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
72. So, one side
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 10:30 PM
Jan 2013

virtually exterminates the male population of the other side, then emigrates into the territory of the defeated foe and copulates with all the bereft women? In this scenario, the original population is either slaughtered or bred out of existence. But, you are correct, and history is replete with examples of such immigration.

Moonwalk

(2,322 posts)
100. What kind of stupid answer is that? Do you think we're going to have a war with only two sides?
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 06:42 PM
Jan 2013

Us and the enemy and all the world involved in one side or the other? No neutral countries? We can get immigrants from plenty of places, not just the "losing" side. Then again, it worked out for Japanese war brides in WWII.

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
106. Refering to other people's
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 07:22 PM
Jan 2013

arguments as "stupid" because you disagree with them is not a rebuttal to those arguments, but it is a sign of limited aptitude.

 

RB TexLa

(17,003 posts)
111. The scenario you describe is not what I was saying.
Sat Jan 26, 2013, 12:15 AM
Jan 2013

You posted "A society may suffer massive male casualties in war and recover within a generation. It it looses its women, for any reason, its out of business in a generation."

I said that is not true. Yes, asking if you had heard of immigration was snarky, I'm sorry.

If the US were to loss a substantial amount of our female population in a war effort, the biological reproductive capacity could easily be replaced by immigrants into the US. Not only by women of child bearing health but also by children to prevent immediate loss of the effect of the lost biological capacity.

I am not speaking in such terms to be cold toward the loss of life and the easy replacement of those lost, but the post I originally referred to began with the statement that biologically speaking the quoted text was the case so I ignored all societal and cultural issues in my two replies.
 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
51. They shouldn't be,
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 08:47 PM
Jan 2013

but, should the need arise, men should be the only ones sacrificed in large numbers.

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
92. Men are biologically
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 05:23 PM
Jan 2013

expendable. Women and children aren't. Such thinking on the subject has made me very unpopular with people who otherwise agree with me about most things. It is, of course, only an opinion informed by personal experience. I would not posit it as fact.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
93. Expendable?
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 05:29 PM
Jan 2013

Ok.

So when is the last time the United States engaged in a war in which the sum total of the primary gender used to fight in the war was consumed to the point it threatened the survival of the total population of the US?

(The correct answer is: never)

Keep in mind the military comprises far less than 1 million Americans, and that will not change with this policy change.

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
97. We've been lucky that way.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 06:34 PM
Jan 2013

During WWI, France had a male population of about 20 million. Of these 9 million were mobilized and 6 million were casualties. Of these more than 1 million were killed. Germany, Russia, Austria and Romania sustained similar, or in the case of Austria, even higher casualty rates as a proportion of their military age male populations. The French were the quickest to recover their former population. It probably had something to do with the wine. Germany, Japan and Russia suffered even worse military and civilian casualties in WWII. The closest we have come to this was during The Civil War. Of a total male population of approximately 15 million, 1.5 million were killed or wounded. None of this even begins to address wars of smaller scale but higher relative casualty rates.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
98. None of those wars threatened the survival of the populations mentioned.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 06:39 PM
Jan 2013

Russia has ended up with a ratio of 1.06, in favor of Women. not a survival threat. (In the over-60 age group, the ratio is worse but the war is only one factor)

If it comes to the point of threatening the US in that manner, it won't matter, because the war will be nuclear, and staying home will be no defense against it.

Moonwalk

(2,322 posts)
101. If we're involved in another Civil War (which was fought by a lot of immigrants on the North side)--
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 06:47 PM
Jan 2013

...then there's no keeping women out draft or no. If the South invades the North or vice versa with assault weapons blazing on both sides, women will be armed, fighting and dying. No way you're going to avoid the results by keeping women from being drafted. This, again, is not a realistic example if you're arguing against drafting women.

 

ehrenfeucht games

(139 posts)
52. Slavery is wrong, whether for women or for men.
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 08:47 PM
Jan 2013

It's no less wrong when it's the military is enslaving folks.

 

ehrenfeucht games

(139 posts)
47. There's a HUGE difference between free choice and slavery.
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 08:43 PM
Jan 2013

I've noticed some here at DU actually supporting the enslavement of women by the military.

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
53. I served with
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 09:00 PM
Jan 2013

conscripts and volunteers. It was impossible to tell which when you bagged and tagged one.

 

La Lioness Priyanka

(53,866 posts)
82. it's not really fair for young poor men
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 02:08 PM
Jan 2013

to sacrifice their lives for wars rich & powerful men start either.

so at least this will universally not be fair

Moonwalk

(2,322 posts)
103. It sounds to me like women will have an unfair advantage in evading the draft...
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 06:51 PM
Jan 2013

...then just have to get pregnant. I don't know if or when we'll ever draft again (drones and such are making such less likely for the next war), but if we do, women evading it by getting pregnant will have to be addressed.

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
107. Why not draft them anyway.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 07:26 PM
Jan 2013

We could have daycare foxholes and bunkers for infants and toddlers. We might even give them uniforms and tiny weapons.

Moonwalk

(2,322 posts)
110. Because infants and toddlers are distracting and will force the soldiers to split their attention...
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 08:26 PM
Jan 2013

...from fighting. Duh.

I mean, if you're going to try and pretend that drafting women will lead to such an absurdity--which I'm sure you don't for a second believe--then let's be "realistic" as you keep saying people are not being. Realistically, you can't have babies distracting your soldiers from fighting.

So. Duh. It ain't going to go that way. Seems to me that you are getting less and less realistic. Are you ready to take yourself to task for that the way you've been taking everyone else to task for it?

 

cbrer

(1,831 posts)
35. This Nation's success
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 07:59 PM
Jan 2013

Is due to ALL its people. If it fails, it will be for the same reason...

God bless these heroic women. And all the people who see a greater good than simply self.

Flora

(126 posts)
36. Women have served proudly
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 08:00 PM
Jan 2013

and expertly for years, proving they are equal to the task. Young women should be required to sign for selective service right along side their male counterparts. I can't believe this "male only" tradition has lasted this long..

Response to obamanut2012 (Reply #43)

 

ehrenfeucht games

(139 posts)
59. What's so funny? You agreed with this:
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 09:18 PM
Jan 2013
Young women should be required to sign for selective service


If it escaped your notice, and you actually disagree, then just say so.

Incitatus

(5,317 posts)
109. Perhaps, but I don't see it happening.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 07:53 PM
Jan 2013

A draft will face enough opposition as it is. Drafting women will only make that opposition worse. That may be a good thing for the people, but not likely something the PTB wants.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
89. Just addding one to the OP's list.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 04:59 PM
Jan 2013

She was captured, abused. Would do it again. Handled herself as well as could be expected of ANY human regardless of gender.

She has testified at least once in favor of women filling combat roles, before the Congress. Expertise I would think carries significant weight.

 

sulphurdunn

(6,891 posts)
94. Nothing suggests
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 05:41 PM
Jan 2013

that the general was anything less than an outstanding soldier in the finest tradition of the armed forces of the United States. I also have combat experience and expertise in the matter. I respectfully disagree with her position. Women not serving directly in combat arms is a strongly, and I suppose inflexible point of view for me.

Pyrzqxgl

(1,356 posts)
45. I don't approve of anyone serving in combat!
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 08:33 PM
Jan 2013

It'd be nice if we lived in a world where there was no need to.

mountain grammy

(26,621 posts)
66. Somewhere my mom is smiling
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 09:33 PM
Jan 2013

She joined the Woman Marines in 1942. A 30 year old single woman, she would have been proud to serve wherever they put her. She worked in military offices in DC and in the new Pentagon building in 1943. In those days, the role of women was usually to free the men to fight, but she went through basic and served honorably. She always believed women should serve in combat. She met my dad (also a Marine) at a ceremony at Arilington Cemetery. They rest together there today.

liberal_at_heart

(12,081 posts)
83. One of the many, many things we learned from Vietnam
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 02:13 PM
Jan 2013

is that it is important to protest war but respect the soldier. And these female soldiers deserve as much respect as any male soldier.

 

happyslug

(14,779 posts)
96. So what, since at least the Middle ages, one woman served with every 20 men in all Western Armies
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 06:14 PM
Jan 2013

And when we first hear of such "Washer Women" it was already a long established tradition. Some suspect as far back as Roman times. It was a position within the Army, just like Sergeant, Corporal, Sutter (Replaced by The Post Exchange), or Sapper (In the US Army now called a Combat Engineer).

Each "Platoon" of 20 men were assigned one washer woman. Yes, she wash their clothes, but did other things for the men, including taking water to them when they were in Combat. This was such a strong tradition that Congress had to pass a law expressly abolishing the position in the 1880s, when the Army wanted to upgrade how the troops were feed, and no one wanted to send women to school.

Now, technically each rank of four men prepared their own meals, but it appears that while that was how the men's food ration was assigned to them, and if the washer women were detached elsewhere they had to cook their own meals, when the washer women were with their platoon it was customary for the Washer Woman to prepare the meals for the Platoon (and often all of the Washer Women of a company would prepared the meals for the whole company together). For this additional service the men paid a small fee to the Washer Woman (often part of their food rations).

Congress abolished the position of "Washer Woman" in the 1880s, Congress was comfortable with sending ENLISTED MEN to schools to learn to cook, but NOT women thus the position of Washer Woman was replaced by Army Cooks AND a decision to pay enlisted ranks more if they were married (Mostly due to the fact married enlistees were less likely to desert).

Side Note: Some people think that the "Washer Women" were "Camp Followers" that was NOT true, "Washer Women" were INSIDE the Camp, "Camp Followers" were outside the camp and thus outside Military authority. In regular Army units, the Washer Woman was generally the Platoon's Sergent's wife, and he was NOT sharing. In long established units, the Washer Women of the Company were often the First Sergeant's' Daughters or Daughters-in-law. In newly raised units who was the washer woman was more diverse but they had a role within the Military organization and that role was understood by the Enlisted men and their Officers (Washer woman was a position held by women tied in with the enlisted ranks NOT the Officers, Officer's wives had duties related to their husband's command, but unlike the Washer Women were NOT paid for those duties).

You see this confusion often when people write about women in the pre 1880 Armies. Wikipedia in its web site on Molly Pitcher repeats that mistake. It calls Molly Pitcher a "Camp Follower" and she was not, she was a "Washer woman" she lived INSIDE the Camp, she did NOT follow the camp.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Pitcher

sarge43

(28,941 posts)
112. Sampson served in disguise, as an 11Bravo. That's the so what.
Sat Jan 26, 2013, 06:29 AM
Jan 2013

I'm well aware combat support services pre industrial era were a family affair. Even more so in the British army.





Puzzledtraveller

(5,937 posts)
104. It's not that they can't serve on combat front lines
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 06:51 PM
Jan 2013

What I wonder is how many men will want to, not because they can't or won't see them as equals but how many won't want to see them maimed, in pieces, bullet riddled. It's a concern worth addressing.

mentalsolstice

(4,460 posts)
114. K & R! You wouldn't believe my nephews disagreement with this!
Sat Jan 26, 2013, 01:56 PM
Jan 2013

He just got out of the marines. His argument against women in combat is that he wouldn't want to deal with their bloody tampons?! I so wanted to reply if that were the case he'd better not ever get married and/or have daughters. Or that if the sight of menstrual blood was too much for him, then it's a good thing he got out.

sarge43

(28,941 posts)
115. I believe it. I've heard sillier.
Sat Jan 26, 2013, 03:16 PM
Jan 2013

You should have told him that until mom's placenta kicked in, menstrual fluid is what he fed on.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
116. Great photo--that's at the WW2 Memorial.
Tue Feb 5, 2013, 10:48 PM
Feb 2013

Don't forget Rhonda Cornum...POW in Gulf One.

One of the smartest senior leaders I've ever met. Very cool under even extreme pressure.

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