Once again, we find ourselves at a crossroads waiting breathlessly for the result of today's New Hampshire primary. While we wait I have a couple topic to dwell on while we wait.
Well this is something that feminists never expected. Last week, top Marine and Army generals stated that women should have to register for the draft as the integration of women in combat rolls proceeds. LINK
Just last week, a bill was introduced that would require women to register at the age of 18 just like men - Legislation introduced to require women to register for the draft
Well, all I can say is, it's about freakin' time! For years I have been saying this - if women really want full equality, they should be required to register for the military draft at 18 years old just like every man is required. Now, in all honesty, the reality that we would ever activate a real conscription military is slim, but why shouldn't women have to resister even if symbolically as a true sign of equality?
It is not the first time that drafting women has come up. With little internet research, I found out that during WWII, the idea was seriously on the table. With a shortage of nurses, it was seriously considered that single women without children should be available for conscription - LINK
But this is the 21st Century and if women really want full equality then that means registering for potential military concription.
On a relate note, the first woman who has been resister as a combat engineer has been designated as a deserter...LINK This is what "equality" looks like, folks.
Let's discuss...
Well this is something that feminists never expected. Last week, top Marine and Army generals stated that women should have to register for the draft as the integration of women in combat rolls proceeds. LINK
Just last week, a bill was introduced that would require women to register at the age of 18 just like men - Legislation introduced to require women to register for the draft
Well, all I can say is, it's about freakin' time! For years I have been saying this - if women really want full equality, they should be required to register for the military draft at 18 years old just like every man is required. Now, in all honesty, the reality that we would ever activate a real conscription military is slim, but why shouldn't women have to resister even if symbolically as a true sign of equality?
It is not the first time that drafting women has come up. With little internet research, I found out that during WWII, the idea was seriously on the table. With a shortage of nurses, it was seriously considered that single women without children should be available for conscription - LINK
But this is the 21st Century and if women really want full equality then that means registering for potential military concription.
On a relate note, the first woman who has been resister as a combat engineer has been designated as a deserter...LINK This is what "equality" looks like, folks.
Let's discuss...
29 comments:
Bev, I concur. With equal rights come equal responsibilities. And with the a true draft, should it happen, filling so many more positions than just infantry, there is no reason women shouldn't be included.
I wonder though, how the delicate flowers who fall apart at micro-aggressions will handle being drafted.
BTW, Bev, this is a grossly unsupported statement, but I'm going to make it anyways. It's funny to me that whenever you hear of the first black X (e.g. combat unit, fighter unit, police squad, etc.), you tend to get these stories of bravery above and beyond average white units. In other words, these groups excelled, perhaps because they were so conscious of the need to prove the stereotypes false.
But when it comes to the first woman to X, the story more often than not is (1) forced her way in through the courts, (2) disgraced herself and quit.
Now, I don't mean that "women" can't do whatever it is because the next group of women to follow usually did really well. But the "trailblazers" for women often seem to be utterly incompetent.
I'm not sure why that is.
P.S.S. I just dawned on me that Hillary is the trailblazer. Interesting.
Andrew,
If you look at real female trailblazers (Sally Ride, Margaret Thatcher) you find people who (1) actually did want to do their job for its own sake and (2) didn't force their way in via the courts because they wanted to earn it.
Just do it....it's what they've been wanting, make them sign up for the draft. Easy Peasy..
I'd like to keep an eye on this story. It will certainly reveal who is sincere and who is not. If this gains traction, feminists should back it, because "anything you can do, I can do better." However, I rather expect the leading feminists to take up the cause of eliminating selective service altogether.
If a true draft should ever happen...well, there are lots of men who aren't suited for the infantry either, but they still had to do something. So that's a non-starter for me.
But when it comes to the first woman to X, the story more often than not is (1) forced her way in through the courts, (2) disgraced herself and quit.
See: Shannon Faulkner. Ever hear of the woman who got into VMA and graduated because they qualified? No, they did it because they wanted to do it and prepared.
Kit - Yes, real trailblazers were/are qualified. They stand on their merit,
As for Sally Ride - Russia had already put a woman in space, so NASA set about to do the same. They didn't pick just any woman...she had to be as qualified as any man they would choose, no grading on a curve. Real trailblazers don't whine...they prove themselves worthy. Always have.
Critch - It isn't what they want. They want all the goodies, but none of the responsibility. Heck, why are feminists so silent about the plight of Muslim women? Have you ever heard Gloria Steinem speak out the plight of Muslim women? No...but she did denigrate an entire group of Sanders supporters by saying that all those women went is to find boys. And then there's Madeline Albright who so eloquently put that there's a special place in Hell for women who don't support Hillary Clinton. Yeah Hillary laughed and clapped at that one...could be the reason she is 60 points behind Sanders today...
Anyway, I digress.
Bev, That's my point exactly. It seems that every time you hear of some woman forcing her way into something, like the Citadel, etc., they get in and then flop right out. There doesn't seem to be any drive to actually succeed -- just to get in.
And again, that's not a problem with the women who follow them, because they do succeed, but it seems that so often the "trailblazer" is in it just to disrupt rather than succeed. I find that interesting, especially compared to the historical black "first's".
tryanmax, I think this is a freebie for feminists because they know the right will never let it happen. So they can say what they want without worry of needing to follow through.
Tryanmax - I am very interested too. I have been advocating for draft registration for years amongst my feminist friends...they don't agree with me.
Neither does Rich Lowry
Bev, I'm more in agreement with you, mainly because selective service is largely symbolic these days. Furthermore, all the talk about physical strength and endurance between the sexes falls flat when talking about flying drones and firing missiles.
You know why, Andrew? It all comes down the failed E.R.A. I will explain why later...
I agree. Below is a talk about rethinking our military strategy and I think he makes excellent points. He still wants young, single slightly pissed off men to go in and kick ass to win a war but woman would play a huge role in winning the peace.
https://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_barnett_draws_a_new_map_for_peace?language=en
Whenever I hear talk of a draft, I can't help but think of John Diehl's "Cruiser" in Stripes -- "Son, there ain't no draft no more." "There was one?" And, no, I wouldn't correct Sgt. Hulka for his double negative ...
Being so far removed from 18, didn't even realize young men still had to register. Sure would be nice to see all citizens that age be required to register AND serve in some capacity, but till We the People go the route of our Israeli brethren, not gonna happen, most certainly not out in motion while President Mom Jeans has his way.
>>It's funny to me that whenever you hear of the first black X (e.g. combat unit, fighter unit, police squad, etc.), you tend to get these stories of bravery above and beyond average white units.>>
Still waiting for Gary Kubiak to be recognized as the first head coach with an Eastern European last name to win a Super Bowl. My people get so little, and considering how unlikely it is we'll ever land someone in the Oval Office, need to take what we can.
Eric,
I think Mike Krzyzewski still takes enough notoriety for all eastern European names.
Hmmm, People of Eastern European Descent privilege rearing its ugly head...;-).
EP - I think my generation and subsequent generations since the post-conscription age have suffered from not having to serve. Pride in country, in doing something something you didn't want to do, sacrificing for the greater good, disciple and comraderie. My father still meets with the people he served with in the Navy. And he served between WWII. And Korea,during a non-conflict time. And what great stories he has to tell.
I say have them sign up for the draft just like my three boys...but the reality is that in modern warfare we will have no time to train, equip and field an army like we did in WWII. Things move way too fast now; and to sound sort of schizophrenic about this issue,,I served with draftees....most of them were not very good soldiers, they were place holders..warfare is now so technical and so fast paced that the sheer size of an army is not a huge factor. China has a monstrous army, but in reality they have no way to move it from place to place, what we call "projecting power." They have a modest navy that will last all of an hour against us or the Japanese...their air force is antiquated and spread out all over Hell and a half-acre. Russia is a basket case.
Update: Wow! Clinton got crushed by 20% (at this point). That's way worse than expected and is a real disaster for her.
On the Republican side, Trump won, which was expected, but Kasich winning second was unexpected. Odd result. My knee jerk reaction is that Kasich's victory shows that Rubio did hurt himself in the last debate... but I haven't really thought about it.
I've wanted Kasich to run for sometime, he just always struck me as a good person and capable of doing the job. He's also just more likeable than Cruz.
Kasich lost me when he said he'd reunite Pink Floyd. Priorities, man, especially when getting Sammy and Mikey back together for next year's Super Bowl would be far more entertaining (and energetic).
Critch,
I'm a civilian but everything I've read about a draft army vs. all-volunteer says that the all-volunteer army is better sans a major emergency (like a prolonged world war).
All-volunteer armies are better motivated and more likely to behave themselves both at home and abroad whereas draft armies, as you point out, are less motivated, not as well-trained, and, I would add, far less likely to behave well (looting, rape, drug use, etcetera) than volunteers, if World War 2 and Vietnam are any guide.
Thoughts?
A volunteer military is a luxury of peace time...
Most of the draftees I knew were just marking time, this was during and right after Vietnam. I understand the notions that we should have the draft to spread the misery, sort of speak, to every class of Americans...but the reality is that there were so many ways to avoid it that it was never a reality. Our military is remarkably well behaved...looting, murder, rape etc are rare. They were kinda common up until the end of Vietnam.
Bev, I know hat you mean, but the like I said, there is no way to field an army quickly anymore..the days of a rifleman, who only has to worry about his rifle are gone...the average American infantry soldier goes into combat with thousands of dollars worth of gear on them...and it took lots of training to get them to be able to use it correctly.
Critch,
I notice that the people who have pushed biggest for the draft are Democrats.
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