commentaries

Kinda a wandering opinion piece. That said, let women in combat so they can die un the same numbers as men.

This move was completely over due. The road to equality will be bumpy and long. The road to racial equality in the military is a fine example of the process. There are some in the military who will resist this move, the infrastructure for gender and gender orientation equality has to be built. It will come, but in a herky jerky kind of way. But it will come.

Many Americans are not cognizant of the "fact" that the first role of the federal government is to protect its citizens from invasion both foreign and domestic. This is accomplished through the military which is the only segment of society who's primary purpose is to kill. Pseudo-Sociologists (e.g., equality zealots) are heralding this as monumental since with women making up 50% of the population, the military will have a significant pool of talent in which to draw. The reality is that men and women are different and if 5% of eligible women enlist and target "combat" it would be surprising. The military is risky business and if women want to be in risky occupations, one would see more women in police, state trooper and other front line law enforcement agencies.

When women gained admission to the elite service academies in the mid 70's (Annapolis, West Point, etc.), they curiously and inexplicably remained free from Selective Service registration and combat duty. In other words -- for better than 35 years -- women been considered good enough to be trained as leaders and strategists in time of war, but somehow *too* good to be conscripts and grunts. So how about we all say it together: "female privilege". But it looks as if that glaring, in-your-face, and altogether sexist inequality (men expended, women protected) may finally be coming to an end at last.

This assumes there is no difference between men and women. So this year the Balt. Ravens are playing the champ of the lingerie league for NFL championship?

18 yo men must sign up for the selective service. There are consequences if they do not do so. 18 yo women must be held to the same standard. No cherry picking which fruits of equality to be had.

I find it sickening that, in the interest of furthering some ill-conceived idea that men and women are equal in every respect, we will now be sending our wives, sisters, and mothers into the combat trenches of the front lines. I know this is wrong because it twists my gut and violates every instinct in every fiber of my being.

>>> That said, let women in combat so they can die un the same numbers as men. <<< They won't, because they will never engage in direct combat in the same numbers as men. This will prove ultimately symbolic, and about 12 women will actually fight directly in some conflict or another. They will be considered heroes of feminism, while the usual suspects will keep on complaining that not enough women are taking advantage of the wonderful opportunity so many brave people fought to give them. Progress!

Maybe it will make war safer for men.

When women demand that the government requires them to sign up for selective service at age 18 I'll take them serious.