Letter: Women making military strides

I was glad to read the article in the March 17 Advocate that women may finally get to prove that they can handle combat.

Maybe now they can be trained to take down the officers and peers who try to rape and otherwise abuse them while they are trying to serve their country. Seems the military justice system has been a joke for years when it comes to punishing and preventing these crimes.

According to a March 14 article in the Advocate, even when they convict someone, the “man” in charge of the ones involved can overthrow the verdict, even when there is a “good old boy” scenario.

Brenda Thomas

retired-accounting/disaster management.

Denham Springs

Comments

1) Comment by Old Man Kensey - 25/03/2013

Phil, who cares what you agree with? The military has had to deal with parents and kids a long time. The way i described was being done long before I joined in 86 and continues now. Your disagreement with it is moot and does not constitute a "can of worms." The last I checked, military members are adults and generally, if they have kids, the are the parents of said kids. It is really none of your concern who watches their kids when they get deployed.

2) Comment by phil - 23/03/2013

Whatnow: Sorry I had to bring up up the cramps issue, and we both know what the monthly (or so) issue is that nobody really wants to talk about but it is a part of the reality of women being in combat. Sometimes the truth hurts. Like I already stated, women are better at some things then men are, but combat is not one of them. Concerning the "backup plan" - sorry but I do not really agree that both parents should be called into combat and leave children behind with no parent to raise them. So this is STILL a can of worms as far as I am concerned. I do agree that some men should not be in battle or in the military at all, but that is another topic for another day.

3) Comment by Old Man Kensey - 23/03/2013

And Rwallace, you are the last person that should be calling someone out for being inaccurate. You and agagent are the 2 most common for ignoring reality for self-made conspiracy theories to avoid real facts. Besides, DMJ's interpretation of your comment was right on.. >>> here is a picture made just for you.. http://www.upworthy.com/the-tattoo-misogynist-jerks-think-every- girl-has-on-her-thighs?c=ufb1

4) Comment by Old Man Kensey - 23/03/2013

Phil, that is a little bitty can of worms you are touting there. The military already has ways of dealing with children when parents are called out to duty. If you are a single parent (like I was for my last four years in service) or if both parents are in service, the military requires the members to have a signed document of who will take care of the children when the members are called out-- it is called a backup plan. >>>> If the draft ever comes back, you can rest assured that the situation is so dire that we will need every willing person, regardless of sex, to take on the threat. But Whatnow is correct, there are some men that should not be in battle, how does the draft deal with them?

5) Comment by [e-mail] - 23/03/2013

Hey, DMJ, I never said "women should expect to be raped", those are your words, not mine. I know it's hard for you, but try to be accurate.

6) Comment by Whatnow - 23/03/2013

Cramps??? Come on, Phil! I can't believe you said that! My wife wants to clobber you! I say let the military figure it out. But, if and until there is a draft, give women the chance if they want it and let them prove themselves. I'm sure they wouldn't let girly girls even try without passing all the tests. Not all women should be stereotyped. There are plenty of men who shouldn't be in in combat, either.

7) Comment by phil - 22/03/2013

Whatnow: Yes and I did not even bring up cramps. Will women get excused from combat when those cramps get too bad? People just need to face the reality that women and men are NOT alike. You talk about men getting raped but you completely ignore the pregnancy issue and the fact that an enemy might not be giving out those BC pills you mentioned. Honestly if women want to prove themselves then that is just great, but not at the expense of other soldiers in combat with them. Then there is the issue of the draft and the possibility that women who do NOT want to prove themselves will get forced into combat. Like I said before - a can of worms.

8) Comment by Whatnow - 22/03/2013

Phil, women in combat aren't concerned about men's equipment. Why should men be concerned about women's? Get over it. You are going to hold them back because of body functions? They have natural body functions and men attitudes are the problem. While drafting women could be a problem on the home front for those with children, it shouldn't be held against them for wanting to fight. What do they do now as far as childcare? Men can be raped in battle, too, as torture. I'm sure if women can tough it out, they aren't too stupid to not be on BC pills to protect against pregnancy, friend or foe. Let women prove themselves if they want to. There are a lot of G.I. Janes out there, Phil.

9) Comment by phil - 22/03/2013

To add one more thing, there is also the issue of what could happen in the future if the military draft has to be started again. Will ALL women feel like they really are in favor of this combat/military equality deal when they are FORCED to go to war and be in combat? How will families with children be treated? Will one parent get to stay home, and who will decide which one - or maybe just draft both parents into the military and let the children fend for themselves? I call this a can of worms.

10) Comment by phil - 22/03/2013

Yes we could maybe have segregated wars such as where women fight each other one week and men fight each other the next week. Then the fighting will be on an equal basis and everyone can fight and die as they wish. Equality does not always apply for all things especially when the two things being compared are not equal in all respects. I will add to that I already stated that women are better at some things then men are, but they are born with different equipment just in case you have not noticed yet. Men cannot get pregnant if they get captured and raped. That is one thing that will never be equal.

11) Comment by DMJ - 22/03/2013

Exactly.

12) Comment by Whatnow - 22/03/2013

If a woman wants to face all the negatives and positives of military combat, let them.

13) Comment by DMJ - 22/03/2013

If a woman is willing to die for our country, who are we to tell her she isn't good enough? Equality doesn't come with caveats.

14) Comment by phil - 22/03/2013

Now all we need to worry about is women in combat getting raped when they are captured during combat and how women will fit into hand-to-hand combat and being sent to a remote island for months at a time with no bathroom facilities like happened in WWII. I agree with this letter 100 percent as far as women should be protected while they serve our country. However, I do not agree that women should be allowed on the front lines of combat. I say that because I respect women and not because I feel they are not equal to men. Actually women are better than men at many things. However, just in case you did not notice, men and women are not born with the same equipment.. Equal - yes , combat - no.

15) Comment by nimby? - 22/03/2013

would like to point out most of our enemies already have little respect for women ...

16) Comment by Diogenes - 22/03/2013

Wow, the right-wing nut jobs are outdoing themselves today and are exploring new and previously unexplored areas of misogyny and stupidity. Now I fully understand why Louisiana continues to be at the bottom of the barrel in national rankings, because of kooks like these women haters.

17) Comment by nimby? - 22/03/2013

I have no problem with females in combat zones . nor will our enemies . how will this nation react to the abuse of female captives ?

18) Comment by DMJ - 22/03/2013

Primo sexism today, fellas. Real classy. Especially you, geraldwallace. That bit about how women should expect to be raped. You can't write this stuff.

19) Comment by Attila - 22/03/2013

@popseal: Completely agree. Most of these women complaining about not being allowed to do things that the men do will never be satisfied until they grow a male appendage.

20) Comment by popseal - 22/03/2013

Politically correct idiots and angry women drive thiis stupidity. My eight deployments into war zones have taught me that I'd rather have another man next to me in battle than a woman. If you can't understand why or make a silly joke of that statement, you belong in combat with Oprah at your side.

21) Comment by [e-mail] - 22/03/2013

How can a woman who willingly puts herself in the midst of so much testosterone expect not to be the subject of sexual attention? How much of it is sour grapes, retribution, etc. as opposed to literal rape? Who knows? The one thing we do know is the unprecedented number of pregnancies by women serving in the armed forces.

22) Comment by Bighug - 22/03/2013

It seems that every time a woman in the military complains of sexual abuse, she is subjected to a mental exam, but never the accused man.