Wonderful World of Academia: They're ruining our military!

[gelbes_gilatier]

So, since Panetta announced the lift of the ban on combat for female soldiers (only not really, so those tough boys in the infantry won't get too afraid of being emasculated), there have been loads of reactions. My least favorite ones are by military historian Martin van Creveld who thinks introducing women into combat MOS will "wreck" the US

Comments

[sylvanwitch]

Ah, yes, I see what you mean, re: harassment. I agree entirely that it's bullshit to use that as an argument and that the solution in a reasonable world would be to educate men about harassment, how it works, what the effects of it are, how to prevent it and create a culture of genuine mutual respect. Alas, when I say these things out loud, many people treat me as though I'm some sort of hippy high on utopian ideals. ;-)

And yes again, re: education of men regarding women's bodies. And I'm sure that happens in some public schools, but given the direction some of our states are going (teaching creationism along with evolution; taking all references to sexuality of any kind out of the classroom, never mind sexual education, etc.), I feel fairly confident in saying that it will not happen in schools. The armed forces, however, have no such excuse, as (so far), they aren't governed by religiously driven legislation.

It's funny because I teach all male students at a Catholic high school, and one of our after school clubs today met to debate women in combat. The boys in my club (a writing group) came in to tell me what the chief argument against women in combat is. I said, "There's one simple and inarguable answer to ANY argument that women cannot participate in combat: Mossad." Then I had to explain what Mossad is. But it fits nicely with your point that if other nations have integrated combat forces, then there is no reasonable argument that can be offered against women in combat.

Finally, yes, you're more than welcome to quote me. :-)

[gelbes_gilatier]

Alas, when I say these things out loud, many people treat me as though I'm some sort of hippy high on utopian ideals. ;-)

You seem to live in a really weird place... ;)

The armed forces, however, have no such excuse, as (so far), they aren't governed by religiously driven legislation

ITA. Then again, you'd think that the people who joined are at least 18 and therefore practically adults... (then again, when I think about my basic training... maybe I'll substitute the "practically" with "almost"...).

Re: religiously motivated teachings at schools... that concept was really hard to grasp for me for a very long time. I actually needed a couple years to realize that for (most) Europeans religious freedom means "freedom from religion" and for (most) Americans it means "freedom for religion". That still makes teaching creationism as a "proper" content of teaching seem weird (and, excuse me please, stupid) but at least I now understand where it's coming from.

I said, "There's one simple and inarguable answer to ANY argument that women cannot participate in combat: Mossad."

♥ I love this :D Did they come around?

Finally, yes, you're more than welcome to quote me. :-)

\o/ Thank you.

PS.: I will never again make the mistake of reading comments to any article about women and combat again. That one CNN.com article was enough, I think *shudders

[sylvanwitch]

I laughed out loud at your P.S. and said to myself, "I hear you, sister," because a thousand times YES! I've actually stopped reading much American-generated news, in part because the quality of the so-called news seems to be in serious decline but also because I am inevitably tempted to read the comments despite knowing that they are going to make me really, really angry (and then plunge me into head-shaking despair). If I want to know what's happening here, I go to the BBC website and read their "United States and Canada" section.

Yes, the students did seem impressed about the Mossad once I explained to them who the Mossad are, exactly. ;-) Anyway, I'm pleased to report that most of the guys in my club agreed with me. Their assessment: "It's stupid that women can't fight in combat." Simple but so very, very true. Now, if only we could get the ADULT males to agree. *sighs*