Sick + military values
So I really don't like getting sick. And I am particularly unhappy about it when it prevents me from doing either of those things I was planning on doing this weekend. Because it's a bit on the lonely side to spend most of the weekend bedridden in an empty apartment (honestly, what do my housemates do that they're never in?)
In the mean time, there's a story from a local newspaper that I noticed a few weeks ago but hadn't gotten around to translating. Just kinda struck me how different the situation is here to in America. And of course, this is in the often socially conservative occasionally patriarchal country of Austria, where there's a cross in every classroom. So it really tells you something about how messed up parts of America can be. Not sure the translation's perfect, mostly because it doesn't really get the tone right, but here it is:
"Officer wants to continue career as woman
Captain in the army undergoes sex change. The Styrian [masculine form] wants to continue to work as a woman. Military and Defense Minister stand by him.
An Austrian Army captain is demonstrating great boldness these days. The man wants to undergo a sex change. And not only that, he would like to continue his service as the 45th woman in the officer corps.
How serious it is to the father of two is also demonstrated by the attitude of the Army itself. The “case” was declared a top priority. Not only do they wish to protect the identity of the Styrian, but Ute Axmann, spokesman for the Defense Ministry took on the matter personally. “It does not matter what anyone may think,” he says, “in the Austrian Army, comradeship is the chief concern. This very personal decision will be respected and our comrade will receive all the support imaginable. If all goes well, he will work for us as a soldier [feminine form] in a year and a half.” He added, “I am personally in awe of the courage of this officer.”"
--Kleine Zeitung, Thursday 7 February.
Thought somebody might be intrigued to read it. There's a bit more, but it's mostly about specifics of operations and horomone treatments.
Now why can't comradeship be ranked above social propriety in the American army?
Kinda makes you wonder about this whole image we have of the military as a place where people go to learn discipline and values. What they find in that situation, rather than morality, is the most pure form of conservatism possible. It has nothing to do with ethics but rather with the politics necessary to keep masses of people in line and seeing themselves as the backbone of society.
In the mean time, there's a story from a local newspaper that I noticed a few weeks ago but hadn't gotten around to translating. Just kinda struck me how different the situation is here to in America. And of course, this is in the often socially conservative occasionally patriarchal country of Austria, where there's a cross in every classroom. So it really tells you something about how messed up parts of America can be. Not sure the translation's perfect, mostly because it doesn't really get the tone right, but here it is:
"Officer wants to continue career as woman
Captain in the army undergoes sex change. The Styrian [masculine form] wants to continue to work as a woman. Military and Defense Minister stand by him.
An Austrian Army captain is demonstrating great boldness these days. The man wants to undergo a sex change. And not only that, he would like to continue his service as the 45th woman in the officer corps.
How serious it is to the father of two is also demonstrated by the attitude of the Army itself. The “case” was declared a top priority. Not only do they wish to protect the identity of the Styrian, but Ute Axmann, spokesman for the Defense Ministry took on the matter personally. “It does not matter what anyone may think,” he says, “in the Austrian Army, comradeship is the chief concern. This very personal decision will be respected and our comrade will receive all the support imaginable. If all goes well, he will work for us as a soldier [feminine form] in a year and a half.” He added, “I am personally in awe of the courage of this officer.”"
--Kleine Zeitung, Thursday 7 February.
Thought somebody might be intrigued to read it. There's a bit more, but it's mostly about specifics of operations and horomone treatments.
Now why can't comradeship be ranked above social propriety in the American army?
Kinda makes you wonder about this whole image we have of the military as a place where people go to learn discipline and values. What they find in that situation, rather than morality, is the most pure form of conservatism possible. It has nothing to do with ethics but rather with the politics necessary to keep masses of people in line and seeing themselves as the backbone of society.