One of my brothers sent me this link for comment. As the oldest of the Defeatists and the only one deranged enough to successfully dodge the draft during Vietnam and then enlist -- go figure -- I found the argument persuasive and effective. I happen to believe that in most cases, women can serve in combat roles. The sole problem is the ability to carry the weight needed to do the job while stressed. Someone like Tonya Harding would do fine -- physically fit, excellent aerobics and strong enough to carry weight on her back and body equal to about 30-35% of her body weight. Sorry, won't rise to the bait, bro. This is one thing that has been overtaken by events.
Last weekend, I went into a local emergent care place to get them to give me some stronger antibiotics to knock out this nasty upper respiratory infection. Well, the physician's assistant on duty was a recently retired Army Captain named Anne. Anne and I chatted for a while, and I promised a cup of coffee next time she's in town. She had just finished her career, and was fairly bitter about the way she was treated. She had been assigned to a Cavalry Squadron for three years as their battalion level surgeon. She took care of about 400 soldiers, and as she said, she came to regard them as her kids. Then, they were set to deploy and she was told that she couldn't go with them. I suspect pure sexism at work -- a Cavalry Squadron is a definite CAT1, get shot at and shoot back assignment no matter the war. Hell, the Cav units on the border in Germany during the Cold War were basically at war, just not shooting back. Someone probably didn't want a woman wearing their squadron's patch as a combat patch. (In the Army, you wear your unit of assignment patch on the left shoulder; if you have served in combat, you get to wear the combat units patch on your right sleeve.) She went with some other organization and was abused. Her "kids" were abused by having no surgeon...shortages all over the place. She punched out.
So, sorry. Women have earned their place in the services and can do more than most people who haven't watched them suspect. Yes, there are some real wimpy women; there are lots of wussy men too. But, neither should be precluded from the chance. So, Private Benjamin and GI Jane are absurd parodies. Most guys aren't Johnny Rambo, either. Oh, by the way, the Ranger School has never not accepted women. Women are accepted when they apply and meet the standards. To my knowledge, none have ever tried to actually complete the course. Showing that, on the whole, women are smarter than men.
Comments