Women in the military?

[Trey]

What do you guys think about women being in the military? Do you think women should be able to be in the military? Do you think there are some concerns about it?

I think that women may be able to work FOR the military, but active duty? I'm not so sure. I mean, if you're active duty, that means you have a chance of going to war. I really don't think it's a good idea for women to go to war.. Why? Well, it has nothing to do with women being weaker than men, or not being emotionally as tough as men. In fact, it has nothing to do with me thinking men are more superior than women.

What bugs me are a couple of things that can become a serious issue during combat. For one, love affairs. During war, soldiers can become very lonely and vulnerable. When there are women added to the mix, things can happen that anyone in their right minds would not even think about doing.

Also, what about combat situations where women are experiencing.. That time of the month? How do you expect women to perform in combat just as equally as men when they are in a lot of pain? I mean, the women could just stay behind, but is that really treating everyone like equals?

This can also turn into a discussion about equality. To me, equality doesn't mean women can do any job a man can, and vice versa. To me, men and women are meant to do different jobs, and often the same jobs, but neither women or men are superior to each other.

..
Discuss!

[RabbitWho]

I'm afraid your post is motivated by ignorance about the opposite sex.

1. If you're on the pill menstruation isn't painful. This is the primary reason a lot of women go on it. Some pills even repress the thing all together. For some women periods don't hurt to begin with anyway.
2. I take it if you're afraid of love affairs you also don't want gays in the military?
It's a pretty random theory you came up with, I think that soldiers develop deep bonds with each other anyway and I don't think love would be distracting to professionals.
There are lots of women in the military right now and i haven't heard a story of this being a problem yet.


Is that it? Two reasons? Because women have periods and because men and women might fall in love with each other?


Anyway it was tough voting because i don't think anybody should be in the military.

[Lex]

Apr 18, 2010 9:56:27 GMT -5 Trey said:

What bugs me are a couple of things that can become a serious issue during combat. For one, love affairs. During war, soldiers can become very lonely and vulnerable. When there are women added to the mix, things can happen that anyone in their right minds would not even think about doing.

I agree with RabbitWho, it seems you're also against gays in the military.

In the words of Bill Hicks: "Anyone dumb enough to want to be in the military should be allowed in."

[RandiKthxxx]

Yes, and in fact, I think we should all have to register for selective service, as well.

I mean, we want equality, right?

[Trey]

Apr 18, 2010 10:24:18 GMT -5 RabbitWho said:

I'm afraid your post is motivated by ignorance about the opposite sex.

1. If you're on the pill menstruation isn't painful. This is the primary reason a lot of women go on it. Some pills even repress the thing all together. For some women periods don't hurt to begin with anyway.

Thank you for telling me this I researched some more, and I also found out that women sometimes don't even have periods at times of extreme stress (Such as war, lol).

Apr 18, 2010 10:24:18 GMT -5 RabbitWho said:

2. I take it if you're afraid of love affairs you also don't want gays in the military?
It's a pretty random theory you came up with, I think that soldiers develop deep bonds with each other anyway and I don't think love would be distracting to professionals.
There are lots of women in the military right now and i haven't heard a story of this being a problem yet.

Apr 18, 2010 12:04:34 GMT -5 Lex said:

Apr 18, 2010 9:56:27 GMT -5 Trey said:

I agree with RabbitWho, it seems you're also against gays in the military.

It's not that I'm against gays, or women in the military. If you read my post, you'll see that I'm not really revealing anything about my position, except that I don't like the idea of women going to war. I was, however, bringing up some food for thought; stuff I'd had rolling around my head. I actually don't have a position on the subject right now.

As for love in the military, you may not have heard of it being a problem, but that's actually how I was conceived. My Dad (navy) and my mom (Marines) met at the school of music in Norfolk, VA, and that was that This actually wasn't really a problem until my mom was to be stationed in Okinawa, Japan while my dad was going to be on a 6 month tour to Africa on a battleship. When my dad's tour was finished, he was to go back to Norfolk. My mom had no choice but to leave the Marine Corps for good, and stay in Norfolk. My dad didn't get back in time for my birth, so I didn't see him until I was a couple months old.

I will tell you this, though. Gays are not tolerated very well in the military. You can be gay in your personal life, but if the military finds out, they can kick you out! Ever heard of the "Don't ask, don't tell" Policy? This actually happened with one of my dad's students (He teaches at the Navy School of Music). The Navy found out he was gay, and they got rid of him.

Apr 18, 2010 12:04:34 GMT -5 Lex said:

In the words of Bill Hicks: "Anyone dumb enough to want to be in the military should be allowed in."

I guess that makes me a complete idiot then, thank you Bill Hicks! Noticed he used the word "Anyone"? Heeee Oh, and I guess that makes George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Audie Murphy, John Paul Jones, and Colin Powell very stupid as well. You've actually got to read the quotes before you use them

[Lex]

I'm not stupid. I read your post and maybe you didn't realize the implications of your own post. You are against women going to war in combat. That's sexism.

You pointed out the love affairs thing and I compared it to gay men serving in the military. So if you're not a hypocrite in your statements, you'd support keeping Don't Ask Don't Tell - which is absolutely deplorable.

Personally, I dislike the military, combat and fighting in general and I agree with Hicks's words meaning that anyone dumb enough to want to be in the military should be allowed in. A woman should be allowed to do whatever job she wants.

[TheIslander]

The army reserves the right to accept (and reject) whoever it would like to accept/reject. Racism or sexism has nothing to do with it. If they suspect that a gay/female soldier will hinder the results of his team then so be it.

[Cortney]

I say that male shouldn't have to sign up for the military when they turn 18, and then whoever wants to join can do so. Regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation.

[click3tyclick]

The average woman is not as strong as the average man. That's a fact. It's also a fact that being strong is usually useful when you're trying to beat the SHIRT out of someone. That being said, if women want to go to war, let them go. You can't stop them from going.

[sarahendipity]

In my opinion, I think NO one should have to be in the military. However, we don't live in a perfect world, so every country does not some defensive group to help protect is needed.
I believe that whoever is truly strong enough to join the army or any other military force should be allowed to join. I know I might get some crap for saying this, but a physically weak person, no matter what their gender is, should not think about joining. They will just bring down the rest of the group. It sounds mean, but until that person can build up their endurance, there is no possible way that person can help their comrades.
Also, while we're on the topic of the military, I think the "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays, lesbians, or transexuals is absolute rubbish. As long as they're not having butt secks in the middle of a war, there shouldn't have to be a problem.

[Trey]

Apr 18, 2010 13:30:08 GMT -5 Lex said:

I'm not stupid. I read your post and maybe you didn't realize the implications of your own post. You are against women going to war in combat. That's sexism.

You pointed out the love affairs thing and I compared it to gay men serving in the military. So if you're not a hypocrite in your statements, you'd support keeping Don't Ask Don't Tell - which is absolutely deplorable.

Once again, I am not against women going to war. I said I didn't think it was a good idea, which means my logic is telling me one thing, but I could be wrong and there is room for argument. Please don't say that it's sexist because it's not, and you are just using a straw man argument by presuming that I am against women going to war.

As for the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, it is not my decision whether gays should be allowed or not in the military. But, if I acquaint with a gay sailor, marine, or army guy, I'm not going to ask, because I do not want this man/woman to lose their privileges because of their sexuality. Is that really deplorable?

Remember, the overall goal for the military is to make it as good as they can get it. If the high ranking leaders that run the military think that means getting rid of women and gays, that's their decision. After all the military is a place where 99% of people believe in "No man left behind" and "Go only as fast as your weakest link."

[The Doctor]

I allways get outraged when stupid questions like "should women/gays/yourfreckingmum be in the armed forces" Any person even thinking about a soldier in that way has no business beeing in charge, of anything at all.
There are countless situations where a women would be the perfect person for the job! For instance it is almost impossible to collect intel from women from any other culture, not just ME, if youre a male.
Most of the time it doesnt matter how much you can carry, or how long you can run, its about making the right decision over and over again, something that is hard, especially when under pressure. It is a known fact that women have better multitasking abilities, this is a great plus as a CO at any given time. Sure you have to pull your own weight, literary, but seriously, thats mostly about shear willpower than anything else.

Its easy to train a body, its hard to train a mind.

I had no problems with Gays, or Women during my time serving, as a matter of fact, the women often bring about calm to pressed situations!

Dont ask dont tell is absolutley stupid, just plain ol stupid, it actually deprives the armed forces of competent resources just cause some brass/redneck cant handle having gays in their lines. Btw, why dont dont ask dont tell comply to heteros? I mean, I more often than not get offended by the behaviour of fellow soldiers, especially in their way to act towards women, But obviously beeing civil and clean in language doesnt aply to the regular soldier, only to those who like to stick their dong in the darkhole, unless ofcourse said anal belongs to a female, because then its manly and normal...

To anyone taking offence by this post:
As I wrote in the beginning, I get pretty workedup about this topic, and hence theres alot of anger in this post, just dont take it personally, unless you actually think the things I hate, then you are infact stupid!

[Lex]

Dammit, you're missing the point of my responses entirely. I give up.

[Engesa Green once more]

I believe women should have the right to choose if they want to be in the army. As should men. noone should have to "Serve their time" or whatever it's called. For one thing it's a waste of resources. Atleast in denmark, where I live, since those who have to be there for that time are not those sent to war. That means that there is trainers and cooks and all the like for something we aren't even going to use. and those who want to be in the army will come, those who won't will not change their mind because of that little time in there.

Also i believe that in the perfect world there wouldn't be any sort of armies needed... but that aren't likely to happen just this afternoon, so maybe we should settle for the nextbest for now?

[iamagnostic]

I do think they should be forced to be in draft same as men.

[RabbitWho]

As for love in the military, you may not have heard of it being a problem, but that's actually how I was conceived. My Dad (navy) and my mom (Marines) met at the school of music in Norfolk, VA, and that was that

WOAH! So this whole thread is actually about a personal crisis because you're wondering if you should ever have been born?
Look at all the trouble your existential crisis has caused!

[Trey]

Apr 20, 2010 15:56:27 GMT -5 RabbitWho said:

As for love in the military, you may not have heard of it being a problem, but that's actually how I was conceived. My Dad (navy) and my mom (Marines) met at the school of music in Norfolk, VA, and that was that

WOAH! So this whole thread is actually about a personal crisis because you're wondering if you should ever have been born?
Look at all the trouble your existential crisis has caused!

Psht, lol.

[buckshot]

I think all humans are equal regardless of gender and women should be able to serve in the armed forces. I have been told a quote that a unnamed veteran and continued soldier of the middle east war said " Women shouldn't serve because the men would instinctively do everything they could to protect them" these are not my words or opinions. Personally i think that it should be that way for all soldiers, the whole all for one and one for all really appeals to me. What do you think about this quote?

[FranticProdigy]

Woman should be able to serve in the military, the right to bear arms, the right to fight for your country. Why would a girl not be able to fight. Quite frankly a lot of girls are tougher than a lot of guys I know. Some girls are beasts.

[Trey]

Okay, so after a lot of though, and long discussions with my family members and friends (Including people here on the forum. You guys are all my friends!), I have come to the conclusion that women indeed should be able to serve in the military, and even in wars. However, women also need to be able to meet the expectations that the military has for men.