Comments on: Combat rules don't keep women off battlefield
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- While I appreciate the gist of the 'female soldier' story, I must, as a man, take umbrage at its overall conclusion.
One of your subjects, quoted here: "It's not just the men getting hurt. It's the women, too."
The former female soldier speaks this to close the short segment and Scott Pelley chimes in that in Afghanistan, 144 women are considered KIA and 153 WIA.
It's nice to see CBS News cite the KIA/WIA numbers of the women soldiers...and leave out the fact that better than 98% of KIA/WIA are MALE American soldiers.
This fact gets lost in the media
reporting on killed 'service MEMBERS.' The neutered casualty figures don't tell the whole story: In the 21st Century, in the land of equal opportunity and alleged gender equality: the fact that better than 98% of KIA/WIA are MALE American soldiers still exists. The gender of a female soldier killed in action almost always makes 'the news.'
Where's the CBS News story on the fact that in this land of gender equality, it is only men who are required by federal mandate to register for Selective Service (the Draft).
All able-bodied American Men 18 years old are required to register or risk serious penalties: Loss of driver's and professional licenses; denied access to student loans and barred from government jobs, possible imprisonment etc...The 18 year old able-bodied American women all the while are exempt. Some land of equality this is in the 21st Century. It's a gender bias the news/ media needs to research/ investigate and report on.
American men are not merely 'expendable' and government and media bias to the contrary doesn't change that.
The military needs to enlist/ induct its military forces regardless of gender and based on what's between someone's ears and not what's between their legs.
Help start the end to media/ government bias and gender discrimination against men. - Reply to this comment
- David Martin what's your point other than sensationalism?
Women get hurt in the military doing their jobs just like the men regardless of their duties. No one is immune or special.
If you're trying to point out women should be placed in front line combat positions, then say it without trying to exploit a few female troops coming home with PTSD.
Not everyone is cut out to serve on the front lines regardless of gender. Everyone gets a job and hopefully if they do it well then those folks on the front line have a better chance of succeeding without loss of limb or life. Besides if you use today's technology correctly we really don't need people on front lines or on the ground encamped. Write about how to fight the modern war with modern technology and save a few military lives if your so inclined.
Obviously some of these women feel like their not getting their due or proper medical treatment upon returning from their tours. I don't know if they are or are not. A lot of troops feel that way regardless of gender, race, religion or rank.
I can tell you regardless of gender, troops are homeless and unemployed more and more everyday. Tons of paperwork to get proper support from the VA and given the opportunity to succeed unlike those who would not go to war for this country.
If you want to write about something important and necessary, why don't you write about the people in this country who refuse to accept responsiblity and never serve a day serving their country.
Everyone should serve equally in the military for 4yrs on active duty or they shouldn't be given the right to vote and should pay higher taxes (double it) than those who served. Write about that and see if you get a response. - Reply to this comment
