Should Women Be Fighting On Or Near The Front Lines?

[mugsy]

Amen and well said Sara!

[Cataholic]

Pops, I, for one, am quite strong, and not weak, and, blah, blah, blah...I think women might be percieved as the 'weaker' sex..but, that isn't really true. Sure, a 200 pound male can probably lift more than me, run faster, etc., just cause his body is bigger, his force stronger...but, today's war really isn't about brute force anymore, arm to arm combat, while it exists, really isn't as prevelant.

If I sign up for the military, then I want to be an equal member.

[lizbud]

By replying NO to the question does not mean that I think
that women are more sensitive, gentler or weaker emotionally
than men.These traits can be shared by both men & women.

[tatsxxx11]

I'm not sure how literally one defines "front line." I know that some of the most adept and decorated fighter pilots are women! Now that's a job that takes physcial stamina, brains and skill! And I know women who are just as strong, if not stronger and more fit than many men! Women are strong and tough, both in mind and in body. If think if it is their wish to do so, and they meet the rigors and standards of their training, I say yes. And it is a well known fact that women far excel men when it comes to endurance. Remember a while back, all the fuss that was made when women first applied to the A.F. Academy, West Point and the Naval Academy?? The academies and their fellow soldiers made it as tough as they could on the plebes, both mentally and physically, testing their merit, their will and their physical strength. And they proved their worth. I think it was Discovery or TLC that recently had a series of programs documenting the experience of soldiers in boot camp; men and women. The guts, tenacity and determination of the women amazed me. And the "drop out" or "flunk out" rate for the women was at a lower rate than the men. Guess we figure we've got something to prove! Women are put in harm's way every day, whether from assault or domestic abuse. At least while serving in the military, should they meet harm, it is of their own choosing. I guess I vote yes.

[Jessica12345]

Originally posted by Edwina's Secretary
I feel strongly on this. We cannot ask for equal rights if we are not prepared to take equal risk. If a woman is physically capable of performing the task, her gender should not preclude her from it.

very very well said... i agree.

[RICHARD]

there are women serving as pilots/co pilots on the Apache
helicopters and fighter pilots.

there are also quite a few women flying support craft!!

[lizbud]

For The Record:

The question was not whether woman ARE on the front lines,
but rather SHOULD they be. This was a poll I saw elsewhere
and the voting was surprisingly close In percentage for and
against the idea, not the practice.

[mugsy]

Like I said before, Mike and I are on totally opposite sides on this issue. He is absolutely totally against it, but I am totally for it, so this thread made for some lively conversation at our house!

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by lizbud
For The Record:

The question was not whether woman ARE on the front lines,
but rather SHOULD they be. This was a poll I saw elsewhere
and the voting was surprisingly close In percentage for and
against the idea, not the practice.

liz,

YOU tell them to come home......i am afraid to.....



mike, you are on your own.......liz already yelled at me

[Dakota's Mommy]

Personally, I don't know Brian's views on this! However, I feel that if woman sign up, they should be trained just as the men are and they should be ready to serve on the front lines. In war, they can easily run into a situation where they need this training and are basically on the front lines even if they were not meant to be. So, as long as woman are serving along with men, I feel that they should be trained and on the front lines with the men. Not that I like either gender on the front lines, but right now it's happening! But, that's just my opinion!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

If a woman can enlist in the military, there's no reason that with adequate training she shouldn't be right there fighting with the men.

and

If a woman is physically capable of performing the task, her gender should not preclude her from it.

I am unsure on this one. I agree with Sara that "We cannot ask for equal rights if we are not prepared to take equal risk." And I don't believe that "equal" rights mean "special" rights. But the quotes above are what I would be concerned about. I think it is an indisputable fact that in more cases than not, men are bigger and stronger than women and if it came down to hand to hand combat, what chance would a woman have? Of course she would have adrenaline on her side, but so would the guy on the other side. A very big part of being in the military is putting your life in your "brother's" hands and trusting him to watch your back. If a woman is overpowered, how can she be watching her "brother's" back, and how can the "brother" feel confident that his back is being watched?

I think the only way I could go for it is if all armies had women in their forces so things would be equalized somewhat. I've got no problem with women being in as much danger as men and things like that, but it's the physical power that men have over women that would worry me. And believe me, I'm 5'10" tall and no light weight and I wouldn't want to be out there!

So as you can see, I would have to vote "unsure."

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by Tubby & Peanut's Mom

I think the only way I could go for it is if all armies had women in their forces so things would be equalized somewhat. I've got no problem with women being in as much danger as men and things like that, but it's the physical power that men have over women that would worry me. And believe me, I'm 5'10" tall and no light weight and I wouldn't want to be out there!

So as you can see, I would have to vote "unsure."

it takes less that 10 lbs of pressure to pull the trigger on an
M16.

it takes far more strength to wrap your brain around the fact that
you are about to kill someone.

it takes inhuman strength to live with shooting someone for the rest of your life.

it is a matter of perspective

[mugsy]

Good point Richard

[lizbud]

It also takes a tremendous amount of strength to carry
around a growing human life inside you and adjust to an ever
changing body form . Nine months later it takes a super human
effort to give birth to that life. It's a different kind of strength.
While I do think I'd be perfectly capable of killing in defensive
of my life. I could never continue killing over & over,day after
day as is sometimes required in war.That I could never "wrap
my brain around". I don't see how a guy could live with it either.
Boy, I'll bet they're glad I'm not at the front.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by lizbud
It also takes a tremendous amount of strength to carry
around a growing human life inside you and adjust to an ever
changing body form . Nine months later it takes a super human
effort to give birth to that life. It's a different kind of strength.
While I do think I'd be perfectly capable of killing in defensive
of my life. I could never continue killing over & over,day after
day as is sometimes required in war.That I could never "wrap
my brain around". I don't see how a guy could live with it either.
Boy, I'll bet they're glad I'm not at the front.

where does the stork come in?