deaflibrarian said:
Whoa Reba, what a contradiction you are, especially since you claim to be a long-time Navy serviceperson. You were a woman in the military, why are you asking a question like that?
I volunteered for service. I was not drafted. I do not believe women should be drafted. Therefore, no contradiction.
The main reason for a draft is to fill combat billets. IMO, women should not serve in combat, including certain ships and aircraft. Therefore, they should not be drafted. That has been my position for many years, based on research that I did for a paper, common sense, and my personal experience.
Women should be required to register for the Selective Service, period.
Since I don't believe that women should be drafted, there is no reason to register them with Selective Service.
Mz. Reba, women make up more than 55% of the population in the USA.
So? What's your point?
Women have been squawking about the ERA, equal pay, enlisting in the military, admittance to the USMA, USNA, USAFA, the Citadel, etc., for the past 30 years and you're asking me "why should they" be required to register for the Selective Service.
I believe the purpose of the military is to defend our country thru military might, and the threat of military force. It is not the purpose of the military to provide equal opportunity employment to anyone who desires it. Women can, and have, served bravely and nobly over the years. However, I believe they can serve best in non-combat roles. Would that limit promotions and career opportunities for women in the military? Probably. But like I said, the military doesn't exist to meet the needs of individual career goals.
Why does the USA think only men should be registered?
Because, in general, men are more physically suited for
combat roles.
What are the reasons women haven't been required? The "because women give birth" excuse is utter crock. Without sperm, women cannot giver birth so give me a break.
An expectant father can still physically perform combat duties. An expectant mother cannot.
The "because women are not violent" is also utter crock because we all know how violent women can get when provoked or in fear for their lives.
The military doesn't want "violent" men either. Maybe you mean disciplined aggression?
The "because women menstruate" is simply laughable because after all we now have the 4 times a year period pill, and besides the military has the ability to regulate their women soldiers' periods as I am sure Mz. Reba can attest.
It must be something new. During my 24 years in the Navy/Naval Reserve, I never heard about the military having an ability to "regulate their women soldiers' periods". If that is true, I wonder how so many military women become pregnant while in combat zones, and on board ships.
It is only fair that if women are going around squawking about equal pay and fair treatment in the workplace and the military then all women that are 18 years old bloody well better be lining up to register for the Selective Service when they turn 18 just like men are and they should be getting penalized just like men are if they don't register.
Equal pay and fair treatment in the work place is an issue separate from military service. I do believe women should be treated fairly in the service, and when a man and woman are performing the same services in the military, and are the same rate/rank, with the same number of years seniority, then they should get the same pay and benefits.
Our country should not depend on women to fulfill its combat billet requirements. Those should be filled by men. If our country ever gets to the point where it depends on women to satisfy our combat needs, then we will truly be in deep trouble. Other nations view that as a weakness, and look down on countries that use their women in combat roles.
All Americans should be required to register for the Selective Service when they turn 18, and to say "why should they?" because 55% of Americans are female is just simply not acceptable in today's society.
Just "because 55% of Americans are female" isn't a very convincing argument for drafting women.
