Hopefully this video debate loads... let me know your thoughts!
EDIT: Copy and paste this link and then click on listen to the video... for some reason the link is not working on here.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4658358
My Personal Opinion... Hopefully my opinion will help you determine your own opinion- I really am curious what everyone thinks about this particular subject, as it is so controversial.
The topic of the aforementioned debate was whether or not women should be barred from direct combat in the military. Michael Ohanlon believes America has a chilvalrist view regarding women and war time. Women "should not have their limbs and their bodies exposed to mortal wounds or severe injury the way that men have," he says. Why shouldn't they though? Every individual is created equally, so why should women not have the same rights? If a man is chosen to serve fighting one-on-one with the enemy, why should women be denied the same "right" (I use this term for lack of a better word- undoubtedly, dying is not a "right", more a sense of a chance of martyrdom). Women have proven they are able to handle and cope with war time situations when they passed through basic training alongside men. If those men can go on to fight on the front lines, why should women, who are just as qualified, be denied this position? Ohanlon says America believes it's for moral and "chivalrous" reasons that women should be kept away from the "danger zones". Not all women want chivalry, however. Many just want to be seen as equal to men and be respected for who they are, not doted on hand and foot necessarily. Secretary of Defense Ronald Rumsfeld says the war in Iraq is different than past wars- (although I would make a slight comparison to Vietnam, just for a general idea), because there is no definitive combat zone- a peaceful village could instantly turn into a war zone. Donald Rumsfled even admitted confusion would be manifested if higher-ranked military women were demoted due to the fact they were in a direct line of fire. Demoting a person, who quite obviously has the abilities and potential to serve as an authority figure in the military, would be plain stupid. Demoting that same person simply because she is woman is sexist. Sexism is illegal, no?
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