“Our nation was built on the premise of the citizen soldier. In our democracy, I believe it is the responsibility of every citizen to protect the nation, and every citizen who can meet the qualifications for service should have that opportunity.”
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta uttered those words today, paving the way for women to serve on the front lines of America’s wars for the first time in our nation’s history. Of course, women have already been serving in combat roles as pilots but this new step represents the closing of the last official barrier to full equality in the armed forces. It has been an interesting time for the military. Just over 12 months ago they ended Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the war in Afghanistan is coming to a quicker end than previously planned and now this.
The military has always been the leading edge of change in the country. After World War I immigrants began to integrate more fully into American culture. After World War II blacks and women begin to agitate for equality. After Vietnam we lost our unquestioning trust in the government. Iraq and Afghanistan have taught us the perils of interventionism. The military has driven advancements in arms, medicine and technology.
At the same time this was all taking place the woman who may be our first female president gave a strong performance on Capital Hill. While I don’t necessarily agree with all of her politics, one can’t help but be impressed with the historical significance of Hillary Clinton’s career.
Meanwhile America’s senseless war on marijuana seems to be winding down. My own state, still a long way from legalization, is considering allowing the growing of industrial hemp. As the former center of hemp production for the U.S. this is welcome news.
2013 is new and I am just as vulnerable to over-enthusiasm as the next person, but I would be remiss if I didn’t say that I am hopeful for this year. It feels like we are moving forward for the first time in a while.
Our nation was built on the premise of the citizen soldier. In our democracy, I believe it is the responsibility of every citizen to protect the nation, and every citizen who can meet the qualifications for service should have that opportunity.”
For a moment there I thought he was going to say that every adult citizen should serve two years military service or somethingReport
It sounds awfully close to it and I would be forced to disagree. But I am the kind of liberal who does not agree that we only have rights because of the military.Report
“The military has always been the leading edge of change in the country.”
Except for the Citadel needing to be dragged into the 20th century during the 1990s and the whole Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell thing, and a bunch of other things I could look up, sure.Report
I’m still the kind of liberal who is apprehensive about militarism.Report
Interestingly, I think Mike is still the kind of conservative who is as well.Report
The Citadel is a private college i believe. yeah its essentially a military school, but still private. Of course i could check wikipedia to verify that, but i wont.
Its really hard to argue that the USCT in the CW didn’t lead to many of the advancements blacks made after the war even if the terrorists and white supremacists ended up winning the peace. Same with WW2, women went into male dominated professions during the war. While most went back out of the the workforce or back to female dominated jobs, the kids of that generation, and some of the older ww2 gen, drove the womens movement. Blacks in ww2 were very conscious of framing their service as the start of fixing home. They called it the Double V campaign. Win the war, then win black rights at home. This time they won at home.Report
The Citadel is a state school (not private, nor run by the military). As is VMI, though at one point VMI considered going private. It was actually the DOD that strong-armed them into accepting women (threatening to pull the program if they went private to exclude women).
(An interesting bit of trivia: The first non-transfer female graduate of the Citidel was not an American citizen, though she was granted citizenship thereafter.)Report
“the whole Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell thing,”
People seem to often forget, that at the time DADT was implemented, being gay was considered (by the military) as little different from being a criminal, a terrorist, or a Commie. (i.e. you had to acknowledge you were none of those four things when you signed the forms before DADT went into effect – after, the part about being gay was crossed out)(and eventually, the Commie thing was folded into the terrorist thing)Report
except that the airforce was defacto “okay with it”Report
New Dealer,
In hindsight, the point I should have made was that wars drive change in this country and the military is often a major part of that process.Report
2013 is new and I am just as vulnerable to over-enthusiasm as the next person, but I would be remiss if I didn’t say that I am hopeful for this year. It feels like we are moving forward for the first time in a while.
To have you say this, makes me feel even more hopeful, for it reaffirms the hope, the feeling of potential, that’s been tickling at the edge of my thoughts of late.Report
While we at it, let’s also reform (or preferable alternative get rid of) the Selective Service System.Report
Agreed. Selective Service, as it now stands, is a form of gender discrimination against men.Report
Hey, I’m all for it. As long as the standards for current combat roles are not changed. If the guys have to carry 100 pounds of gear, your weapon and body armour now, (or whatever it is) so should the gals.
When will the gals be required to register for Selective Service?Report
I do have to note: the US army deliberately gives people heavier packs than is absolutely necessary (presumably to help with training, and less with “this stuff is unbreakable”).
(100lbs of gear is paratrooper stuff. )Report
“…the war in Afghanistan is coming to a quicker end than previously planned…”
Geez, how long was it supposed to last?Report