Women in Combat

The New York Times reports today 'Pentagon is Set to Lift Combat Ban for Women'.  In these times of equality for all and suggestions that you can do anything you want, I feel that I need to share our new family motto (which is so fitting right now).  By the way, this saying has been used so many times the kids can finish it off once I start it: Just because you can.....doesn't mean you should.  Just because you can put a hole in your earlobe and then conduct a science experiment by seeing how big you can make the hole, doesn't mean you should.  Oh, there are so many things I could relate this to nowadays, but I'll try and stay on topic.  

Ironically, I am currently reading a book about Lady Almina, 5th Countess of Carnarvon (Downton Abbey fans, pay attention!) who so bravely started a hospital in their castle to care for the many wounded soldiers returning from World War I.  Since the war didn't start until 1914, it is somewhat surprising that she said this in 1911.  To the Newberry Unionist Women's Association, 

     

     "In the dark ages, which are not very far behind us, we used to be called the weaker sex.  We never were, and we never shall be weaker in our patriotism.  In this as in all similar matters we are neither inferior nor superior, but only very different and I am convinced that we shall do most good to our country and her cause if instead of imitating men we endeavour to widen and perhaps enrich the spirit of public life by being simply ourselves."

Over 100 years ago, I believe Lady Almina hit it right on the head!  Incidentally, the New York Times article states that a retired 3-star General , Jerry Boykin, had this to say, “the people making this decision are doing so as part of another social experiment.”  It is difficult to understand that any woman, as a child, sat around thinking they wanted to be a soldier when they grew up (at least for more than one day).  It is disappointing that we continue to have these debates about what women can do as always being compared to what men can do.

soldiers in training...?...

We teach our son, as best we can, to be a gentleman as I know many families have done and still do.  How does front line combat effect these gentlemen who are fighting next to women?  I believe it will change the entire dynamic of the group of people that set out to do a very specific (and often life-risking) task.  My hope is that people will accept the fact that men and women are different, neither is superior or inferior;  each one can do the things that God intended for them to do and those things should be embraced instead of challenged.