Shell, yes, you're absolutely right on two counts. First, yes, women do still have to physically qualify for combat positions. And while there will still be fewer women in combat because it is a more physical position, that doesn't mean the military can't actively try to recruit women for infantry.
Also, as you said it's a very good thing that people are at least talking about a real problem. However, my worry is that there will be a big gap between talking about a problem and actually doing something that solves it. I mean, we've been talking about gun violence for a long time and we still haven't passed any laws that have had a significant impact on it. I worry that if we don't do something, we'll have a bunch of suits in Washington talking while real women are being raped in the military. In fact, that and a little math are why I want to see this problem fixed fast.
Let's look at Moro's "flood the ranks" plan. Let's also say that before we use it, we have an average of 100 rapes per year (no, I don't know the exact number, but I'm using nice, round numbers to make the math easier). Then we enact the plan and flood the military with women. For three years, the number of rapes goes up to 300 a year, but, then, after those three years, we get our shit together and it drops to let's say 5 a year. So, over the course of 10 years, we have 935 rapes. Not a good number, but let's look at another plan. This one, we try to make subtle, slow moving changes to the culture of the military. It takes longer, though, and doesn't get fully enacted until 10 years is up. During those 10 years, we maintain 100 rapes per year and at the end of that time period, we have 1000 people raped; that's already more that if we with with Moro's idea; if it takes longer to enact the slow moving idea, even more people get raped while we wait for the problem to get fixed.
Yeah, I'd like to fix the problem without anyone getting raped. I'd also like to win a the lottery. Unfortunately, neither one is realistic. I think the goal should be to fix the problem while minimizing rapes and provide the best support we can to rape victims.
Also, as you said it's a very good thing that people are at least talking about a real problem. However, my worry is that there will be a big gap between talking about a problem and actually doing something that solves it. I mean, we've been talking about gun violence for a long time and we still haven't passed any laws that have had a significant impact on it. I worry that if we don't do something, we'll have a bunch of suits in Washington talking while real women are being raped in the military. In fact, that and a little math are why I want to see this problem fixed fast.
Let's look at Moro's "flood the ranks" plan. Let's also say that before we use it, we have an average of 100 rapes per year (no, I don't know the exact number, but I'm using nice, round numbers to make the math easier). Then we enact the plan and flood the military with women. For three years, the number of rapes goes up to 300 a year, but, then, after those three years, we get our shit together and it drops to let's say 5 a year. So, over the course of 10 years, we have 935 rapes. Not a good number, but let's look at another plan. This one, we try to make subtle, slow moving changes to the culture of the military. It takes longer, though, and doesn't get fully enacted until 10 years is up. During those 10 years, we maintain 100 rapes per year and at the end of that time period, we have 1000 people raped; that's already more that if we with with Moro's idea; if it takes longer to enact the slow moving idea, even more people get raped while we wait for the problem to get fixed.
Yeah, I'd like to fix the problem without anyone getting raped. I'd also like to win a the lottery. Unfortunately, neither one is realistic. I think the goal should be to fix the problem while minimizing rapes and provide the best support we can to rape victims.
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"If you cling to something as the absolute truth and you are caught in it, when the truth comes in person to knock on your door you will refuse to let it in." ~ Siddhartha Gautama
"If you cling to something as the absolute truth and you are caught in it, when the truth comes in person to knock on your door you will refuse to let it in." ~ Siddhartha Gautama
