Pannetta Approves Women In Combat Roles

FredHayek wrote: Irony? Women from the Greatest Generation were probably tougher than the women of today and they couldn't serve in combat.

Why do you think they were tougher? What is the criteria for toughness? Many of the young women I meet of my daughters generation are physically fit and handle jobs that require both physical and mental toughness. I think you would find as many"tough" women in society today as you would find tough men. And some of them are already in the military serving admirably.

Tougher mentally. The women coming out of the Great Depression suffered a lot more than the current generation.

FredHayek wrote: Tougher mentally. The women coming out of the Great Depression suffered a lot more than the current generation.

I guess I don't understand your point......why do people have to suffer to become mentally tough? But, if that is true, then the men today are also not as tough as those coming out of the great depression.

I welcome the opportunity for women to aspire to any job they wish within the military. But no....I don't think any requirements should be changed for their benefit. I believe most women who compete for any job that is traditionally a male job want to be considered on their merits and abilities, not get special accommodations.

archer wrote: then the men today are also not as tough as those coming out of the great depression.

I cannot disagree.

archer wrote:

FredHayek wrote: Tougher mentally. The women coming out of the Great Depression suffered a lot more than the current generation.

I guess I don't understand your point......why do people have to suffer to become mentally tough? But, if that is true, then the men today are also not as tough as those coming out of the great depression.

I welcome the opportunity for women to aspire to any job they wish within the military. But no....I don't think any requirements should be changed for their benefit. I believe most women who compete for any job that is traditionally a male job want to be considered on their merits and abilities, not get special accommodations.

I would say the men who came out of the Great Depression were more mentally tough than the current generation too.

But interesting aside, if Panetta really thinks women in combat is a good idea and needs to be implemented now, why didn't he get this going on day one instead of dropping it in the lap of the new guy on his last day? You would think he would want to get this started the right way.

Grady wrote:

archer wrote: then the men today are also not as tough as those coming out of the great depression.

I cannot disagree.

I completely agree with you Archer. I don't believe men are anywhere near as tough as they used to be. Part of this is the "de-manning" of the males in our society, and part of it is the soft conditions we live in. Many young males I know today aren't willing to do "whatever it takes"....which is what helped build this great country.

As long as we remember that when we say "many men" or "many women" aren't as tough as previous generations......that there are also many men, and many women who are......I am always amazed when I meet young men and women who are doing extraordinay things, both physically and mentally. Women especially have entered into traditionally male jobs and done admirably....firefighters, law enforcement, medics, and the military. It is unfair to judge the young generation by the failings of a few.

archer wrote: As long as we remember that when we say "many men" or "many women" aren't as tough as previous generations......that there are also many men, and many women who are......I am always amazed when I meet young men and women who are doing extraordinay things, both physically and mentally. Women especially have entered into traditionally male jobs and done admirably....firefighters, law enforcement, medics, and the military. It is unfair to judge the young generation by the failings of a few.

Completely Agree.

archer wrote: As long as we remember that when we say "many men" or "many women" aren't as tough as previous generations......that there are also many men, and many women who are......I am always amazed when I meet young men and women who are doing extraordinay things, both physically and mentally. Women especially have entered into traditionally male jobs and done admirably....firefighters, law enforcement, medics, and the military. It is unfair to judge the young generation by the failings of a few.

The point is, a vast majority of males and females were quite tough in the "greatest generation"...now the majority are not. Yes, there are some excellent "tough" men and women still, they just aren't a majority. We had a military commander come speak to us a couple years ago at a seminar and they made one point about this young generation. If we had a draft today, a large # of young males couldn't complete the physical requirements to go to war. I guess this isn't a toughness issue though, but rather a health issue.

RenegadeCJ wrote: [
The point is, a vast majority of males and females were quite tough in the "greatest generation"...now the majority are not.

I don't know how you can make that claim without some sort of study........it has certainly not been my experience with both generations.....

My mom is part of that "greatest generation" and women of her era were very lady-like, not much into sports, more into the "womanly" arts, like cooking, sewing, crafts, etc My mom ran a small business, a dance studio, but she was the exception not the rule, and she took plenty of criticism for it. ....this is what women of my generation fought against, society not allowing women to rise above the stereotypes and reach their full potential. The nostalgia for the society of the 40's and 50's baffles me.....as one who grew up then, they were not all that great (most especially for women).