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Ban lifted on openly Transgender people serving in the US Military
- Thread starter Laika
- Start date
I view the objections in the same way as I view the objections to women and gays in the military. It seems to primarily be 'It'll distract and confuse the boys!' which is as crap a reason for baring their military service as it would be for any hazardous occupation. (i.e. women or gays in construction or as astronauts.)
RationalSkeptic
Freethinker
I would say that combat efficiency would come from soldiers who do not care the race, sex, sexuality, gender, and such of the person next to them.
Are you saying that you would be distracted by such things?
If so I would say it would be your fault for being distracted by them and not their fault for fighting how they should.
BSM1
What? Me worry?
And I would venture to say that you've never been a nineteen year old soldier or sailor, especially one in a life or death combat situation.
RationalSkeptic
Freethinker
You assume too much.
I would also want to ask how it is the females, transsexuals, and such that are at fault in your proposed scenario.
However since you are showing reasons that come from your conclusions and not reasons that lead to it, forgive me if I do not accept them as valid reasons.
BSM1
What? Me worry?
You're loss...sorry..
RationalSkeptic
Freethinker
What loss?
You guys are missing the point. It is not that all of a sudden there are going to be transgender people in the U.S. military. The are already transgender people in the military. Transgender people who are risking their lives right now for their country. The only thing that has changed is that now they are going to be allowed to be open about it and keep their jobs. And they will be given the respect they deserve for serving their country.
This video is almost exactly one year old now. Start at 6:35 to get a good description of the state of affairs that this new policy is going to remedy.
Now that we can be cannon fodder, they need to make health insurance companies cover transsexual-related health care.
Terrywoodenpic
Oldest Heretic
A nineteen year old soldier is not in the least concerned abut the sex or sexuality of the person next to them, or the person shooting at them. Not in my day in the 50's and not now. You don't care about anything except doing what you have to and staying alive.
And what on earth is age supposed to do with it.
Pish posh? Exactly what do you mean by "Pish posh"?
BSM1
What? Me worry?
You did not have to deal with this in the 50's.
Eloquent!
My son has. Two tours of duty in Afghanistan in combat as front line infantry. He does not share the same opinion as you.
Terrywoodenpic
Oldest Heretic
Do not suppose that there were no gays and transsexuals then. There were. and they had to keep their heads down
(Dont ask and dont tell) but we knew, and did not care. If they were caught they were dd.
BSM1
What? Me worry?
Thank him for his service.
I will, and that's appreciated.
My husband served in combat as well in Iraq '03-'05. So our progressive family is not immune from the hell that is war. Having to get a message from my son that he believed was a goodbye letter to me as his mother he loves deeply is also an experience not many mothers share in. But opinions aside, I'm sure other moms can imagine and sympathize and still stand firm on their ethics.
That being said, if a trans person is fit to serve, then cis people who are soldiers and sailors need to get over whatever assumptions and prejudices they may carry into battle. If protecting a soldiers prejudices is more pressing than protecting the unit, then not only would that jeoparize the mission, but it would put troops at greater risk.
My son or my husband should not be regarded as reasons to pause over because they are socially progressive and atheists.
I'd expect the same for people who don't fit the stereotype of a ready military - white, male, straight, Christian, cis.
Mmhmm. Many of them would be just be closeted. They could be post-transition or haven't transitioned yet.
Christine Jorgensen was famous during the '50s as being a trans woman who had previously been a GI during WWII:
