A draft for women? Last Updated: 3:46 AM, June 19, 2011 Posted: June 19, 2011
Women have been serving in the US military for decades. But is it time to include them in ground combat units?
New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez believes so — but then, he seems to think that the prime role of the military, even in wartime, is to serve as a job-training center.
“I am concerned about the inconsistency that the combat-exclusion policy presents for women in our armed forces,” he says.
By which he means that women must be given the same training and career opportunities as men — and he says he’s preparing legislation to do just that.
But that’s getting out ahead of the equality game.
First, Menendez needs to fix it so that every 18-year-old female in America has to register for the draft — just like the guys.
Even though the draft ended in 1973, all males (including resident aliens) must sign up with the Selective Service System within 30 days of their 18th birthday, as a preparedness measure should conscription be reinstated — as some, like Rep. Charlie Rangel, have proposed.
Failure to do so subjects one to five years’ imprisonment, denial of many federal benefits (as well as a driver’s license) and a fine of up to $250,000.
Practically speaking, there’s scant likelihood that the draft will be reinstated. The military doesn’t want it, and there’s no public appetite for it.
Symbolically, however, if equal rights are at issue, equal responsibilities should come into play, too. Right, Sen. Menendez?
Fact is, there are valid and important reasons why women as a rule should be excluded from ground combat. And they are rooted in the general physical differences between the sexes.
Yes, some women can handle combat, just as some men can’t. But the substantial physical distinctions make a real difference when it comes to engaging in sustained ground combat — or even training realistically for it — as repeated studies have demonstrated.
As distressing as this may be to all the Bob Menendezes out there, biology sometimes really is destiny — and pretending otherwise can have fatal consequences.
In the end, of course, Menendez doesn’t care about true equality. If he did, he’d amend his proposal to make women subject to the draft.
Clarence Clemons dies following stroke (I'm not a rabid Springsteen fan like most of nj, but this made me sad. RIP Big Man.) Written by Associated Press 9:57 PM, Jun. 18, 2011 Bruce Springsteen walks on stage with Clarence Clemons before the final concert at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford in October 2009. / TP COSTELLO / ASBURY PARK PRESS/NJ PRESS MEDIA 20
Clarence Clemons, the legendary saxophonist of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, died Saturday in a Palm Beach, Fla., hospital at age 69, The New York Times reported.
Clemons’ death followed a stroke he suffered last weekend. At 6 foot 4 inches, Clemons was known as the Big Man in the E Street Band, and his sax was one of the defining elements of the band's sound.
Clemons, the most famous member of the E Street Band whose name isn't Bruce Springsteen, published a memoir in 2009.
According to the book, “Big Man,” Clemons was raised in Virginia and found himself working at what was then known as the State Home for Boys in Monroe (also known as the Jamesburg Reform School), as a counselor and playing semi-pro football on the side.
A car accident ended his hopes to play in the NFL, and he turned his attention to a career with his saxophone, playing in such Asbury Park bands as the Chosen Few, which backed the Broadways (featuring Asbury Park's Billy Brown, Leon Trent and Ronnie Coleman), best known for the hit “Going, Going, Gone.”
The Big Man joined the E Street Band in 1972. The Clemons-Springsteen friendship, as depicted in “Big Man,” is tight, spiritual, fun and at times loopy.
Musically, Clemons brought a shot of old time rock 'n' roll to the E Street Band, along with a good helping of soulful R&B, whether by accents or undertones. Onstage, he served as the Boss’ perfect foil and was often included in Springsteen’s onstage banter.
The friendship, set against the racially sensitive post-riots period of the ’70s, suggested a striving for a broader unity, of a true love among the races.
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