The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 4 of 12)

Does a woman in the military stand a better chance of dying in combat or in a car accident? People die, and responsible parents (including women) make plans and write wills in case the unexpected happens. The idea that a widow raising children alone is less tragic than a widower raising children alone doesn't sit well with me.

Your example of Spc. Moore is as specious as any I've ever seen. If Spc. Moore was a man or a professional who had to attend a conference the same tragedy could have occurred, but then it wouldn't be news.

Your use of the phrase "her proper place" also bothers me. There was a time when the proper place of a woman included variations on three roles: mother, maid, and prostitute. I think reducing a woman's choices will end up pushing her into only those roles again. This is the goal of the sexist.

The military has changed during the last 30 years or so since it became an all-volunteer force. It changed a lot and people who are not serving in the service may not realize just how big a change it is. The military is where you can serve your country, earn a paycheck, and be promoted on your own merit.

p>So before you begin arguing about whether there should be women in the military tell me about your own service in uniform. Then tell me that women don't understand Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty; this is the heart of true military service. br> -- Jeffrey Ring br> Pasadena, MD /p>

Mr. Collins' comments in his article on mothers in the military may seem to be sexist, but as a woman, I agree with them.

It really has nothing to do with size and strength in combat or ability to fight when needed, it has to do with what children and their mothers need from one another.

The emphasis has been on the children as it should be, they are the vulnerable ones, the ones who have no control over their own lives. They can only trust their parents or in some cases, only their mothers/fathers to do what they see as best for the family.

I have read in different columns or papers that many single mothers join the military in order to attain a training that will lift them to a better job situation, better paying and more stable, and in this way be a better financial support for her children. I understand if a woman becomes a single parent while in the military there are benefits set up to help her with her situation. These are positive steps, and a woman is to be respected for doing the hard work needed in the military while raising children on her own.

It is tough, no doubt about that. I was not a single mother when my children were small, but my husband was away so much, I could be seen as single as I did most of the raising of my children, and later as a real single parent when they were teenagers.

I do not believe women who are single parents should be sent to places like Iraq, it has been seen that no matter how it may be set up for safety for them, horrible accidents can occur. I really thought about them, trying to understand how they must feel, leaving their children in the care of someone else no matter how wonderful they might be. The case mentioned in the article is a rare happening I am sure, and I cannot even imagine how painful it is for the entire family.

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