From: holzman@fnalno.fnal.gov (Daniel B. Holzman)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Kill and Inter the Draft, and "callousness"
Date: 13 Aug 1992 17:06:54 GMT
Organization: FERMILAB
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: anableps.berkeley.edu
Originator: muffy@anableps.berkeley.edu

In article <16bc6jINNp1i@agate.berkeley.edu>, 
Diane Bailey <dbailey@cix.clink.co.uk> writes:

> Read my words:  THERE IS NO DRAFT IN MY COUNTRY, OR YOURS.

Then exactly what did I register for on my 18th birthday, under pain of
fine, imprisonment, ineligibility for student loans, and other sanctions?

> Nearer home, what are you doing about America having one of the lowest
> proportion of women in its legislature of any country? 

Voting for Carol Mosely Braun for the US Senate, will support Pat Schroder
again should she choose to run for President.

> What about the women of America who have to brave crazed fundamentalists to
> obtain an abortion?  

You must mean the ones I've escorted past said crazed fundamentalists.

> Where is your concern that there are so few
> women on this network, and nowhere warm and welcoming to attract
> them?  

Making the net more accessable.

> While you are taking my time here, couldn't you be doing
> something valuable?

I'm doing lots valuable.  Why do you assume I'm not?  What are you doing of 
value while taking my time?

> And while you are still unconvinced about the "draft", will you
> tell me why able-bodied and capable men should _not_ be prepared
                                                          ^^^^^^^^
> to defend those who cannot defend themselves, or are less able,
> if there are adequate alternatives for those with genuine moral
> grounds to abstain (which surely there are, or should be since
> women and men spent much energy fighting for those rights earlier
> this century)?  

Firstly, the issue is not one of preparation, but of compulsion.  I shall
defend whom I choose to defend, able or otherwise.

Secondly, you should know better than to assert that women cannot defend
themselves.

Thirdly, the answer is the same reason that able-bodied and capable women 
should _not_ be compelled to bear children for people who cannot do so
themselves.  That's my *life* you're oh so casually putting at risk! 

The underlying assumption in your question is that it's OK for me to die, but
not woman.  Why is that?  Why is my life worth less?  It is exactly this 
attitude that we men's activists are decrying!

And if you are going to not only fail to oppose this attitude, but perpetuate
it, why should I aid you in your issues?  I recently illustrated for someone
here what is in it for women who support men's issues.  What's in it for me to
support yours?

> I personally believe very strongly that women
> should have the equal right to fight too, but a lot of men in the
> military seem convinced that women count as among the "less
> able".  To serve under the UN flag in a peace bringing situation,
> as a member of a national armed service with some of the best
> equipment in the world, would be for me a privilege (I mean that;
> give me a truck and send me to Sarajevo).  Which is not to say
> that there is not a deal of brutality, sexism, racism, homophobia
> and various other stupidities which need rooting out of those
> services (which *is* a concern of mine) in both your country and
> mine, and *some* political work to be invested (also a concern of
> mine) to prevent more Granadas, Panamas, Falklands, Northern
> Irelands and Kuwaits, not to mention Vietnams.  

On this much, I will agree.

> But bleating on
> about the "draft" doesn't deal with those; in fact I think, as
> priorities and courses of action go, it is totally wrong-headed,
> IMHO.

That's an easy judgement to make when it isn't your life in jeapordy.

--
Daniel B. Holzman                    | Eight Words the Witch's Rede Fufill:
HOLZMAN@FNAL.BITNET                  | An It Harm None, Do What You Will
HOLZMAN@FNALC.FNAL.GOV.INTERNET      |
                                     | All Acts of Love and Pleasure are
Love doesn't subtract,               | Her Rituals
   it multiplies    - Heinlein       |
TEAM STAR Charter Member             | Speak the Word.
Disclaimer:  Fermilab's far too large to have an opinion, let alone mine.


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