DATELINE: ON THE FRONT LINES, FIGHTING THE WRONG FUCKING ENEMY -- They stand proud, putting their lives on the line without hesitation to protect those who cannot protect themselves. They daily put on a uniform to fight tyranny and hatred, defend the rights of the individuals, and work tirelessly because they believe in the strength, the moral fiber of their country, and the American dream. They do that and more, and thank God they do.
Sadly, for a woman who serves, this commitment is not enough. She takes the same training, makes the same promise to serve, and will offer her life for her country. She is also in more danger of being attacked by the men she works with, the people that she is to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with and take orders from, than by the enemy they collectively face in battle. In Washington this week, hopefully some people will pull their heads out of their asses and effect some change, because it’s more than clear that those within the military who can effect change obviously don’t give a shit, or don’t want to.. This is change that has to come from the top. This is a change that has to be a complete cultural acceptance of women within their ranks, something that has been handled well with in other militaries in other countries; it is something that is apparently beyond the capabilities of the people calling the shots in the Pentagon, for absolutely no viable reason other than the lack of will and desire, or perhaps lack of respect for the women who wear the uniform.
First, some numbers… in 2008, over 3000 women serving in the US military were sexually assaulted. That was an increase of 9% from the year before. In 2010, 3,158 cases of sexual assault within the military were reported. Women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan face a 25% higher risk of being assaulted by men wearing the same damned uniform – not by the enemy they are ordered to fight. Only 8% of reported cases of sexual assault are investigated and prosecuted. Of those very few that are prosecuted, 80%... yes, that was 80%... of the men found guilty of the crime still receive an honorable discharge. It doesn’t take a fucking genius to see the problem here, or how to fix it; hold the suckers accountable for their actions.
In 2005, the military offered a new option for women who were attacked… they could file a ‘confidential or ‘restricted’ report that would allow them to get medical assistance for the injuries received from the attack while not making a formal complaint. There were 882 restricted reports of rape in 2010. Of the total number of claims for assistance because of PTSD resulting from sexual trauma, 66% of them are denied, most of these because there is no evidence, rape kits, statements or reports left on file; they are destroyed after only one year from the date the crime was reported. When the full results of the attack come to light, which often takes some time, it is too late for the victim to get help… there is no way she can go after legal compensation, and there is no way she can file for medical compensation or a pension or any other sort of assistance… and this is from a society that prides itself on being progressive and proactive? Morally bound and tolerant?
When a woman is assaulted in the military, should she become pregnant from that attack, she is not entitled to an abortion as part of her standard health care. There is no other group of people who receive government-funded health care who are not entitled to this, other than the women who serve in the Peace Corps. For the victim who serves, her records are not kept confidential; she is ostracized, her career in the military is essentially over the minute she says anything – again because no one is held accountable by the Brass. She is not entitled to the same rights as ANYONE else in US society or in the US military, and that by itself is criminal and it is disgusting.
We get outraged at the treatment of women in the Middle East, how the Taliban keeps them from going to school or working, throws acid on them, throws bombs in their rooms, kills them for looking at a man. We demand something be done to guarantee people have equal rights around the world, the right to vote if they want it, and yes, there are women soldiers and marines who are fighting for these rights along with their male counterparts, so why the hell is she not entitled to the same rights, the same respect as the men in the US military? These women, like the men, worked their asses off in order to meet the same standards, they performed the same tasks to get to where they are, except they had to fight the rampant discrimination that their male counterparts have never had to endure. So what the fuck are the Brass… those rear-echelon motherfuckers… thinking in sitting back and letting this go on, unchallenged. Why turn a blind eye to this? Would they do the same if their own daughters happened to be the ones in uniform who were sexually assaulted? Not fucking likely. Within the pentagon, within the ranks, the men talk the talk, but that’s about it… and the time has come to say that these women deserve one hell of a lot better than they are getting.
This week, in the US House of Representatives, Representatives. Niki Tsongas, (D-Mass.) and Michael Turner, (R-Ohio) have introduced a bill that would force the military to keep these records and to make them available to the victims. That they have to is sickening, but God bless them for doing so. Yesterday, Representatives Susan Davis (D-Calif.), Robert D. Andrews (D-N.J.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) submitted an amendment to the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act that would allow rape survivors serving in the military full health coverage for abortion care. Thank God someone realizes this is NOT about a religious issue regarding the sanctity of life; this is an issue of absolute gross discrimination and a culture of degradation towards a person who did not ask to be in the situation she is in and who needs help because of a situation that was allowed by her employer. The condoning of abuse of women comes right from the top, and is present in every level down the chain. It is time for the doors to be slammed on this old-boys’ club… if they want that sort of shit as a way of life, I am sure there is some very affordable property in Iran and a leader who shares the same opinion regarding the place of women in the world.
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