Over the Moon
Thanks to friends and strangers who showed up for my book talk about “Never Ask Permission” at Over the Moon Bookstore in Crozet on the 23rd. You braved some serious cold to turn up, and not only listened but bought the book! Thank you, as well, to Anne and Laura, the sister owners of Over the Moon, for inviting me to give a book talk there.
Women in Combat
I was intrigued this week, when Secretary of Defense Panetta announced that women in the military would now be able to serve in combat positions. Their inability to do so up until now has understandably worked against their promotion; the rationale has been that they could not meet the physical requirements that men have to meet, especially in upper body strength.
Apparently, under the new rules, women will have to prove that they are capable of doing the job they would like to have, without down grading the physical requirements; a key to having men accept their presence.
Since I’m reading “Living with Honor” by Sal Giunta, who received the Medal of Honor in 2010, I immediately wondered if a woman would be strong enough to carry the SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) gun that can fire 900 rounds per minute. This was Giunta’s heavy assignment, made heavier still by the steep terrain of the Afghanistan mountains. Carrying commo equipment also requires unusual strength.
I’m all for the women who aim high. It strikes me, though, that while in this transition the military see/saw will go through some wild swings before it achieves a balance that men serving with women can accept.
