Israeli soldiers seek to freeze sperm

[sabra]

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,20067973-5006506,00.html

Israeli soldiers seek to freeze sperm

THE violence of the war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia is prompting a growing number of Israeli troops to ask for their sperm to be frozen before going to combat, a family rights organisation said.

"This is a completely new phenomenon. Soldiers are coming to us because they are afraid of dying in combat and they want to freeze their sperm," said Irit Rosenblum from the New Family organisation.

She said at least 30 soldiers, mainly reservists, had turned to the organisation asking if they could have their sperm frozen in order to allow their families to give them offspring should they be killed in action.

Sperm banks exist in Israel but donors must remain anonymous and Ms Rosenblum is campaigning for the adoption of the "Biological Will Law" - a Bill she drafted to establish a sperm bank for soldiers as soon as they enlist.

[leesa]

1. Good idea. With them using DU weaponry they will also face DNA

mutations in Lebanon.

[mom cat]

8. Will the use of DU by Israeli troops finally get this issue on the table

for discussion? It is a crime that it is being used anywhere.

[w4rma]

9. It might since Lebanon is next door to Israel so Israel will be affected

as well.

[mom cat]

12. As well as their troops.

[uppityperson]

14. I can see that. Anyone going into service who wants DNA to survive

this would be how to do that.

[daleo]

2. I don't see why donors must remain anonymous

If a couple wants to "bank" the man's sperm that ought to be up to them (not just soldiers). Does Israel have religious groups preventing this?

[MrPrax]

3. Wouldn't the children be out of wedlock?

(and Yes I was tempted to use the *other* word -- but thought best ;-)

[kenny blankenship]

4. Won't this cost them Fundygelical support in the states, though?

[whistle]

5. How does this practice sit with the Christian fundamentalists?

[Caoimhe]

6. Who pays child support?

Would the child get a pension for their dead father? Lots of questions.

[Kagemusha]

7. Okay, I saw this in Star Control 3...

Warriors freeze their sperm and those who are worthy - that is, those who die honorably in battle - get to reproduce.

Earth's catching up to those guys fast huh.

Edit: This was an alien race in a computer (sci fi) game.)

[IronLionZion]

10. They want their widows to become single moms?

But why?

[Nihil]

11. Figures ...

... let's face it, their leaders are a bunch of w*nkers too ...

[Megahurtz]

13. I think that's just fucking weird. n/t

[Kailassa]

15. It's sad enough already if children lose their fathers in war.

But to purposefully have a child without 2 parents is not fair on the kid.

And I'm speaking from the point of veiw of one who has raised 3 kids on her own.

[Thor_MN]

16. Cheap insurance in case you get shot in the cojones.

In my mind, the biggest problem is when to make the deposit... Unless you do it after you have been deployed for a bit, I'm thinking depletion would be an issue. If I knew I was going into a combat zone, I would be getting as busy as possible...

It would be selfish to expect your wife/girlfriend to make withdrawals, but giving her the option is not a bad thing in my mind.