Jane, We Hardly Knew Ye Died (65 Women troops killed in Iraq/Afgan)

[rodeodance]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/weekinreview/24alvarez.html?th&emc=th


Jane, We Hardly Knew Ye Died
Thuss Farrell

THE FALLEN Sixty-five American female soldiers have died in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Published: September 24, 2006

LT. EMILY J. T. PEREZ, 23, a West Point graduate who outran many men, directed a gospel choir and read the Bible every day, was at the head of a weekly convoy as it rolled down roads pocked with bombs and bullets near Najaf. As platoon leader, she insisted on leading her troops from the front.
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The Fallen

Profiles of the 65 American female soldiers who have died in Iraq or Afghanistan.
2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006



CUT SHORT Lt. Emily J. T. Perez.

Two weeks ago, one of those bombs tripped her up, detonating near her Humvee in Kifl, south of Baghdad. She died Sept. 12, the 64th woman from the United States military to be killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Eight died in Vietnam.

Despite longstanding predictions that America would shudder to see its women coming home in coffins, Lieutenant Perez’s death, and those of the other women, the majority of whom died from hostile fire (the 65th died in a Baghdad car bombing a day later), have stirred no less — and no more — reaction at home than the nearly 2,900 male dead. The same can be said of the hundreds of wounded women.

There is no shortage of guesses as to why: Americans are no longer especially shocked by the idea of a woman’s violent death. Most don’t know how many women have fallen, or under what circumstances. Photographs of body bags and coffins are rarely seen. And nobody wants to kick up a fuss and risk insulting grieving families.

“The public doesn’t seem concerned they are dying,” said Charles Moskos, a military sociologist at Northwestern University who has closely studied national service. “They would rather have someone else's daughter die than their son.”...........

[MADem]

1. Charlie Moskos hit the nail on the head

“They would rather have someone else's daughter die than their son.”

Only a draft will shake some of these clueless bastards up. And of course, if they do it by lottery, like they did the last time, it will take several years before the pain reaches critical mass and the kids turn off their x-boxes and toodle out into the streets with fists in the air.

[pecwae]

2. Some years back

I remember well the cry that America won't stand for their women to be killed in war. Apparently, as long as it's not 'their' woman (or man for that matter) all is well.

I have to repeat that last quote by Mr. Moskos:

"They would rather have someone else's daughter die than their son..........."

[DavidDvorkin]

3. Any loving parent would feel that way, Moskos

I hate to see anyone else's daughter die, or anyone else's son. But if I had to choose, I'd rather see that than see my own child die.

That does not mean that the public is not concerned. Nor does it mean that the public cares less about female troops dying than male troops. It only means that the deaths of both have been so downplayed, and the dead so robbed of their individuality, by the way the administration has treated those deaths, and by the collusion of the media in that tratment, that the public isn't aware of the deaths on a visceral level.

Does Moskos really feel that the parents of a son should react emotionally to the thought of their son's death as they would to the thought of someone else's daughter's death? Shame on him.

[twilight_sailing]

4. "she insisted on leading her troops from the front"

Can't talk now. All choked up.