We need more Senators like Kirsten Gillibrand and Claire McCaskill who mirror the views of Obama and others to change the military. We already have Michelle Obama working on the needs of soldiers and their families, and those Senators like Patty Murray who work hard to attend to the needs of soldiers and their families and we need more.
And less swayed by private defense contractors who have been a source of illicit behavior again and again. Working alongside regular military they cannot be ignored, nor has the sexist voice of Rush on AFN. They have effected people in uniform and IMO, denigrated the force. Yes, this has been going on for a long time and some veterans joined these companies to act an the fashion of mercenaries to make up for what they saw as a lack of financial gain in their years in the service. They are a formidable economic and political block in this country, and not for the better, I say. We must elect their opposition.
I don't want those who are and have been doing what is right, to be punished by the acts of those who have found an unofficial (and I still will say unofficial despite my anger, justified or not at this judge going against the tidal change that must happen on this issue) niche to commit predatory acts in uniform. Rape culture has no place in our government, supported by taxes.
Goodness knows there has been enough to be angry at the military about, for which Congress and presidents who were elected by the public for whatever reason, set them on the path to do. They are not a law unto themselves, but with large bureaucracies, like large corporations, they may appear that way. While some may want to destroy all large organizations hoping it will free mankind, the needs of mankind can sometimes only be meet by large groups.
Life in uniform is a transformational event. The people in the service are trained to do things we find laudable, such as those who went to assist Hurricane Sandy survivors and communities and those who come back to use their educations to move us forward in many fields. I'm not bashing all of them, but I won't excuse criminal behavior that maims the lives of others.
Because that isn't moving us ahead. A number of women and men who were mistreated and did not get justice from these military run courts have come back to lives of mental disorder, homelessness and committed suicide. They could have been so much more, and have been devalued while the perps have not. It's time to turn that way of thinking around wherever it is has a foothold. I'm sure, from the comments of veterans here at DU, that the vast majority of those who serve and have served, don't want these perps finding a comfortable home where they once risked everything.
It's about badly needed social change. When the orders on racial integration in the service by Harry Truman came into effect, there was still opposition to it but change came, and it was past time it came. The military has been forced to effect social engineering within its own ranks that have benefited society in the past, and the people who leave the military will be helping move society forward from their latest changes, with women and gays.
Even though we have this to deal with now, it will change. Those who join the service come from many backgrounds and cultures but many have said their time in the service changed their views on other people and upon their return to civilian life, transformed their neighbors with their experience. This is going to happen again.
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