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Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You

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SarahMC
12/02/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
Why don't you boys just comment "Men are better than women" and move on to the next post that threatens your warped sense of male superiority?
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SharonTaint
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
one word: Lysistrata.

you can have your goddamned wars, you sacks of garbage.
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The Queen of No
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
Reading this seriously made me so angry that I started tearing up. I didn't know I could verge on hating two men I've never even met.
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Little Time Bomb
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
This woman deserves the silver star. As would a man who did the same in her place. My husband spent 15 months in Iraq and as long as he came home he wouldn't care if it was a man, woman or sentient piece of dog poo saved his life. I've never seen any soldier talk down about what their medics did for them. Army medics are amazing people who do soooooooo much.

I wonder though if these young men are still enlisted if perhaps they were not allowed to comment. The Army has a ton of regulations on who enlisted persons can speak with and what they can say. Saying she only got the silver star because she was a woman is a real dick move though.
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ayemaria
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
Wait... so those men who get the same award... they're just doing their respective jobs as well, right?

...
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NefariousNewt
12/01/08

@ayemaria: Of course not. They were being brave.

America: Land of the Free, Home of the Double Standard.
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sybann
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
Try to believe what I do - reincarnation is a bitch and they will be too. In a far less forgiving country.
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green_ipod
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
I know we're raining hell down on those guys here (and have a right to do so), but I feel like I have to interject that these men were seriously wounded and traumatized in combat. They're sorting through a lot of crap right now and will possibly regret their decision later. Also, they may yet thank her, but choose to do so privately. I'm not sure how much we can really call out about their perspective and minds from a short quote and a decision not to make a big deal of this on 60 Minutes. I'd like to think I'd be very grateful, but I'd probably be just as likely to dodge the press stuff. Even Monica seems a little non-plussed by all of the attention to it all.
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PhillyLass
12/01/08

@green_ipod: Well, they could have graciously declined and said something like, 'thanks for requesting the interview, but I'm not up to it right now' or 'I prefer to say my thank-yous privately.' Saying straight-up that women don't belong in combat when a woman who WAS in combat and SAVED YOUR LIFE by treating your wounds and putting herself between you and additional bullets and mortar is beyond ungrateful. It's revolting.
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That-Dude
12/01/08

@PhillyLass: Saying straight-up that women don't belong in combat when a woman who WAS in combat and SAVED YOUR LIFE by treating your wounds and putting herself between you and additional bullets and mortar is beyond ungrateful.

Can't you feel both ways? Are they mutually exclusive? Can't you be thankful that she was there but also feel (not making a judgment call on the merits of their beliefs) that women shouldn't be in combat?

Granted they did not choose this course of action, but I think this ordeal has a lot of layers . . . sort of like parfait.
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Shelwood
12/01/08

@That-Dude: You can continue to be an asshole, but you don't have to reply to a request for an interview about the woman in combat who saved your weasel ass by saying, "Bitch shouldn't have been there." But I guess someone who is that big of a waste of oxygen would do exactly that. So, in summary, no -- if a woman in combat saves your life, speaking out about your opposition to women in combat makes you the world's biggest hypocrite.
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Gretchen is a new kitten mom!
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
This does not surprise me in the least. I worked my way through college as a search and rescue medic. Many times I had guys who were clearly pissed about a couple of women (I was teamed with 2) finding their lost, sorry asses. Twice I had seriously injured guys refuse treatment from me for no reason other than brainless macho bullshit.

I really wish this young woman had the opportunity to go back in time with the knowledge she now has about her colleagues, so she could leave the stupid shitweasels to die. I'm pretty certain, though, she would do her job anyway and let God sort it out later.
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dirtybee
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
She saved my life, but she shouldn't have been there in the first place.

What a pair of dickwads.
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dj_chick
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
I was out working at a bar one night (being there for work means staying sober!) and 2 soldiers came over to chat. I don't know how we got on the subject, but the 2 drunk ones decided to go on a rant about how women don't belong in the military because when they hear gunfire, instead of ducking, they look around like idiots asking who is making popcorn.

I kid you not.

Had the two guys not been three sheets to the wind, and had I not been representing the radio station, it's very likely that I would have kicked them both in their man-bits.
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SarahMC
12/01/08

@dj_chick: To be perfectly honest, I couldn't give two shits if most men in the military were blown to bits this minute. Fuck 'em.
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jodark
12/01/08

@SarahMC: "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf"
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SarahMC
12/01/08

@jodark: "You're just doing your job."

I could do without you slaughtering people in my name, though, thanks.
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NefariousNewt
12/01/08

@jodark: You can change that to "men and women." I sleep better knowing that people like Monica Brown are fighting for my freedom and protection.
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jodark
12/01/08

@NefariousNewt: Yeah words are easy to change. Reality is different. And reality is that men make better killers.
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SarahMC
12/01/08

@jodark: And since, according to you, men are better at killing, then killing is the only important duty performed by people in the military. Amirite?
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ceejeemcbeegee is not here
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
You know, if men don't want us there, then maybe we shouldn't be there: Let these bastards die in combat.

Assholes.
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Hana Maru
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
If you're a feminist, then so's Camille Paglia. Check that internalized sexism and try again.
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Hana Maru
12/01/08

@HanaMaru: Sorry, that was supposed to go under UshaEuropa.
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JinxyMcDeath
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
From my father, a conservative 20 year military veteran who served in multiple wars, after I sent him this link and asked him if he's seen the story and whether he was ok with how the guy who saved her life acted:

She did her job. I am proud of her. The guy he saved will forever be an a-hole.

love,
dad

So yes, saying "she did her job" is not negating what she did. You're SUPPOSED to be a hero in the military, but you're also SUPPOSED to be rewarded when you risk your life for others.
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susanstohelit
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
Wow. It's shit like this which makes me really respect female members of the military - it's hard enought to read about it, but to know they LIVE surrounded by this super-macho, you don't belong here attitude every day? And manage to go above and beyond the call of duty? Seriously, word.
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exelizabeth
12/01/08

@susanstohelit: Just being there seems like it's above and beyond the call of duty. Seriously, they do everything the men do, but with ten times the harrassment and abuse, in addition the the very real threat of rape... by their own squadmates.
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cirocco
12/01/08

In reply to Military Heroine Discovers That Saving A Man Doesn't Make Him Respect You
From Brown's interview: "I wasn't scared for my life, I was scared I wasn't going to be competent." If you're more worried about being incompetent than DYING, someone has really been doing a number on your self-esteem.

You are a noble soul, Private Brown. Don't let the bastards grind you down.
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