Support the (male) troops

Rick Santorum has taken another giant dive into the pool of bigotry this past week.

In response to the recent prospect that women may get to serve closer to the front lines in armed combat, Santorum objected, claiming their “emotions” could stand in the way and essentially dismantle the military.

Then, in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Santorum listened with a dopey smile on his face to a vehement letter from a service member who was stationed in Afghanistan.

The man does not see his folly and very openly finds the reactions that he is getting comical.

A day later he went to NBC’s Today Show with a new twist on his statement: He told Ann Curry that it is the intrinsic emotional reaction of men that he is worried about.

Apparently the entire American public misconstrued whose emotions he was talking about. He now claims if men were to see women in danger, they would react in irrational ways to protect them.

So, Santorum got smart. But is this opinion any better?

Regardless of the blatant wrong that he still does not seem to see women equal to men, Santorum should also realize that thinking men will irrationally jump into battle to save a woman because of her gender is still horribly demoralizing on
multiple fronts.

With this new claim, Santorum essentially said that soldiers only feel a need to save someone or only get emotionally vulnerable when women are involved.

He also perpetuates the “damsel in distress” thought process that many have found arcane.

Soldiers should treat all of their comrades with equal respect and dignity regardless of sex. A male soldier would jump in to save another male soldier just as he would if that soldier were a female.

Not only is the argument difficult in itself, but Santorum has no proof to back any of his claims. He has neither seen women in combat act in the fashion that he describes nor has he presented any substantial data on the issue.

The American justice system is based on the principle that one is innocent until proven guilty, and it appears that female soldiers are rather innocent.

Santorum’s rationale for discriminating against women is undoubtedly flawed and unwarranted.

These are women who voluntarily protect our country — Santorum included — and should keep that right to defend. We have no right to disregard their wishes and desires to fight on our behalf.

Regardless of where you lie on the pacifist spectrum, you must still respect, care and support our troops.

Santorum is not doing any of these things with his current viewpoint — a bold move for a Republican.

Our country prides itself in its freedom. Our troops should be reflective of that.


­— sjostrow@indiana.edu