Julie Cyr joined ROTC and made a commitment to the army in exchange for a full ride through college. She was 19 at the time and didn’t know what to expect of officer training. But on her first day, she met Benjamin Keating.
In which a brilliant feminist Senator – New York’s Kirsten Gillibrand – stands up against rape and schools a U. S. General on how to do his job.
As we know, thousands of rapes are reported in the military each year, manifold more go unreported, and a female soldier in a combat zone is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire.
Women lived in germ-ridden camps, languished in appalling prisons, and died miserably, but honorably, for their country and their cause just as men did.The untold stories of women who dressed and served as men in the Civil War
centerforinvestigativereporting:
The Shooter
The Navy Seal who killed Osama bin Laden left the military with no pension, few job prospects and no protection for himself or his family. Why does one of the most decorated combat veterans of our age have no landing pad in civilian life?
For the first time, the man responsible for killing Al Qaeda’s leader tells his story, giving an in-depth look at the raid that changed history, and how the U.S. government has failed to help its most skilled warriors when they return home from service. Read the full story, produced in cooperation with Esquire.
Pentagon’s Top General: Barring Women From Combat Has Contributed to Military Sexual Assaults
“It’s because we’ve had separate classes of military personnel,” said Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “The more we can treat people equally, the more likely they are to treat each other equally.”
“We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear. I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and goodwill of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust.
I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which, rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.”
Queen Elizabeth, drumming up support for her 1588 campaign against King Philip II of Spain, from States of War, our very first issue.
We studied this speech in my 11th grade AP English class… I don’t think I’ve read it again since then.
From the 2012 archives: Richard Wolinsky interviews Helen Benedict on her novel Sand Queen and the ongoing problem of sexual assault and internal violence in the military.
“The mandates from the government, the permission to torture, the lack of of a clear mission, trying to run the war on the cheap, and treating soldiers badly, all of that erodes one’s moral compass, as soldiers like to say.”
just added Sand Queen to my Goodreads queue.
And yet, we still don’t offer servicewomen access to abortion.
Ricky Watson of Littleton, Colorado wipes tears from his eyes after he thanked President Barack Obama for repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” at a campaign rally in Golden, Colorado, September 13. Watson was kicked out of the Air Force 25 years ago for being gay.
(via apsies)
Source: theobamadiary.com
Don’t you think it’s TIME we stopped being surprised that America’s daughters are JUST as capable of doing their jobs and defending liberty as her sons?
Tammy Duckworth, “former Assistant Secretary for Public & Intergovernmental Affairs in the VA & the director of the Illinois Department of VA… an Iraq War veteran and former U.S. Army helicopter pilot whose severe combat wounds cost her both of her legs and damaged her right arm. She continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard along with her husband, Major Bryan W. Bowlsbey, a signal officer and fellow Iraq War veteran.” (via kateoplis)
tammy is a fucking hero, i want to hear so much more about tammy’s story
(via stayinbedgrowyourhair)
(via stayinbedgrowyourhair)
Source: kateoplis
Suicide Has Killed More Troops Than the War in Afghanistan This Year
154 active duty troops have committed suicide in the first 155 days of the new year—a rate alarmingly close to one per day. The number dead from suicides eclipses the U.S. forces killed in Afghanistan by about 50 percent.
Read more at The Atlantic Wire. [Image: AP]
Real-life chutes & ladders. #nyc #soho
This little company from Kenya makes toys from slippers that...
#MissPaws is also glad we’re back in Austin.
(All original content licensed under 
).
![theatlantic:
Suicide Has Killed More Troops Than the War in Afghanistan This Year
154 active duty troops have committed suicide in the first 155 days of the new year—a rate alarmingly close to one per day. The number dead from suicides eclipses the U.S. forces killed in Afghanistan by about 50 percent.
Read more at The Atlantic Wire. [Image: AP]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5au9z3Q7A1qcokc4o1_1280.jpg)