A Different Battlefield

     Equality has reached another milestone.  The Pentagon's decision to end it's ban on women in combat states that discrimination has no place in a society that honors fairness and equal opportunity.  In today's reality, gender based discrimination is fast becoming a relic of the past.  In many respects the military of today is the most equal institution in our society.  Minorities have achieved greater success in the military than almost any private sector company.
     This new policy will have people who disagree.  There will be grumblings from the sexist who will defend their reprehensible statements.  Such people will argue that women in combat will be captured and raped forcing their male counterparts into repeated rescue attempts causing unneeded loss of life.  That argument may be true but any soldier should always try to save the life of another comrade no mater which sex they are.
     War has changed.  Today's combat is not fought by men in trenches on a front line.  In today's war driving a truck down a road lined with explosive devices is the reality of combat in modern warfare.  Is the truck driver fighting had to hand?  No but he or she could become a casualty of war just the same.
     I applaud the Pentagon's policy change.  The result will make for a more diverse and deeper pool of talent for the United States military.  When you treat people equally the more likely it is they treat each other equally