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From: marie@harvard.ARPA (Marie desJardins)
Newsgroups: net.college,net.flame
Subject: Re: "Universities need not verify draft status of students . . ."
Message-ID: <219@harvard.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 17-Dec-84 13:02:40 EST
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Posted: Mon Dec 17 13:02:40 1984
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> What we are arguing about is whether women should have to participate in
> some of the more "unpleasant" things men have to take part in.  

1) Speaking of unpleasant things, I hear childbirth is not such a
	wonderful experience (as far as pain goes).  In other words,
	there are some things which will *never* be equal.  (No, this is
	not an argument against drafting women, just a comment on the
	quoted statement above.)

2) In previous drafts, men have been allowed to stay home in several
	cases:  for example, if they were teachers or single parents.
	Even if there were to be a draft, we would have to let *somebody* 
	stay home with the kids (ok, it could be the man, but I hope you
	see my point).  In addition, you've got to leave at least some
	women behind to "perpetuate the species."  Again, this isn't an
	argument directly against the draft, just something to consider
	were a draft for women to be instituted.

3) I personally do not think I'm physically capable of any kind of
	serious hand-to-hand combat.  I know for a fact that I couldn't
	get through the training program that people joining the army
	(both men and women!) have to do.  This is probably true of some
	men, but more true of women.  I don't think it denigrates the
	overall equality of men and women to say "men are, ON THE
	AVERAGE, physically stronger than women."  (After all, we're
	prettier and can have babies besides! :-))


Just a few personal opinions on the idea -- I'm not sure how well any of
these really argue against having women in the draft.  (For the record,
I am against the draft in any case.)

	Marie desJardins
	marie@harvard