This week, our useless Congress decided that women's rights continue to be unimportant in a white, male dominated society. A bill that would have taken legal jurisdiction over cases of sexual harassment and aggression away from commanding officers, and place them before independent legal authorities, was defeated in the Senate. 5400 individuals who filed charges in 2013 are now feeling despair, and have lost all hope for justice.
While top military officials have themselves been accused of sexual crimes, that same group will continue to be the deciders about such horrific charges. I, along with many others, have lost a great deal of respect for our military. When women, who serve along with the men in dangerous situations, are not only disrespected, but used as a sexual tool, something has to be changed.
Those of us who served in the military, and had an IQ above average, saw a great deal of hypocrisy on a daily basis. We were aware of the abuse of power, and how they tried to f**k with our minds. We were aware that it was taboo to report inappropriate actions by those with higher rank. This is exactly what happens to women who have filed charges against men with whom they serve. They are denied advancement and are frequently harassed.
The bill was sensible, and would have given those who filed charges a chance for a fair trial. The argument by military brass was a smoke screen. The truth is that they do not want to give up the unlimited power they possess.
There are many problems with our military. Billions of dollars are wasted yearly, and for those who choose to make the military a career, their advancement is at the discretion of his or her senior officers, to name a couple that continue to exist. This was one reform that could have worked and was necessary.
I hope those who fought for the change do not give up their fight. It's time the "good ole boy's club' faced the reality that women are equal to men, and should receive the respect and protection they deserve.
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