Three names associated with contemporary feminist agendas during the sixties and beyond were Bella Abzug, Betty Friedan, and Gloria Steinem. During the decade of the sixties, the stage was set for the agenda and stream of bills to be introduced for Universal National Service. Another earlier activist and feminist, Margaret Mead, had advocated for such a program “that replaces marriage for girls even more than for boys, as the route away from the parental home.”
In 1966 Former Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, proposed a public service requirement for all Americans starting at ages between 17-19 to serve the country for two years in military, health and social services, and welfare programs.
In 2003 Rep. Charles Rangel introduced “The Universal National Service Act of 2003” and reintroduced it in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011. Draconian implications of that Act, if enacted, were laid out in an article in 2003 in which this writer collaborated, “Uncle Sam Wants You, Your Sister, and Your Girl Friend or Wife”.
The article is posted on www.newswithviews.com under Charlotte Iserbyt’s name. Other articles including, “Returning the Draft: the Universal National Service Act of 2006” are also available on www.newswithviews.com under Charlotte’s name. Just drip, drip, drip through the years the nation becomes conditioned to ignore, or fails to take seriously the drum beat of implementing a system of mandatory universal service for every young person 18 to 25-26.
The Selective service Registration has been in effect for young men since President Carter re-actualized the registration in 1980 after it had languished for some years. A Universal National Service is quite another thing.
Fast forward to 2016 when a registration for women was discussed by military service leaders appearing before the Senate February 2, 2016. It would require women registering for Selective Service same as young men have been required to do since Pres. Carter’s Administration. (San Jose Mercury/News (2/3/2016)
Note the shift in EMPHASIS from Congressman Rangel’s Universal National Service Act comprising of “military service, OR a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes” which has its own cans of worms which articles mentioned above address in detail. The requirement for women to sign up with the Selective Service implies availability for military COMBAT service since the Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter, in December ordered all combat jobs open to women. That decree appears to open the prospect of requiring young women to register for selective service as a matter of gender equality.
Implications of that speak for themselves should a military draft occur. The societal implication would be the final cap on movements already in motion. If young women were drafted during some of their prime reproductive years, who would care for the babies and young children? Could the timing of planning for Selective Service draft of young women have anything to with the latest mantra of Universal early childhood “education” which calls for government schools’ oversight beginning with prenatal visits? And documents from “education” sources which say parents are partners of the state re: children? Big Brother dressed in Uncle Sam’s suit to the rescue while Mom is in combat on some foreign battlefield?
Feminism arrived at last! Ultimate equality! To quote the “sage” utterances of the 60’s feminist leaders:
Bella Abzug – “We are coming down from our pedestal and up from the laundry room.”
Betty Friedan – “It’s easier to live through someone else than to become complete yourself.”
Gloria Steinem – “Without legs of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming after all is a form of planning”.
Excuse me but, “Up from the laundry room to a battle field” “Becoming complete with military combat experience” “Dreaming excitement of possibilities” Although I doubt Gloria Steinem who is anti-war, had the drafting of women for combat in her mind’s “Planning”. It doesn’t take a genius to predict that the feminist movement’s “dream-planning” would inevitably result in calls to draft women into military service. It’s been in motion for decades. Let us not forget Robert McNamara who recommended a form of universal service for all young people including women, was the same Robert McNamara who introduced PPBS (Planning, Programming, Budgeting System) into the Department of Defense. Planning accomplished, now the programming and budgeting coming next?
A question to ask the candidates during this campaign season.
© 2016 Mary Thompson – All Rights Reserved