Weather in the Tri-Cities for the next few days:  Monday, sunny but cool at 67, Tuesday warmer, Wednesday and Thursday around 77, clouds will start moving in Thursday, but temps will remain in the mid- to low-70s. Need warm? Need sun? Y’all come, heah?

It’s Still April, It’s Still National Poetry Month…and your local Poets still need support! Go into your favorite bookseller’s, ask them which poets are local (there’s probably a ‘local author’ section, if you know where to find it.) Of course, I want you to buy my books, I need support, but there are local poets to where you live and they need support, too 😉

Draft Women? Say What???

Read an interesting article in The Washington Post by Robert Barnes, headline: Biden administration asks Supreme Court not to hear challenge to all-male military draft. It seems someone is suing because they think the all-male draft is unconstitutional. Holy Moley, guacamole! why is this even a question? OF COURSE it’s unconstitutional! And if SCOTUS says it isn’t, then it’s time to change the constitution and bring it up-to-date.

To be honest, I didn’t realize the guys still had to register, since we have an all-volunteer military. But I agree, whole-heartedly, that if men have to register for the draft, then women should have to do likewise. 

If women and men are to be treated equally, it’s a given. All register, or no one registers.

Combat military occupational specialties are now open to women, so there is no longer any valid reason to impose the draft on men and not women. Women have not only served in combat with valor, but they have led the troops with honor, intelligence, and valor. 

Please, contact your congressperson/senator and ask them to address this issue and change this outdated, antiquated law. 

Now, I know there are Conscientious Objectors. I served with some when I was in the WAC, they were medics, and all had been to Vietnam once, one had been twice, and wanted to go back for a third tour, but he’d have to re-enlist, and that would remove his CO status. 

I firmly think there should be an alternative to the Military for those who want it—the US Public Health Service would be a great place to start. (It’s already one of the seven Uniformed Services). If women or men don’t want to enlist in the military, fine, they can enlist into the USPHS for the same amount of time and the same pay grades. They will go where needed—inner cities or rural. They will train as medics, wear a uniform, and serve their country. They won’t have to carry a weapon, and if war comes, they can be transferred to the military, as medics, and still not carry a weapon.

So, yes, women should be required to sign up for the draft. Women should be called forth when needed. And if you’re curious, I was told by some old time GIs when I was in, as a whole, women make better shots than the men. The main reason is they shut up and listen to directions instead of trying to figure out how the weapon works on their own 😉 I was invited to join the rifle team, and was all set to do so, until I discovered I’d have to buy my own practice ammo. You priced that stuff? And for practice, where I’d go through hundreds of rounds in a week? Uh, no, I don’t think so. Broke my heart, though. M16s are a lot of fun to fire. 

So please, call your elected officials in the other Washington, and ask them to support women signing up for the draft.

Dawn on the Columbia River, 16 April 2021, 0604

Entertainment:

Netflix: I guess I’m still watching 100 Days My Prince. But except for the news now and then, not much TV.

Books: For full reviews, please go to: http://lenoragood.blogspot.com

Finished Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents —by Isabel Wilkerson. I think it should be a class taught in high school, and if students want to graduate, they need to take it. The class reads the book and discusses it, in depth and at length. One of the best books I’ve ever read. Maybe the best nonfiction book I’ve ever read.

Education: Haven’t been able to finish the iPhone Photo classes, but am on last module, and have been taking pix. I actually had some printed and bought frames and hung them in my bathroom.

I am taking workshops in poetry, signed up for a 6-week class that starts on Wednesday. Tuesday is a 2-hour workshop. I’m so excited about both of them! See, I do need your support. Workshops cost money 😉

Quote for the Week: Ahmet Altan is a Turkish journalist and author who found himself speaking truth as he saw it to power and spent four years in a Turkish prison. While there he wrote:

“You can imprison me but you cannot keep me here. Because like all writers, I have magic.” —Ahmet Altan.

Have a great week. Sammy Brave Dog and his human ;-)Draft Women?