by Andy Weddington
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." Sigmund Freud
Over the weekend akin material was sent to me - Secretary Ray Mabus's recent remarks about sweeping changes (some from his pen and others from Congress) coming to the United States Navy and Marine Corps and a photograph of Marine Options at the Naval Academy.
The remarks came first. Hours later the photograph.
Email aplenty from distraught Marines followed.
Something seemed amiss.
Without going into all the particulars of the Secretary's comments he told of change a coming - to everything from uniforms (everyone look alike) to physical fitness standards to overhauling career paths to promoting on merit vice tenure. There was more.
To me, some things made sense.
Others - directly impacting (combat) readiness - did and do not.
The photograph...
After reading the Secretary's remarks, how strange the direction of movement toward 'gender-neutral' appearance. Women in male style barracks covers but still female cut blouses and skirts and pumps?
Confusing.
Is the direction toward all Marines wearing "male" style uniforms?
That is, women attired as men?
Is that 'gender-neutral'?
Why not the opposite direction - male toward female?
Skorts?
And flats?
At first blush, the observations and questions sound silly. Even petty.
But not so fast.
With dinner conversation last evening with a Marine/SEAL (Retired) pal and another discussion early this morning with another retired Marine (infantry) mate added to the cognitive mix, some clarity.
Thinking back to undergraduate days and behavioral psychology (major) studies there just might be (at least beginnings of) explanation - for the women can do anything men can do ongoings being forced upon the Department of Defense.
Equipment resentment?
In a much criticized but not discounted theory, Freud shortened the perspective to...
Penis envy.
'...that ought to excite a few folks. I hope it does (Senator)...', to borrow from and paraphrase the sage (commenting on media coverage) linked in the Post Script.
Post Script
And to be clear, none of this perspective whatsoever critical of the remarkable young men and women serving and still willingly coming forward to serve country. Honorably and heroically they do. But pawns are they. Serious problems loom if they ever stop volunteering.
A recent germane equipment commentary: http://acoloneloftruth.blogspot.com/2015/04/panties-v-boxers-briefly.html
A sage opines:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy--whDNNKk
Author's Endnote (added post posting)
Freud's long-suspected complementary theory - (neglecting) vagina empathy - has yet to be discovered (amongst his [known] writings).
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