On My Mind: The Status Quo is Not Fine

I spent the entire afternoon on Tuesday listening to the CSPAN stream of the hearings about Military Sexual Assault.  Heartbreaking.  Infuriating.  Shameful.

I turned it on because I was thinking there would be some “support” from members of the committee for the status quo.  That’s not what I heard.  Regardless of the party, the questions and comments indicated outrage and concern and determination that things have to change.  And, rightly so.  Sexual assault and sexual discrimination is not a political party issue.  It’s a human rights issue.

What I believe has given real energy to these hearings and what has made them so very public is the number of women who are on the Senate Armed Services Committee determined that this conversation will not fade away or be dismissed, and that “the way things are run” is not working.  It’s obvious that it never has around this issue.  I just heard Maj. Gen. John Alternburg (Ret.) state that this didn’t become an issue until the past two years or so, because the military was focused on other important issues, like fighting two wars.

In the Tuesday morning (06/04/13) New York Times, Kirby Dick, the Director of the film, The Invisible War, wrote an op-ed column, Don’t Trust the Pentagon to End Rape.   I urge you to read the entire article and watch the film, which is being shown on various Public Television stations and is available online through Netflix.

Does this affect you if you aren’t a survivor or if you don’t serve in the military?  You bet.  Besides it being a human rights issue, it’s an issue that is chipping away more and more at the foundation of our military system.  It’s happening at an alarming rate at the military educational institutions.  Learning early?

Something has to be done.  There can’t be an immediate “outrage” and then the same old, same old be put back into play.

Now is the time to call your own representatives to let them know your feelings on this topic.   Services Women’s Action Network (SWAN) asks us to do the following:

CALL the Senate Armed Services Committee leadership listed below with this message:

“Thank you for holding this historic hearing on military sexual assault. We need you to reform the military justice system. The authority to prosecute violent crimes like sexual assault should rest with legal professionals. Please support Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s bill, S. 967.”

Senator Carl Levin, Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee  (202) 224-6221

Senator James Inhofe, Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee  (202) 224-4721

The military is rolling out their big guns to defend the current system.

Roll out your big guns.  Let your voice be heard.