> Michael, I was completely kidding. Pushing credulity to show the > silliness of the point. I miss kidding sometimes. :)
> As for the military service, I thought women WERE required to serve, > but could opt out for family or hardship reasons (I admit I am not an > expert). I also seem to remember they server way less time as reserves > than their male counterparts. Nope. I double checked. "Sheyrut L'umi" - Nation service is all that is required. If this national service is military or not is based on various criteria but it's not forced on women. On the other hand, men HAVE to serve unless they are in Yeshiva (or those who's parents allow them to skip). The idea of Yeshiva (which is controversial to this day in Israel) is that Torah study is a building block of the country spiritually as well as traditionally. On the other hand, there are special units that provide military service and Torah study at the same time and I heavily support the idea. But that's another rant for another day (against some of the practices of Israel's religious community) > (I still think manitory service is something we should adopt from the > Israelis, and other enlightened governments. Service should be the > price of citizenship. (Wouldn't have to be military service, but that > would probably be the quickest service). Starship Troopers. Read it. I agree that mandatory national service, which may include the military or actual civilian work projects should be required for some of the rights that we enjoy. As is, the best minds go directly into private practice and the best bodies go directly into sports. If the best minds were the ones running FEMA or other agencies then we would most probably have much better results. Yes, after lets say 2 years they can go private, but for those 2 years America has the top brains helping out. This should go doubly for anyone who wants to go into politics. Either serve the country first or don't expect to govern it. > As a side question, weren't many of the civilians killed in Israel > Arab? The same as many suicide bombers' victims? Why doesn't that get > the same level of outrage in the press as the killing of another Arab > in Lebanon? (Well, we know why, but I _hate_ such inconsistancy). Many implies close to 50% and while there are a number of Israeli Arabs killed, the numbers are much lower than 50% because they are not heavily represented in the target areas. The issue for the press is that they are Israeli Arabs so they are not distinquished from Israeli's. This is, of course, the way it should be. An Israeli is an Israeli just as an American is an American no matter their religion, race, gender or sacrificial practices. Oh, I made a mistake earlier. Druze Arabs are required to serve and do so to some very high level positions and on some very elite squads. Bedouins are not required but some do. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Introducing the Fusion Authority Quarterly Update. 80 pages of hard-hitting, up-to-date ColdFusion information by your peers, delivered to your door four times a year. http://www.fusionauthority.com/quarterly Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:214161 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
