Well it’s time for the Dark Ages and we all know what that means, breaking out the Winter Class Dyke/Waffen SS uniforms for the next several months. After the first day of wearing this uniform, we are already seeing the problems with the system once more. Besides the obvious issue of appearance by tucking in the ties, the women here are now getting into trouble for wearing the traditional tie instead of the neck-tab. Now I have no idea where it says that all females must wear the neck-tab, if you know, please tell me so I can spit on the page of the Blue Book that says this.
We know the military has neck-tabs for women, but I’ve also seen women in uniform wearing the regular ties as well. So why are we so anal retentive about this? At BRC this morning I witnessed two female cadets get into a heated argument over this matter. Two cadets wearing the ties sat down at a table with cadets wearing neck-tabs. They were told “Only women who wear neck-tabs can sit here”. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but that was a pretty cold and inconsiderate gesture. As one female cadet said, “what are we back in the seventh grade?” During the inspection this morning those who decided to wear the ties were threatened they would be sent up to the GC.
Here is the problem, the evil empire of Smith Hall has decreed that all women are obviously different and therefore will be given different standards, now including uniforms. Instead of the tabs being optional, which they should be, they are forced onto them. I personally doubt that any girl here wearing a neck-tab is doing it to be more masculine, but rather they are wearing it because of tradition and the belief of “One Corps, One Standard”.
Ladies and gentlemen this is the end, the system is falling apart thanks to this beauraracy imposed by General Peay. What power of God enables him to say that women must be treated differently if the women here say they don’t need to be? He is forcing his own beliefs upon them, which is not the sign of a democratic society which we live in, but instead an autocracy. Yes this is a military school but we are also a state school, still falling under the same freedoms and liberties as everyone else in the free world. If the female cadets do not wish to wear these tabs, why should they be forced to? It is not the appearance of the tabs, but rather the message – “You’re different because we said so and we will make you look different.” The same idea is with the skirts, originally an option, now a proposed permanent change in the uniform.
“Well what can we do about it?”
For starters we need to put our opinions regarding femininity aside and look at the underlying issue: the right to choose. The freedom of choice and expression which is being trampled on just like the traditions we’ve held dear for so long. Once we unite, may we fight back, whether it be by petition and voice, or by action and strength of arms. This is not an issue of feminism, this is an issue of personal liberties that we still have despite the fact we go to a military institution. Are we just going to sit here and let everything previous cadets worked so hard to attain collapse, and the blood our forefathers shed as well as some of our Brother Rats for us to have these freedoms revoked?
-Dr. Gonzo
