Argued with woman last night about politics and vietnam/iraq. I let it be, and dropped the subject because, as usual, she wouldnt concede a thing. However, she brought it up again about 30 seconds before I took her to the airport...she'll be home sunday night (conference on suicide in Portland).
I told her (half jokingly) that I'd have a paper ready when she gets back. I've done the research, and found one single report that evidences my whole simple argument, but I dont know if I should show her...I'll likely just piss her off.
The reason I want to show her is because I want her to take me seriously. She discredited my assertion because (1) I didnt serve in vietnam/iraq; (2) she talks with vets who have [about 12 of them]; (3) I've only talked to friends that have served, so they might be as truthful [wtf?]; (4) I've only read "the headlines" about iraq [but I've read FAR more than "just the headlines].
Basically, I want to show her that while he is usu right on small stuff, I am almost always correct in any argument I make about history/politics.
The dispute:
We watched a movie about vietnam. In bed, she was saying she didnt know much about it (e.g., she didnt realize that Saigon fell...when I asked why, she said because there is still the DMZ...she was obviously confused, so I corrected her). I went further to say that Vietnam was a shitty war because of all the politics bridling the military, and restricting the efficiency of the military, just like Iraq. Apparently she's never heard of politics hampering "our efforts" in Vietnam or Iraq. I went on to explain ROEs (Rules of Engagement) in Iraq, and that soldiers generally cannot fire unless they warn first. She gave me a few examples of her patients, stating that they shot kids in the face that threw rocks. I did not dispute that (nor do I now), but I simply argued that generally, the rule was to warn first. I saw she wasnt going to concede shit, even though I concede that "her guys" might have had specific unit rules, so I dropped it.
Right before I drove her to the airport today, she said "You really annoyed me last night." She then proceeded to tell me I couldnt be right because she had more one-on-one experience with vets, whereas my talking with friends was possibly inaccurate. Further, my "reading the headlines" wasnt enough to counter her "reading books" about the "war."
In support of my position, I quote to you page 14 of
this documentSoldiers in Operation Iraqi Freedom were just as likely to experience receiving incoming artillerym, rocket and mortar fire, receiving small arms fire, being in threatening situations where the couldn't respond due to the ROE...
That document, in one sentence, shows I am correct in my assertion about ROEs, and should be rather credible because it is a Mental Health doc.
Why are women so nuts?...
