Randi,
Thanks for the update from Keri. It is sad that nothing has been or will be done about her sexual harassment. I mean for them to tell her what happens in Kuwait stays in Kuwait is ridiculous! I am glad that she is trying to go on with her life even after all of that trauma. Hopefully she’ll fully recover and be OK. My thoughts and prayers go out to her and all of the others dealing with these problems.

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

Keri-
what seems to me to be a more and more common belief across our nation is the notion of “out of sight out of mind”…the members of the state of WI have no idea what it must be like for you, for other women in our forces, or for anyone in our forces for that matter, who have suffered for our country overseas and now even back home.

They would not be singing the same song if they were the ones in your position. That shows how two faced our government can be. It’s pretty unfortunate, especially when you think about the fact that you were a member of our military since 1991, before many women were, showing that you are a dedicated and tough woman, but they refuse to hear your cries.

I have family members who served overseas and have spoken with their families about what they experienced. It encouraged me to take a few months off college and went to Malawi, Kuwait, Ghana, Nicaragua, and Somalia. I went with nothing but a video camera and I mainly took the trip just for myself, to see how diverse our world is, and just those three months changed my life. I can not imagine how that can compare to the men and women who served in Kuwait, and continue to try to reshape our world today.

Those months impacted my life, but nothing to what you have faced, and I wish you the best in the future.

Keri,

I sympathize with you and hate that you had to go trough that harassment. But, in all honesty, I have some concerns. Though I don’t deny that this happens all the time, I can’t believe that the Army would take that stance. I just retired with over 21 years and in that time, I saw many people (mainly men) get fried for not knowing their boundaries. I also saw many guys be wrongly accused and suffer great consequences because the Army takes it so seriously that they sometimes go over board. I’m truly sorry that you experienced such trauma. What did your unit Commander or 1st Sergeant say when you reported this while it was still going on? If you reported it, and they failed to do something, they should be fired.

Dear AC: Why hasn’t anyone shown sermons by Rev Wright other than the ones endlessly looping I’m sure there are some that are just boring and others as dramatic as what we’ve seen but perhaps covering other topics. It would give some balance to the story and some understanding, perhaps, of why Obama and other individuals have stayed in this congregation. I’m surprised no one has done this yet Thanks. P.S. Hows Molly? My two WSS send their best.

It is a very smart thing for women to stay back, work if necessary, take care of the family, raise good children to be successful in life. This is a much better, smarter service rather than Combat duty. If they go to war they can do support services. What is the point in coming up with a million complaints on men in combat duty? They live day to day not being sure when their life will be taken. You need to think a little smarter & do the right thing.

Hey Ram we need to sit down and have some coffee…
Twenty years ago, when I quit a very good job in a male-dominated field over nearly constant harrassment, I would have expected your kinds of comments. And they would have hurt because I was doing the same job the guys were and was constantly having to prove my reason for being in “a man’s job”.
What I’ve learned in the past 20 years is that women socialize the men they work with, including guys with opinions like yours
Ironically, my current “profession” is doing the very thing you suggest - taking care of the home fires. Both paths are noble. If women want to work combat, let them. Maybe their presence will humanize this war to the point we end it.
Keri, don’t let this experience define you or direct your life. You are an attractive young woman and men who aren’t used to being around attractive feminine women often behave stupidly around them. It’s just a matter of teaching them that you will tolerate nothing less than their respect.
Ram, the offer for coffee’s still open…
Hope Anderson’s little cheek boo-boo is doing better…he has a dog? With his travel schedule?

Julie, San Diego
Good men & Good women should be admired, respected & treated well. The nicer we are to each other the better will be the family life & kids learn from it. Very important thing in anybody’s life is peace, happiness & zest for life. Go far it. There are lot’s of good men & women but at times you will see a rotten apple. That’s life, bitter-sweet.
Happily married for 36 years but admit it is not perfect. Very satisfactory.
Ram, Ca

I have to agree with Susan Brown. I’d much rather see CNN devoting time to stories like this than trying to stir up some election fervor when the next primary is still a while away.

There are plenty of people in America. Too much coverage of Obama and Hillary is just dull.

I can’t believe the men in the military still sexually harass the women. I thought we had evolved past that. It’s disgusting.

Members of both sexes have signed up to lay down their lives for their fellow man if need be and yet, some of the guys still only think of the women in the military as objects for gratification and exploitation.

It’s disgusting. This is an important story.

The military has a very long history of turning a blind eye to male service members bad sexual behavior. After all- they consistently feel women are incapable of serving, both in and out of combat arenas. The feeling, in my era, which was Viet Nam, was that a woman complaining of harassment of a sexual nature was just trying to gain sympathy. Men interacting badly with women in country was just expected. Such denial of not only the acts, but the ramifications of the behavior to spouses, children, family is just disgusting. Similar to the same denial and refusal to provide assistance in treating stress disorder. Women have unique and valued skills and abilities to offer the military- they comport themselves with honor daily and have rarely if ever, gotten the credit they richly deserve. Each member of the military serving tour has a family that serves right along with them. Sometimes being at home waiting is just as difficult as being incountry somewhere else. I respect Keri for sharing what happened to her and I’m grateful for what she has accomplished. I’m sorry that so little progress has been made in the area of holding men behaving badly to a higher standard.

Randi

Thank you for sharing Keri’s comment with us. She is a strong woman and a credit to our country. I hope things get better for her and I thank her for her service and sacrifice. And if Keri reads this comment I want her to know that my nephew that also served in Iraq agrees with you - it was and is nothing like Vegas.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

It’s a shame the feminists pushed for women to fight in a war. We can, but should we? I think sexual harassment is wrong, clearly. But it’s wiser for us to retain safer positions, there are men who feign insanity to get out of fighting, why should women have to fight? Thanks to the feminists, it may not even become a choice form women in the future! It’s just smarter, safer to avoid fighting. This way women’s families can be assured mom will come home. Single women can be sure they’re not raped or sexually threatened. Life is hard enough as it is for women. Sexual harassment is everywhere and will never change, we don’t need to raise the stakes and add a war zone to the workplace equation.

Ask any of the talking heads if they have lied before? Cheap shot guys.

We still do not get paid as much as men either.

I can go on and on and on …..on that subject.

You should not give up if you want a career in the military. We need a few good women in the military.

How is Kerry getting the word out? Is there an organization or a integrated community for these women?

America, the riches country, the most enlighten country and the most openminded country in the world (we consider ourselve). We fight around the world to liberate the so called backward or developing countries. But we still can’t get it right when it comes women. Take a look at Hillary, how much bashing she is taking just because she is a strong woman. What a shame! The same thinng even for ordinary women. But some men can go wrong- perfect example: Governor of New York! Where are the wolves in this case? If he were a white man I guess by now the would have eaten him alive!!