What's the matter with Donald Trump.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by AVB-AMG

Happy:

Well how about that... you and I can agree on somethings...

I think there are far more important issues that we all should be worrying about right now, including fighting the COVID-19 virus pandemic, getting our country’s economy back on track and dealing with potential white supremacists led domestic terrorism.

AVB-AMG

Exactly!

But, I would like to add just one thing, dealing with our foreign adversaries. Weakness has been put on displayed in our country recently and I know some have been paying close attention. The United States Of America needs to take this seriously.

I would hate to see my country get caught with its pants down.

[Maruzo]

Originally Posted by AVB-AMG

Happy:

Well how about that... you and I can agree on somethings...
For the benefit of those who may not be paying attention, on Jan. 20th, President Biden signed an executive order which states: “Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports.”

FYI, it sets no specific guidelines governing the participation of transgender athletes since it only calls for agencies to review their policies and then come up with a plan in just over 3 months from now, to ensure transgender youth do not face discrimination in any aspect of their educational experience. This executive order on non-discrimination in education will help build healthier and more lasting bonds between American institutions and its trans citizens, and all of us will benefit. So far, I have no problem with that….

When the question becomes should transgender women be allowed to compete in sporting events with cisgender women, I consider arguments by liberals to allow it to be utterly ridiculous! This absurdity on the political left is no different in my mind to the absurdity of Q-anon believers on the political right.

Why must public expressions of transgender rights always stomp all over the biological reality of cis-gender women? Why can’t we support transgender women without pretending they are the same?

As someone who supports LGBTQ rights, as far as I am concerned and with all due respect to trans rights, people who were born male should NOT be allowed to compete against people who were born female. This is transparently, blatantly obvious, and a sign of deep confusion on the parts of those arguing in favor of such a paradigm. A number of recent polls show overwhelming opinion in favor of grouping sports by biological sex, not "gender identity"

No one is being denied the right to compete. But they are being denied the ability to dominate a less-competitive field because they would be essentially working the system to their advantage. This is not a liberal or conservative issue. It's an issue of fairness.

Women born women can never fairly compete with trans people. You cannot change your DNA. Post-pubertal male bodies have permanent advantages from greater bone length to density, heart and lung size, muscle mass and other physical and physiological advantages. Even with the transgender woman’s testosterone levels being reduced, it is still higher than a natural woman. It has taken a lifetime to get women athletes the support and recognition they need. Title IX was created for that purpose. The entire history of women's sport since the 1900 Olympics has been built on the principle of segregation by sex, which is the only one which makes sense. We have different sports organizations for a reason (men, women, special, para), so maybe one consideration would be to create another one so that everyone can compete openly and fairly?

I think that we should give the sports organizations and other academic/athletic institutions time to sort this issue out, and not get all up in arms about it. Keep in mind that only 0.02% of the U.S. population is transgender. I think there are far more important issues that we all should be worrying about right now, including fighting the COVID-19 virus pandemic, getting our country’s economy back on track and dealing with potential white supremacists led domestic terrorism.

AVB-AMG

If I'm understanding you correctly, sports should be grouped by biological sex, instead of each individual's preferred sexual orientation?

I think that makes absolute sense.

A biological male who is inclined to act like a female should not compete in a women's sport like tennis or soccer. His physicality gives him unfair advantage over the field of female players.

But what if he enjoys ballet instead of soccer?

I can't imagine a 5'7" male dancer trying to lift up a 6'3" transgender female dancer.

That is both awkward and potentially dangerous for the actors involved.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by AVB-AMG

Happy:

Well how about that... you and I can agree on somethings...
For the benefit of those who may not be paying attention, on Jan. 20th, President Biden signed an executive order which states: “Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports.”

FYI... I think that we should give the sports organizations and other academic/athletic institutions time to sort this issue out, and not get all up in arms about it. Keep in mind that only 0.02% of the U.S. population is transgender. I think there are far more important issues that we all should be worrying about right now, including fighting the COVID-19 virus pandemic, getting our country’s economy back on track and dealing with potential white supremacists led domestic terrorism.

AVB-AMG

Couldn't have said it better in regards to competition. Not sure I agree with the EO and quote by Biden though. Children are too young to know the gravity (and lack the capacity) of choosing something so important as identifying other than their birth gender. This is one area where the media, and social media platforms, are to blame as it is en vogue for kids to identify as LGBTQ, and for parents to not show any reservations regarding their kids doing so. Supporting your child is important obviously, but a serious discussion with them to keep their mind open and to enjoy childhood should be in order. Not necessarily discouraging them, but also not encouraging them to take on such a decision so early.

But there is no easy solution when it comes to children for most serious issues. Joe Rogan was lambasted for having a podcast discussing gender reassignment in minors. Even the discussion of possible problems regarding children and parents being cautious was enough to get the LGBTQ (and left in general) community worked up. I believe some employees at Spotify were demanding editorial oversight over that and having right wing guests on the show.

As with you AVB, I support LGBTQ rights and believe that community should enjoy all the protections and benefits afforded to straight individuals/couples. As I am prone to saying, we are Americans, and their chosen lifestyle is their business. The pursuit of happiness applies to all of us.

[bcredliner]

There is nothing in the order defining whether transgender males that identify themselves as females can compete in women's sports. The federal agency plans due within 100 days are not specifically requested to address that issue. Many states, institutions including the olympic committee already have rules prohibiting men identifying themselves as a women from competing in women's sports. As I understand the order it only applies to federal agencies or those receiving federal funds.

As for better things to talk about or for Biden to address: There is no reason to limit forum discussion to the most critical problems the nation must address. Nor is Biden addressing transgender discrimination a poor choice of what he should be doing. An administration can do more than one thing at a time.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-...l-orientation/

[crystalworks]

After reading through the order, it is certainly written in a very general manner.

Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports.

That line is still troublesome with government getting involved in anything to do with gender identity in children and schools.

Curious how service-members (both men and women) will take to having peers of the opposite sex in their dorms and/or restrooms. Maybe we're headed towards the Starship Troopers scene where everything is communal to all genders.

Interesting start to the new administration. At least he's fulfilling his campaign promise to tackle those issues. Still hoping for the best. Should this be in the Biden thread? But I guess it overlaps as it is ending a Trump policy.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

That line is still troublesome with government getting involved in anything to do with gender identity in children and schools.

I would agree, because the XX carrier and the XY carrier will always be that. There is no way on earth, you can reassign that.

Curious how service-members (both men and women) will take to having peers of the opposite sex in their dorms and/or restrooms. Maybe we're headed towards the Starship Troopers scene where everything is communal to all genders.

The military already has its hands full with sexual assaults. Now we have this issue with genetics. And to put the cherry on top, women can now wear their hair down in uniform. I worry our military will become so consumed with issues other than the actual mission, that we could possibly become vulnerable to attack.

Interesting start to the new administration. At least he's fulfilling his campaign promise to tackle those issues. Still hoping for the best. Should this be in the Biden thread? But I guess it overlaps as it is ending a Trump policy.

Very interesting start. I am praying for the best as well. I accidentally posted it here, but reposted under the Biden thread as well.

[bcredliner]

The executive order was not without substantiation for the decision. The executive order relating to the military allowing transgender soldiers is based on a 2016 study by Department of Defense which concluded transgender individuals are not a problem. They are required to meet the same military standards. The order does not define living arrangements. Those decisions are left to military branches to determine.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-...ry-in-uniform/

[Happy]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

The order does not define living arrangements. Those decisions are left to military branches to determine.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-...ry-in-uniform/

Exactly. And with the awful sexual assault issues going on in our Armed Forces currently, I worry the Biden administration is going to compound these issues.

These sexual assault issues have resulted in homicides in some cases. Not good for our military!

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

The executive order was not without substantiation for the decision. The executive order relating to the military allowing transgender soldiers is based on a 2016 study by Department of Defense which concluded transgender individuals are not a problem. They are required to meet the same military standards. The order does not define living arrangements. Those decisions are left to military branches to determine.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-...ry-in-uniform/

I'm not saying it's a good thing or bad thing, or that they could not serve competently. I am only speaking to the mindset of individuals serving. As Happy mentions, sexual assaults are an epidemic in the military. Many times gets under-reported or dismissed even when reported. We had 2 homicides locally resulting, one of which garnered national attention.

Originally Posted by Happy

Exactly. And with the awful sexual assault issues going on in our Armed Forces currently, I worry the Biden administration is going to compound these issues.

These sexual assault issues have resulted in homicides in some cases. Not good for our military!

Yes, they may be adding to an already existing problem by upping the variables/reasons of why an abuser might abuse.

[AVB-AMG]

Ok, so this post is not about transgender soldiers in the U.S. military and I put it here because it does obliquely reference former president Donald Trump, and I found it to be quite amusing and think you all may as well:

AVB-AMG

The article title is:
Estonian Troops Have Never Fought a Cold War—Thanks to Pop-Up Saunas
Saunas are marched into war zones, even in hot spots; no towels

Here are some excerpts from that article:

When setting up camp in a war zone, a sauna is typically the first thing—after housing—that Estonia’s military builds. Saunas are such an integral part of Estonian war-making, in fact, that the ideal aspen and pine interiors and heavy, volcanic hot stones are shipped in specially from the Baltics.

To promote camaraderie and hygiene, the Estonians implemented a rule in 1998 requiring each soldier take to a sauna at least once weekly. The rule is no longer in effect, but the practice continues. During deployments, groups of soldiers take turns stripping down to roast together, generally while naked (towels are frowned upon).

These days, Estonian soldiers serve in some of the world’s hottest places, including the Sahara and the Middle East. The country doesn’t have a great history of desert warfare. But it does have a tradition of operating saunas in the face of all obstacles—something it has now accomplished in the deserts of Afghanistan, in Lebanon, and the Central African Republic.

Lately, the war sauna has become a point of pride for a military that has been bullied a bit. During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump questioned whether tiny Estonia had made any worthwhile contributions to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. That comment bruised Estonian morale, and commanders noted they had sent more troops per capita to Afghanistan than some of NATO’s larger countries. They even have a national museum dedicated to their participation in the Afghan war.

By the way, this strong attachment to saunas is not limited to Estonia, but is shared by most Scandinavian countries. FYI, every Finnish warship packs a sauna, usually several. Most have aspen wood interiors. Unfortunately, when the Estonian and Finnish NATO troops repeatedly invited the Irish troops serving with them in Lebanon, to join them in the sauna, they refused because they were uncomfortable with being nude…. (the prudes!)

Here is the link to the full article in the Wall Street Journal, as well as another related article:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/estonia...hare_permalink

https://medium.com/estoniansaunas/es...n-3561796c2469