There is something inherently wrong with an institution whose unifying tactics consistently degrade and belittle the women who actively support it.

There is some sick notion ingrained in the military that allows, by their actions, advocates sexual harassment and sexual abuse. The military somehow finds itself in the middle of sexual abuse incidents, such as the latest issue of two Army drill sergeants charged with raping and sexually harassing more than a dozen women recruits.

Sadly enough, this is not an isolated occurrence, but rather a harsh reality that is much ignored when seen on the front page of newspapers.

And listen to the language the military uses to brush the problem under the rug.

Charges were called, “conduct unbecoming of an officer,” “obstruction of justice,” having an improper relationship with a recruit” and “having an improper relationship with a female trainee.”

Few wonder how such a thing could happen, but it is really not so difficult to conceive when historically the military has been a powerful and male based organization.

It is shown over and over again that there are people who do not value women as equals. And then those who abuse and rape women are the sick exceptions to a society which professes to have accepted the idea that those people are wrong, but that women, unfortunately, are repeatedly the victims of men.

But the line of sick exceptions is crossed far too often in the military as we have seen from the Citadel, these rape charges, the Navy Tailhook scandal, the announcement that women will continue to not be allowed to fight in direct combat, the fact that the number of women generals could be counted on one hand, the promotion of women for the wrong reasons (the questioning of women’s promotions because of those who fathom affirmative action), the list is endless.

How do we end the most deep-seeded glass ceiling for women?

How can we possibly think that women are considered equals in the military, or in our society?