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November 20, 2006
Monday
 
 
This would have been the Samizdata quote of the day if the Samizdata quote of the day had not already been taken
Brian Micklethwait (London)  Military affairs • Slogans/quotations

Yes indeed:

Miss Israel has been given permission not to carry her assault rifle during service in the Israeli army because she says it bruises her legs.

This has everything that a Samizdata quote of the day should have. It is about a beauty queen. It is not just something said by or about some dreary politician. Plus, guns are involved.

But: Is this decision evidence that Israel is going soft, or does it display a fine understand of the balance that must always be struck between the needs of national defence and the need not to damage that which is being defended?

Comments

Should I be worried that the website for "beauty queen" goes to "missworld.TV"???


Posted by andy at November 20, 2006 02:18 PM

If it's bruising her legs shes carrying it wrong. Still, perhaps as it's a special case they might issue her with a pistol?


Posted by John K at November 20, 2006 02:33 PM

This is a case where every good rule needs the occasional exception. I agree with John. Give her a pistol instead.


Posted by happycynic at November 20, 2006 04:27 PM

I contemplated a career in the Royal Navy
but decided against it because being a very skinny person, those great big Alec Guinness type binoculars would be bound to break my sternum.


Posted by RAB at November 20, 2006 05:04 PM

Whoophee. A story with guns. How exciting...


Posted by James at November 20, 2006 06:28 PM

There's no way she's getting a pistol. Pistols are for people who live in very dangerous areas, or for officers who want to look cool and show off. Getting a position which doesn't require carrying a weapon is much more likely (and seems to be what happened).

Still, I'm not sure how the rifle is bruising her legs, Maybe her back would make sense, but even then, she must be a very fragile creature.


Posted by Adam at November 20, 2006 08:39 PM

This reminds me of the story a few years ago when teen star Yael Bar-Zohar was in the army and was permitted not to shower with her fellow female soldiers, because they got too jealous (or so the story goes.) That's a people's army for you.


Posted by Adam at November 20, 2006 08:50 PM

Got to give props to the headline editor:

"Israeli beauty queen downs arms to save legs"

Ther is hope for journalism after all.


Posted by jk at November 20, 2006 09:42 PM

Of course it is a PR stunt. A rather splendid one in fact.


Posted by Perry de Havilland at November 20, 2006 09:47 PM

It shows an admirable attitude to the relative importance of beauty, rules and violence.


Posted by Adam at November 21, 2006 05:17 PM
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