1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,460 Visita Mikael Books en Facebook para ver más contenido de libros en inglés. 2 00:00:04,620 --> 00:00:08,820 Unit 16, page 266. Read. 3 00:00:09,980 --> 00:00:11,860 Time to Sound Off. 4 00:00:12,700 --> 00:00:16,140 Good evening, and welcome to Sound Off, 5 00:00:16,620 --> 00:00:20,980 the international talk show where you express your uncensored opinions 6 00:00:20,980 --> 00:00:23,280 on today's controversial issues. 7 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:25,600 I'm Mike McGaffey. 8 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:31,020 Tonight's topics, should military service be required or voluntary? 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:33,380 Should women join the military? 10 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:36,420 And if they do, should they fight in combat? 11 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,920 Let's see if we can shed some light on these issues. 12 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,720 Here's our first caller, Jerry Burns from Kingston, Jamaica. 13 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:46,480 Where do you stand, Jerry? 14 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:52,560 Basically, I think military service should be voluntary, 15 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,660 and I'm definitely against women being in combat. 16 00:00:57,380 --> 00:01:00,020 Okay. Why should it be voluntary? 17 00:01:00,820 --> 00:01:03,060 Why shouldn't it be required of everyone? 18 00:01:03,660 --> 00:01:08,420 Because, overall, young people are not all the same. 19 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,520 Some people have a military orientation. 20 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,820 For them, military service is fine. 21 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,580 Others aren't oriented that way. 22 00:01:18,420 --> 00:01:23,440 Compulsory military service interferes with their freedom, essentially. 23 00:01:24,300 --> 00:01:27,060 But many argue that we all, 24 00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:29,100 we all owe our country something. 25 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:31,100 It protects us and gives us benefits. 26 00:01:31,100 --> 00:01:33,100 Shouldn't we give something in return? 27 00:01:33,100 --> 00:01:35,100 We should, if we're motivated to. 28 00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:37,100 But it shouldn't be an obligation. 29 00:01:37,100 --> 00:01:39,100 And I'd go further. 30 00:01:39,100 --> 00:01:41,100 Military forces have done a lot of evil. 31 00:01:41,100 --> 00:01:43,100 Maybe we shouldn't even have them. 32 00:01:43,100 --> 00:01:45,100 Hmm. I don't know, Jerry. 33 00:01:45,100 --> 00:01:47,100 I'm a pretty accepting guy. 34 00:01:47,100 --> 00:01:49,100 But even I find that suggestion extreme. 35 00:01:49,100 --> 00:01:51,100 But, let's be honest, 36 00:01:51,100 --> 00:01:53,100 I don't think military service should be required. 37 00:01:53,100 --> 00:01:55,100 I think military service should be required. 38 00:01:55,100 --> 00:01:57,100 I think military service should be required. 39 00:01:57,100 --> 00:01:59,100 Let's go to your second point. 40 00:01:59,100 --> 00:02:01,100 Why shouldn't women be in combat? 41 00:02:01,100 --> 00:02:03,100 Why shouldn't women be in combat? 42 00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:05,100 We need to maintain the difference between the sexes. 43 00:02:05,100 --> 00:02:07,100 We need to maintain the difference between the sexes. 44 00:02:07,100 --> 00:02:09,100 Men and women have inherent differences. 45 00:02:09,100 --> 00:02:11,100 If we put women in combat, 46 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:13,100 We're saying that, 47 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:15,100 fundamentally, 48 00:02:15,100 --> 00:02:17,100 they're the same as men. 49 00:02:17,100 --> 00:02:19,100 But women just aren't as physically strong and tough as men. 50 00:02:19,100 --> 00:02:21,100 But women just aren't as physically strong and tough as men. 51 00:02:21,100 --> 00:02:23,100 Therefore, 52 00:02:23,100 --> 00:02:25,100 they aren't suited for combat. 53 00:02:25,100 --> 00:02:27,100 Are you saying that only women aren'tvaluable? 54 00:02:27,100 --> 00:02:35,600 men are strong enough? That's clearly an old stereotype. I'm not saying that. I just don't 55 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:43,480 think fighting is feminine. Wow. All right, Jerry. Very interesting. I expect we'll hear 56 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:50,680 some pretty spirited responses to what you've said. Our next caller is Sarah Lopez from Toronto, 57 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:58,040 Canada. Sarah, does Jerry have a valid point or is this just fuzzy thinking? Thanks, Mike. 58 00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:05,880 Actually, I couldn't disagree more with Jerry. It's not fuzzy thinking. He was clear in making 59 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:13,260 his point, but I just don't agree with him. Okay. So military service shouldn't be voluntary? 60 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:20,580 No. If we're going to have it, it should be required. Why? It's the only way 61 00:03:20,580 --> 00:03:28,200 to ensure fair treatment for all. People in the military make major sacrifices. Sometimes they 62 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:35,720 risk their lives. That kind of risk should be spread out evenly. Actually, I'd go further. 63 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:42,060 I'd support required national service. It wouldn't have to be only military. 64 00:03:42,740 --> 00:03:49,380 Expand a bit on that. There are lots of worthwhile things citizens can do for their country, 65 00:03:49,940 --> 00:03:50,540 like work. 66 00:03:50,580 --> 00:03:57,500 Working in daycare centers, hospitals, or the Peace Corps. National service has been started 67 00:03:57,500 --> 00:04:02,440 in a few countries, and hopefully it will be adopted in many more. 68 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:10,300 All right. Now, Jerry opposes women being in combat. What's your position? Should it be allowed? 69 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:18,320 Not only should it be allowed, but it should also be promoted. I should know. I've been in the 70 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,560 military for 18 months. I've been in the military for 18 months. I've been in the military for 18 months. 71 00:04:20,580 --> 00:04:22,480 So have several of my friends. 72 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:23,620 You have? 73 00:04:24,020 --> 00:04:31,880 Yes. I disagree with the way Jerry characterizes women. No way is combat unfeminine. 74 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:33,740 Have you ever been in combat? 75 00:04:34,260 --> 00:04:41,760 No. But if I'm ever called to combat, I'll be willing to go. Jerry also said we need to 76 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:48,380 maintain the difference between the sexes. I don't agree with that, and neither do any of my friends. 77 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:49,640 Okay, Sarah. 78 00:04:50,860 --> 00:04:58,620 Oops. There goes the buzzer. Time to hear from another caller. Here's Lou Adijojo from Singapore. 79 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:00,700 Lou, what's your view?