Thread: Should the military allow people of Middle Eastern descent to counsel returning soldiers?

Originally Posted by beth119 Very insightful article. THank you. I have another question. Are the counselers fellow soldiers? My VA therapist is a former Marine. I would think it might be pretty common to find former military people working in the VA. Come to think of it, the receptionist there used to be in the Air Force.

Originally Posted by bigsweetie I think there should definitely be a choice. I really don't see the opposing viewpoints in this thread? When it comes to positions of vulnerability (therapy, physicians, etc.) most of us choose based on our own comfort level. If a woman is raped by a hispanic man, would I expect them to sit down with a hispanic male therapist to talk about it? No, I wouldn't. If they feel comfortable with it, fine....

Originally Posted by beth119 It WAS suggested. THe TITLE and POLL suggests it. One of the picks in the poll is about a choice, but the poll itself is about WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED . I am with most everyone else when I say a CHOICE should be made. But I am REALLY curious about who says NO and why? THAT is bugging me. That's just it. I was answering the poll question, of should the military allow people of ME des to counsel? My...

I would hope that no one is banned from counseling based on such.

Originally Posted by tn20 I *think* what Meggers meant was that when you are actually, physically delivering your new arrivals you'll be like, "What was I thinking???" Not that you'll regret your children or any such thing. Both of my 9 pound kiddos were born without an epidural and I know that as they were crowning, I was silently cursing my DH. I think Meggers was equating that "What was I...

Originally Posted by cori n wes mom I voted yes....as I cannot see banning someone for whatever there race is from giving counsel...but completely agree as well...that a soldier should be able to choose whoever they choose...on whatever basis they need at that moment. I would not require they see someone first who they are not going to feel comfortable with...what if they are already suicidal...and that tipped things over the edge for them??...

Originally Posted by bigsweetie Ooops... no pun intended

Originally Posted by ~~Who,Me?~~ I really don't see why a bunch of you have your knickers all in a knot over my opinion. It's just that--my opinion. I believe that is what the OP intended when she posed the question, to get opinions. She even states in first post that she expects some to disagree with her, so here I am. If you peruse the HUTC rules, it tells you to be prepared to have others disagree with you. So get over yourselves...

Originally Posted by ~~Who,Me?~~ So then how do you decide? I bet I could find a bunch of 40-year-old males: one Iraqi, an Iranian, an India-Indian, a Mexican, a Jew, an Italian, an Egyptian, a Syrian....I could go on....and they would all have the same features. Are you suggesting that we just eliminate all dark-haired, dark-skinned people? Because as they say "you can't judge a book by it's cover." You can't...

Originally Posted by kval07 You saying this leads me to believe that maybe I was not clear enough in my posts. I am not saying that Muslims or people of Middle Eastern descent are bad people. I'm not saying that at all, nor am I saying that they can't practice medicine. What I am saying is that it is PROBABLY not in the best interest of soldiers (for a variety of reasons) to conduct mental health counseling with a person who looks...