Bradley Manning wants to live as a woman.

[graciegirl]

Bradley Manning: I want to live as a woman* - TODAY.com (http://www.today.com/news/bradley-manning-i-want-live-woman-6C10974915)#

I have not closely followed this case. I would note as this young man would walk among other soldiers how slight and young and small he looked. I would think of "Beetle Bailey" for some strange reason.

This adds another strange twist to an already very puzzling situation.

Why did he join the military?. What is his life story. Why did he leak this secret stuff?

What causes these sorts of things to happen? Do you think he has sexual identity issues or that he would just feel safer in a woman's prison? Do you think this is a ruse?

[janmcn]

Just heard on MSNBC that all military prisons treat all prisoners the same regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. These prisons do not provide homonal treatment or transgender surgery, so whatever Bradley Manning wants to do will have to wait until after he is released from prison.

[glenn prescott]

Bradley Manning is a traitor and committed treason ...same as Jane Fonda just she has a better more powerful last name .........

[JeffAVEWS]

He is going to the USDB (United States Disciplinary Barracks) at Ft. Leavenworth KS, not the Federal Penitentiary there. I lived 8 miles away. It's not as bad as you may think, read this. U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth (http://usmilitary.about.com/od/justicelawlegislation/a/leavenworth.htm) I don't think it would be appropriate for him to be with the women prisoners at San Diego.

[Bavarian]

Bradley Manning is a traitor and committed treason ...same as Jane Fonda just she has a better more powerful last name .........

Ditto

[deltaguy]

Bradley Manning: I want to live as a woman* - TODAY.com (http://www.today.com/news/bradley-manning-i-want-live-woman-6C10974915)#

I have not closely followed this case. I would note as this young man would walk among other soldiers how slight and young and small he looked. I would think of "Beetle Bailey" for some strange reason.

This adds another strange twist to an already very puzzling situation.

Why did he join the military?. What is his life story. Why did he leak this secret stuff?

What causes these sorts of things to happen? Do you think he has sexual identity issues or that he would just feel safer in a woman's prison?

Does anyone really care except as we all know that (he/she) (was/is) a little pr--k who committed treasonous acts against our country.

[ilovetv]

Why do television and internet networks--and audiences--insist on making CELEBRITIES out of traitors and criminals, making our society, nation and military a LAUGHINGSTOCK in the eyes of the rest of the world???? This guy should have been hung yesterday.

He should not get even 5 seconds of broadcast air time.

But he gets it because there are moronic sympathizers out there with nothing better to do with their time than watch such a freak show and press politicians for more rights for them.

[graciegirl]

Does anyone remember the character Klinger in M.A.S.H.?

I don't know why this popped into my head.

http://wherearemykeys.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5529ab4f0883401539228c6a3970b-800wi

I think this is probably politically incorrect. I mean no harm towards anyone. This is just what I thought of. It used to be funny.

[manaboutown]

Why do television and internet networks--and audiences--insist on making CELEBRITIES out of traitors and criminals, making our society, nation and military a LAUGHINGSTOCK in the eyes of the rest of the world???? This guy should have been hung yesterday.

He should not get even 5 seconds of broadcast air time.

But he gets it because there are moronic sympathizers out there with nothing better to do with their time than watch such a freak show and press politicians for more rights for them.

A freak show is right. He is a traitor. Treat him like one. If he ever goes transgender I wonder if we the taxpayers will end up picking up the tab?

Oh, he may get a book/movie deal out of this before it is all over. What a sorry a$$ little p***k

[JP]

i think he should be allowed to be a woman with his new prison room mate Big Bad Buck. Pass the soap.

[tommy steam]

Bradley Manning is a traitor and committed treason ...same as Jane Fonda just she has a better more powerful last name .........

I agree with that! :BigApplause: this guy will be out of jail in 8 or so years and will wind up with a movie and book deal unfortunately .

[Madelaine Amee]

I read a small piece about this a couple of weeks ago and it immediately brought to mind the fact that Julian Assange, who is currently holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, is wanted in Sweden for the rape of at least two women. I am assuming that there is something equally disturbing hidden in the Snowden psyche.

These three are all traitors in one way or the other and they all have major character flaws. Unfortunately Snowden and Bradley were in the employ of our Government. Assange is just a vicious b*****d who seems to be filled with hate.

What makes any one think they can be the judge of what is right and wrong in this world?

[NH to Fl]

Bradley Manning is a traitor and committed treason ...same as Jane Fonda just she has a better more powerful last name .........

I agree 100%. I will not see any movie Jane Fonda is in. The Butler is out now and won't see that one either.

[rubicon]

There are certain legal criteria to determine if a person is a traitor. Neither Manning and Snowden allegedly committed the last one "giving aid to the enemy. If anyone really believes that then I know about this bridge in Brooklyn. both these guys passed along very damaging information to our enemies. They are not brave patriots nor are they whistle blowers they are traitors plain and simple.

I am sorry to see Mannings' time will be served in less than a maximum prison and that he was not given life without the possibility of parole.
consider what happened to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg whose acts were no more egregious than Manning and Snowden. they were executed.

[Madelaine Amee]

There are certain legal criteria to determine if a person is a traitor. Neither Manning and Snowden allegedly committed the last one "giving aid to the enemy. If anyone really believes that then I know about this bridge in Brooklyn. both these guys passed along very damaging information to our enemies. They are not brave patriots nor are they whistle blowers they are traitors plain and simple.

I am sorry to see Mannings' time will be served in less than a maximum prison and that he was not given life without the possibility of parole.
consider what happened to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg whose acts were no more egregious than Manning and Snowden. they were executed.

I think Snowden may well end up wishing he's been executed .... no picnic living in Russia, they have given him a place to live and, presumably, are feeding him so it stands to reason he has to give back and I am sure Putin will make sure he gives and gives and then gives again, before they decide to send him to some other country. They will bleed him dry. He is a stupid young man to think he was big enough to take on "The Establishment" .........................

[Villages PL]

Seems ironic that his last name is Manning.

[graciegirl]

Seems ironic that his last name is Manning.

Some people's name's define them and some don't. I am thinking of the very famous New York mayoral candidate's name.

[Markam]

I believe his rank was "PFC". Of greater concern here would be just how a person with this low rank and fragile personality were ever allowed access and the ability to copy all of the critical data he did.

I think the old saying "where there's smoke, there is fire" applies to this situation also. So I wonder how many others have been given similar access and how much more data has been taken that we just haven't found out about yet?

Again, nobody seems to be watching the henhouse.

[Indydealmaker]

Does anyone remember the character Klinger in M.A.S.H.?

I don't know why this popped into my head.

http://wherearemykeys.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5529ab4f0883401539228c6a3970b-800wi

I think this is probably politically incorrect. I mean no harm towards anyone. This is just what I thought of. It used to be funny.

I would prefer that it was politically correct!:1rotfl:

[zcaveman]

I believe his rank was "PFC". Of greater concern here would be just how a person with this low rank and fragile personality were ever allowed access and the ability to copy all of the critical data he did.

I think the old saying "where there's smoke, there is fire" applies to this situation also. So I wonder how many others have been given similar access and how much more data has been taken that we just haven't found out about yet?

Again, nobody seems to be watching the henhouse.

Let me see. As an E-3 I was responsible for the aviation electronics in the fighter aircraft in my squadron(s) in the 60s. There were many E-1s, E-2s and E-3s that kept the aircraft flying. The pilots depended on us to keep them safe.

It is not a matter of the rank. It is a matter of the trust that you put into the personnel that work in the different sectors. Manning was given a job to do and he failed to do it. He should be buried under Leavenworth for betraying the trust given to him.

I am sorry that he can be released in 7 years for good behavior. He is a traitor. He should be in Leavenworth for life. He gave out data that helped Al Qaeda and others change their tactics and helped other nations lose their faith in the US with the data that was released.

Z

[Bay Kid]

Does anyone remember the character Klinger in M.A.S.H.?

I don't know why this popped into my head.

http://wherearemykeys.typepad.com/.a/6a00e5529ab4f0883401539228c6a3970b-800wi

I think this is probably politically incorrect. I mean no harm towards anyone. This is just what I thought of. It used to be funny.

Love this, but the taxpayers didn't pay for his fun.

[PaPaLarry]

Lets see, there are thousands in our country that need transplants, cancer operations and othe medical procedures, AND Bradley Manning wants us (Taxpayers) to pay for him to change into a woman in prison?? Am I really hearing this?

[asianthree]

Lets see, there are thousands in our country that need transplants, cancer operations and othe medical procedures, AND Bradley Manning wants us (Taxpayers) to pay for him to change into a woman in prison?? Am I really hearing this?

they are not going to pay for it..but crazy people will send him money so he can

[Russ_Boston]

Why do television and internet networks--and audiences--insist on making CELEBRITIES out of traitors and criminals, making our society, nation and military a LAUGHINGSTOCK in the eyes of the rest of the world???? This guy should have been hung yesterday.

He should not get even 5 seconds of broadcast air time.

But he gets it because there are moronic sympathizers out there with nothing better to do with their time than watch such a freak show and press politicians for more rights for them.

Bet it took you longer than 5 seconds to write this - you (and I) are contributors to the celebrity by even writing on this forum.

[Bavarian]

Maybe Cpl Klinger was his inspiration, Klinger dressed like a women to get kicked out of the army.

[Suzi]

This is yet another example of a very mixed-up (possibly mentally ill) person. In many ways, our society has caused many of our own problems by being PC all the time. In the old days, when someone was clearly "not right" they were dismissed and often referred to mental health authorities. Now in our country, heaven forbid, we should label someone unstable and refuse to hire or fire them. To some degree IMO we have brought some of this on ourselves. Furthermore, we look to be considering making another error, and that is to provide sexual preference changes to a person using tax payer monies. If willing people outside of prison wish to send him $$, that is up to their discretion.

But again IMO, we need to re-think this nonsense PC mentality. I'm not saying that we should be uncaring or unfeeling, however, if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, why don't we call it a duck? Instead we call it something else and hope it can perform the tasks not able to be done by a duck. We take the misfits of society and expect something else from them, and are "surprised" when they act "like a duck".

[ilovetv]

This is yet another example of a very mixed-up (possibly mentally ill) person. In many ways, our society has caused many of our own problems by being PC all the time. In the old days, when someone was clearly "not right" they were dismissed and often referred to mental health authorities. Now in our country, heaven forbid, we should label someone unstable and refuse to hire or fire them. To some degree IMO we have brought some of this on ourselves. Furthermore, we look to be considering making another error, and that is to provide sexual preference changes to a person using tax payer monies. If willing people outside of prison wish to send him $$, that is up to their discretion.

But again IMO, we need to re-think this nonsense PC mentality. I'm not saying that we should be uncaring or unfeeling, however, if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, why don't we call it a duck? Instead we call it something else and hope it can perform the tasks not able to be done by a duck. We take the misfits of society and expect something else from them, and are "surprised" when they act "like a duck".

There have always been people as odd and sick in the head as this. But they weren't always given a world stage on which to act out their perversity for kids to absorb over time as being "normal", and a "choice"....a lifestyle recipe...that is just as good as any other for achieving a peaceful, healthy life, when in reality it is an abyss of chaos.

It's an insidious trend yielding a society of enablers.

[Russ_Boston]

There have always been people as odd and sick in the head as this. But they weren't always given a world stage on which to act out their perversity for kids to absorb over time as being "normal", and a "choice"....a lifestyle recipe...that is just as good as any other for achieving a peaceful, healthy life, when in reality it is an abyss of chaos.

It's an insidious trend yielding a society of enablers.

Holy $*.*! I've heard about this type of thinking but never thought I'd be interacting with someone who actually spouts this crap. You actually believe that all these people are making "lifestyle" choices? Your entitled to your opinion but geez! Do you feel the same way about gay/lesbian?

Just a quick story: About 20 years ago I worked with a gentleman who kept to himself but in many ways was a good guy to know and work with. In his more private moments he would discuss how sad and depressed he was. He was divorced with 2 kids who his wife had the majority of custody of. One day he wrote the entire company a heartfelt letter that was published on our Intranet. He said how he had spent his first 40 years of life as a man and "just never felt right or happy". He announced that he was about to undergo transgender surgery with the accompanying hormone therapy. The vast, vast majority of his co-workers were very supportive and over the next two years after the letter and the transformation SHE was now a very happy, productive, generous and thoughtful person and colleague. To this day she is happy. I'm proud to say that I was one of his supporters and friend. Lifestyle choice my AS&!

[Golfingnut]

Holy $*.*! I've heard about this type of thinking but never thought I'd be interacting with someone who actually spouts this crap. You actually believe that all these people are making "lifestyle" choices? Your entitled to your opinion but geez! Do you feel the same way about gay/lesbian?

Just a quick story: About 20 years ago I worked with a gentleman who kept to himself but in many ways was a good guy to know and work with. In his more private moments he would discuss how sad and depressed he was. He was divorced with 2 kids who his wife had the majority of custody of. One day he wrote the entire company a heartfelt letter that was published on our Intranet. He said how he had spent his first 40 years of life as a man and "just never felt right or happy". He announced that he was about to undergo transgender surgery with the accompanying hormone therapy. The vast, vast majority of his co-workers were very supportive and over the next two years after the letter and the transformation SHE was now a very happy, productive, generous and thoughtful person and colleague. To this day she is happy. I'm proud to say that I was one of his supporters and friend. Lifestyle choice my AS&!

Hey.... I have relatives that regurgitate this stuff. I can only hope I live long enough to see the human race mature.

[Suzi]

Being transgender is NOT the problem. The problem is society. If this young man was unhappy, unable to perform his job as expected (traitor) why was he moved along within the armed services. He clearly had issues and that had to be apparent. He cannot help what his genetics has programed him with, however, the government accepted a clearly troubled young man into a position that should have required a very safe and stable individual. When it was recognized that he had issues (I have worked with many transgender people before, during and after re-assignment) why was he not recruited to another position within the government where he could hold a job and yet deal with his issues and not the very sensitive area he was in? People in these "sensitive" areas are screened generally by mental health personnel to assess their mental fitness. Anyone going through gender concerns would, of course, have day to day feelings and issues. This should have been picked up. Thats what I mean, we are so afraid of PC or hurting someones feelings that we miss the forest for the trees.

Being transgender is NOT a lifestyle choice. My god, do you have any idea how hard it is to be different than everyone else ! Same with gay/lesbians. That is NOT their choice. It is who they are. And it is a very hard life to live......

[graciegirl]

...

[perrjojo]

I worked with Kevin who became Michelle...surgery and all. After being Michelle for a while and being engaged to a man for awhile; she then decided that she was a Lesbian. After living a Lesbian lifestyle for awhile she then decided she wanted to be a man again. I'm not making this up. She was obviously a very conflicted human. I truly felt bad for her because this could not be a happy life. I lost track of Michelle when I retired so I do not know what happened to her. I can't imagine anyone would make this a "choice".

[graciegirl]

To quote Charlie Brown "Good Grief!!"

What he said.:BigApplause:

[ilovetv]

Holy $*.*! I've heard about this type of thinking but never thought I'd be interacting with someone who actually spouts this crap. You actually believe that all these people are making "lifestyle" choices? Your entitled to your opinion but geez! Do you feel the same way about gay/lesbian?

Just a quick story: About 20 years ago I worked with a gentleman who kept to himself but in many ways was a good guy to know and work with. In his more private moments he would discuss how sad and depressed he was. He was divorced with 2 kids who his wife had the majority of custody of. One day he wrote the entire company a heartfelt letter that was published on our Intranet. He said how he had spent his first 40 years of life as a man and "just never felt right or happy". He announced that he was about to undergo transgender surgery with the accompanying hormone therapy. The vast, vast majority of his co-workers were very supportive and over the next two years after the letter and the transformation SHE was now a very happy, productive, generous and thoughtful person and colleague. To this day she is happy. I'm proud to say that I was one of his supporters and friend. Lifestyle choice my AS&!

Oh, PLEASE!!!! Who died and made you King of All Observations and Opinions here??

OF COURSE Manning is making a lifestyle choice! He could choose to continue living the lifestyle of a man (and pretending to be a man) while having the body but not the mindset of a man. OR:

He can choose to live the lifestyle of a woman, but he will still be pretending, because while he might have the mindset/emotions characteristic of a woman, he would not have an authentic body and physiology of a woman.

If he chooses, he can take all the female hormones he wants....and can have his sex organs cut off...and can have breast implants put in....but he will still be pretending to be a woman, because:

Just as a physical body alone does not make a man or a woman, mindset alone doesn't make one a man or a woman either.

He can do whatever he wants, but I don't think taxpayers should have to pay for a person to mutilate themselves by having their sex organs cut off. That is perverse.

per·ver·sion noun \pər-ˈvər-zhən, -shən\ (Medical Dictionary)
Medical Definition of PERVERSION

1 : the action of perverting or the condition of being perverted
2 : an aberrant sexual practice or interest especially when habitual

[buggyone]

You do not have to worry about your tax dollars paying for a sex change operation on this person. It does not happen in a military prison. Chances are that Manning will be in prison for his full term. Look at Jonathan Pollard who is still in prison for selling information to Israel - and they are our allies.

[donb9006]

Holy $*.*! I've heard about this type of thinking but never thought I'd be interacting with someone who actually spouts this crap. You actually believe that all these people are making "lifestyle" choices? Your entitled to your opinion but geez! Do you feel the same way about gay/lesbian?

Just a quick story: About 20 years ago I worked with a gentleman who kept to himself but in many ways was a good guy to know and work with. In his more private moments he would discuss how sad and depressed he was. He was divorced with 2 kids who his wife had the majority of custody of. One day he wrote the entire company a heartfelt letter that was published on our Intranet. He said how he had spent his first 40 years of life as a man and "just never felt right or happy". He announced that he was about to undergo transgender surgery with the accompanying hormone therapy. The vast, vast majority of his co-workers were very supportive and over the next two years after the letter and the transformation SHE was now a very happy, productive, generous and thoughtful person and colleague. To this day she is happy. I'm proud to say that I was one of his supporters and friend. Lifestyle choice my AS&!

They have a mental illness (yes, I know the DSM pulled homosexuality) just as a pedophile or a psychopath or a bi-polar person does. I for one would like to keep it a registered disorder. It should not be condoned and considered "normal". It "weirds" people out for a reason...it's unnatural.

[Villages PL]

Some people's name's define them and some don't. I am thinking of the very famous New York mayoral candidate's name.

When I first read your post I couldn't think of his name. It just wouldn't come to me. Then when I went to bed last night -trying to fall asleep- it just popped into my mind and I wasn't even trying to think of it. Ha! Delayed reaction. ;)

[Schaumburger]

Hey.... I have relatives that regurgitate this stuff. I can only hope I live long enough to see the human race mature.

:agree: And I also have some relatives who believe this.

[Schaumburger]

Holy $*.*! I've heard about this type of thinking but never thought I'd be interacting with someone who actually spouts this crap. You actually believe that all these people are making "lifestyle" choices? Your entitled to your opinion but geez! Do you feel the same way about gay/lesbian?

Just a quick story: About 20 years ago I worked with a gentleman who kept to himself but in many ways was a good guy to know and work with. In his more private moments he would discuss how sad and depressed he was. He was divorced with 2 kids who his wife had the majority of custody of. One day he wrote the entire company a heartfelt letter that was published on our Intranet. He said how he had spent his first 40 years of life as a man and "just never felt right or happy". He announced that he was about to undergo transgender surgery with the accompanying hormone therapy. The vast, vast majority of his co-workers were very supportive and over the next two years after the letter and the transformation SHE was now a very happy, productive, generous and thoughtful person and colleague. To this day she is happy. I'm proud to say that I was one of his supporters and friend. Lifestyle choice my AS&!

Russ, Thank you for posting this. Hope your former coworker continues to have a happy and productive life.

[graciegirl]

:agree: And I also have some older relatives who believe this.


Laura!

You could have gone all day and not used the qualifier; "older"!

You KNOW it gets my knickers in a hitch.;)


P.S. I have some younger relatives who are saying a lot of dumb stuff. It all depends on how old and how smart you are whether anything makes sense. AND be prepared to change your mind. Aren't you beginning to LOOK like your mother? It happens a lot.

[Schaumburger]

Hi Gracie -- I will take out the adjective "older" -- mea culpa. And actually I have more grey hair than my mom had when she was soon to turn 53.