Defending Your Favorite Cartoon Like
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Defending Your Favorite Cartoon Like

Let's get down to business.

23
Defending Your Favorite Cartoon Like
Associated Press

The world is becoming a huge mess. Melanie Trump and her writing staff were accused of plagiarizing Michelle Obama's 2008 DNC speech. Ted Cruz got booed for not endorsing Donald Trump. Trump accepted the Republican nomination for presidency. Earlier this week I distracted myself from political news by rewatching a marathon of "Living Single." I opened my iPad to Buzzfeed's app and found an unlikely article: Mike Pence and Mulan. If you don't know who Mike Pence is, he is Trump's running mate for vice president.

The article reported Pence's op-ed argument on Mulan and why women shouldn't be in the military on his 1999 radio program. He called the Disney movie a "liberal propaganda."

If you all don't know, this is the Mulan that Pence was arguing about.

"Mulan" is about the titular character in Ancient China who disguised herself as a man to fight in a war against the Huns in her father's place. The Disney movie is loosely based on sixth century "Ballad of Mulan" and has been a role model for a confident, strong Asian woman for me. Mulan holds a special place in my childhood and now. For Pence to argue Mulan being "mischievous liberal," I would have to disagree. I'm going to break down his argument with my input.

1. "Despite her delicate features and voice, Disney expects us to believe that Mulan’s ingenuity and courage were enough to carry her to military success on an equal basis with her cloddish cohorts."

Mulan's ingenuity and courage were not the only things to carry the Chinese army to victory, Mr. Pence. Mulan's role in the military provides leadership and strategy to stop the Huns from attacking the Chinese emperor.

2. "The hard truth of our experiment with gender integration is that is has been an almost complete disaster for the military and for many of the individual women involved."

What experiment? Women served in the military as nurses since American Revolution. They were granted "Permanent status in the Regular and Reserve forces of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps as well as in the newly created Air Force" through The Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 (womensmemorial.org). The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) didn't open to women in the Army and Navy until 1972. Women have been in the military for a long time, sir.

3. "Men and women were actually being housed together during basic training."

Isn't it the whole point of housing them together?

4. "Housing, in close quarters, young men and women (in some cases married to non-military personnel) at the height of their physical and sexual potential is the height of stupidity."

It is not height of their sexual potential. Unless you're referring to rape in the base. I don't think men and women would have any sexual tension with each other since they are busy trying to live and protect this country.

5. On Mulan's romance: "You see, now stay with me on this, many young men find many young women to be attractive sexually. Many young women find many young men to be attractive sexually. Put them together, in close quarters, for long periods of time, and things will get interesting."

Yes, there are women and men in the military get together and married. Some soldiers had to be called and fight to protect this country. They tried their best to come back to their families. Some couples didn't get married until after they were off duty or not called into base. Mulan and Shang got married in the sequel after the war. They didn't get together in the first film. If you, Pence, meant to criticize Mulan because she was a woman in combat, I hate to break it to you but there are many women who are put in combat. Who are ready to fight and protect. Pence, you need to stop spending time on memes like this.

In conclusion: Mulan is good. Mike Pence is not good.

Read Mike Pence's full argument here.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

17728
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

946480
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

123121
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lots of people sat on the cinema wearing 3D glasses
Pinterest

Ever wonder what your friend meant when they started babbling about you taking their stapler? Or how whenever you ask your friend for a favor they respond with "As You Wish?" Are you looking for new and creative ways to insult your friends?

Well, look no further. Here is a list of 70 of the most quotable movies of all time. Here you will find answers to your questions along with a multitude of other things such as; new insults for your friends, interesting characters, fantastic story lines, and of course quotes to log into your mind for future use.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments