The Air Force is 20% female

[Keith&Co.]

So, one word in one verse of 'Wild Blue Yonder' is now more gender inclusive. Not the entire song, just the verse thst sometimes is performed all on it's lonesome.

Now "A toast to the host of the men we boast, the U.S. Air Force!"
is "A toast to the host of those we boast, the U.S. Air Force!"

Certainly hasn't excluded any airman. No airman has to wear a dress. I'd be willing to bet the number of the men in the AF who knew the words last week was similar to the number of sailors that kniw the words to 'Anchor Aweigh'.

But it appears to be a crucial word. Comments from the stricken are hilarious.
My favorite has to be,

These nipple heads, won't stop until every tradition we hold dear is destroyed and for what????????????????????????????????????????

Nipple head, as an insult, is a little opaque to me, but, seriously, one line in the song is a tradition you hold dear?
One word lost and it's (you're?) destroyed?

What a snowflake.

 

[krypton iodine sulfur]

We had nearly the identical issue over the national anthem here two years ago, though the argument for 'tradition' was even sillier. Two years and I wonder how many still care? Children growing up now will simply learn the current version, just as I did in the 80s after the anthem was altered in 1980, shortly before I was born.

But I am curious if this change will follow the same path. A few grumble loudly, and some of us will point in laugh while others cheer them on. Most will have some mild opinion or outright indifference. A few will applaud the change. In two years, hardly anyone will remember this was a thing. New waves of recruits will... well, maybe not learn the song with the new lyrics, but be exposed to it with the new lyrics.

 

[steve_bank]

It has long been a fact that without women he military could not meet enlistment quotas.

 

[bilby]

Perhaps they should boldly go where no one has gone before.