On Behalf of This Entire Country, I Want to Apologize....

1. 80

   jjackson786posted 10 years ago

   ....to our combat veterans, who deserve much better than what we are giving them.
   
   In light of Veterans' Day coming up on Monday, I wanted to take a second and acknowledge the struggles and hardships that many of our veterans fight through on a daily basis just to survive. As a country, we have failed in honoring those who have sacrificed life and limb to protect their fellow citizens from the dangers of this world. We have forgotten them, ignored them, and denied them the assistance that they need to rebuild their lives.
   
   I just wanted our veterans to know that not all of us have forgotten your sacrifices. I am sorry for those of you whom feel overlooked and forgotten, ignored by our government, and for those of you for whom life is a daily struggle. I wish I could reach out to each and every veteran without a home, with substance abuse issues, with mental health issues as a result of combat experience, and extend a simple "thank you" in acknowledgement of what you've done for us as soldiers.
   
   During the times of the Roman Empire, war veterans were given land. Now they're given nothing.
   
   We need to start talking about this issue. Our combat veterans from all conflicts represent the heart of this country, and how honorable and united we used to be.
   
   Please take a second to watch this video featuring a homeless veteran receiving a makeover so that he might look the part necessary to seek housing and employment.
   
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a6VVncgHcY
   
   And please, please take a second on Veterans' Day to thank a veteran.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      So beautifully said. Thank you.

      replyreport
   2. 74

      JG11Bravoposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed.  From a veteran, thank you.

      replyreport
      1. 80

         jjackson786posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         And thank you for your service.

         replyreport
   3. 60

      Paul Wingertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      "During the times of the Roman Empire, war veterans were given land. Now they're given nothing." Maybe if we start conquering other nations, we'll be able to give our soldiers land after a 25 year enlistment ( the enlistment period of a Roman soldier).

      replyreport
      1. 80

         jjackson786posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Obviously, this is an impossibility in today's times and was meant to draw a comparison. We could simply give our combat veterans what they deserve- ease of access to health and mental health services, freedom from foreclosure and homelessness, and a greater amount of respect from the American people, no matter how long their enlistment.

         replyreport
         1. 95

            wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            No, we cannot reasonably supply land to our soldiers.
            
            Care and support for their family while away, yes.  A $50,000 secondary education, yes.  Medical care for life, yes.  Financial help and compensation for disabilities received (though mere $ cannot replace a leg, it's all we have), yes.

            replyreport
2. 59

   Disappearingheadposted 10 years ago

   Does anyone ever question the notion that our 'veterans' should be honoured without question? There seems to be a notion that they all served our country (I'm thinking UK here, but it can equally be applied to the USA), but that isn't necessarily the case. It is politicians who talk up this rhetoric but it is the politicians who sent them to serve and possibly die in the first place, often on a fools errand.
   
   For example during the week of remembrance leading up to Nov 11th we in the UK were bombarded by memes about vets who died for our country. But did they really? Take the First World War, Arch Duke Ferdinand was assassinated by some Serbians, and on the face of it so what? However European politicians decided to involve themselves in escalating this non event into a wholesale slaughter of millions. None of these major league nations were actually under any threat at all, except that resulting by involving themselves in a minor skirmish of no material consequence to them.
   
   The Gulf wars were nothing to do with defending the UK or the US either. They were all about building up myths and paranoia over Al Qaeda in order to secure rights to Iraqi oil. Is it right that our servicemen die for a lie, die to serve oil companies?
   
   The debacle over Afghanistan is a prime example. Is there any sense spending billions of tax dollars and sacrificing hundreds of lives to invade a country that posed no threat or possessed no oil? If Al Qaeda was the real issue it could have been solved by simple application of a few cruise missiles at a terrorist training camp or two. The pretence of democracy doesn't work either as who in their right mind could think that forcing a democratic system on a nation that consisted of a loose network of local tribes who have no interest or history of democracy was ever going to work. They don't need our political systems, neither do they want them. Perhaps this was all about securing future rights to Rare Earth minerals that are apparently in abundance there.
   
   Veterans join up these days by their own choice anyway. They know the risks, they take their choice. They don't serve their country unless their country is being invaded or directly threatened. More likely they unknowingly serve the whims of politicians and corporations. They are tools, canon fodder for the FTSE 100 or the NASDAQ. Politicians make a show of remembrance, make the right noises to veteran organisations, bluff up a smokescreen and ask the civilians to buy into the rhetoric.

   replyreport
   1. 79

      Seth Winterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It's kind of refreshing to read something like that Disappearinghead, and you're right. People are always thanking veterans for defending our Freedom but when was the last war in which a soldier actually fought to defend OUR freedom instead of pushing a politician's political agenda? Furthermore being a soldier is just a job...nothing more...nothing less.

      replyreport
3. 80

   jjackson786posted 10 years ago

   I don't really know what to say to that (not from ignorance, mind you, but rather from shock), but I wish you all the luck in the world with being helped off your soapbox.

   replyreport