Caring for Those Who Served - Quid Pro Quo
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Every American who enlists for military service must know that there is the danger of standing in harm’s way. Today, there is a religious war, with no end in sight. Past conflicts were geo-political disputes - and some of these, like Korea, remain unresolved half a century later. Military service is the work of the patriot and some pay the ultimate sacrifice.
The underlying assumption is that there is a ‘quid pro quo’ / fair exchange involved. A person would serve his/her country. And, in return, the country would take care of its military and their families. It is the least that a grateful nation can do.
However, that is not the case. It is unfortunate and a disgrace.
Those who serve deserve better. This story ( Homelessness a Threat for Iraq Vets ) is just one example of the stories that do not make it to the front pages of the daily newspapers. The recent headlines have been about Anna Nicole, Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Barack Obama, the Grammy awards and so on . Those stories will beginning to fade or find more coverage in the next news cycle. The daily struggles of individual military people rarely make the headlines.
Homeless people do not have a vast array of Washington lobbyists. Shattered lives focus on the next day - the next meal - and not on political networking. These are patriots who served their country. Their country has a moral obligation to each and every one of their military and their families. As the number of veterans grows, the government has to do better. It’s not a choice.
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/
Tags: military service, homelessness, government, lobbyists, catherine forsythe
One Comment
pcwiz...
February 18th, 2007
at 4:35pm
Catherine,
Do you really want to make a difference? Go down to your local VA Medical Center, and watch the ‘VA shuffle’ in action…we are shuffled like papers to be dispensed with, a number and a disgrace to be handled as quickly as possible.
Outpatients are tolerated, barely, by doctors and nurses who are being well paid, have NO insurance liability, (if they make a mistake and you die - oh well), get EVERY holiday off WITH pay, and have a super retirement plan!
Many of these medical ‘professionals’ retired from military service, drawing a full pension from Uncle Sam, plus a salary!!!
The cardiology department did NOT care that I was tired and short of breath, my EKG was normal, so the Head of Cardiology told me I was ‘too fat’ (exact words) and to go walk off a few pounds, I’d feel better…long story short - I now have 3 stents in my cardiac arteries, 3 blockages of 98%, 95%, 89% - plus two blood thinners and lasix for my now developed CHF.
I drove to another Cardiac Hospital from the VA, a ‘civilian’ unit, entered the ER, was seen by a real Cardio professional, hospitalized and underwent angioplasty 6 hours after being seen. Good thing too, the Cardio Doctor wanted to do By-Pass surgery on the three arteries, but I talked him into trying the stents first!
I was a walking dead man, I just wouldn’t lay down and die…the staff at the ‘civilian’ hospital were shocked by my story of treatment at the VA…they couldn’t believe that the symptoms I was having were not recognized by the VA cardio specialists.
Walk thru a VA Hospital, say thank you to the men and women you see in the hallways, if you have the courage, you might get a smile or two in return. Volunteer, there are plenty of little things that need done.
Men need to be wheelchaired from one place to another, books delivered to inpatients, lots of little things. Next time you buy a magazine or book, get an extra for the VAMC, then add them to the books you’ve read and take a bag down there. We like books, we may have to be at the VAMC all day to see one or two people, books pass the time.
Pressure your Congress to take better care of the Veteran, budget that pork project money to the VA instead!!
We will be thankful for it all. Trust me…
Cheers!
pcwiz…