January in November. It is frickin' cold out there. Anyone who thinks climate is not changing is a troglodyte. Which defines most of our governmentally unstable secretariat. Seriously.
But let's not dwell on the theoretical; let's talk about the practical. It's cold out there and some people are without shelter.
It's Veteran's Day, folks.
 |
| Armistice Day in New York City Nov. 11, 1918 |
It used to be called Armistice Day because at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was signed ending the Great War...which came to be known as World War I, the war to end all wars...which it was not because we had a rerun less than 20 years later. Poppies in England, platitudes in America, and utter disrespect for our veterans. As a nation, our disdain for those who have served in uniform is beyond shocking; it is a blight on American society.
Those who gave themselves to defend this country lack access to consistent health care. Too many of our veterans are homeless. Too many need psychological evaluation and help. And too many are deported because they came to this country illegally as children. Sure, we can all focus on this incredible injustice, but it really speaks to a larger issue prevalent in American society: we are unwilling to take responsibility for our own population.
We treat each other abominably. Our government ministers cut social services, education, and arts funding because they don't see those aspects of culture as having value just as we do not value service to this nation. As the entity America, we turn our backs when confronted with the reality of service instead of the poster images we want to see. Our armed forces and our veterans need social services, education, and yes, even access to the arts. De-funding and dismantling the programs telegraphs a very clear message to those who have put on the uniform: You Don't Matter. Doesn't matter if you need any particular program...that they are rapidly becoming unavailable to those who do need and rely on them is to our collective shame.
This disdain is a blot on the American conscience. It shows us up for who we truly are: a nation that elects leaders with no honor. Not every leader has to have served in the armed forces, but they must respect that we sleep safely under the blanket of the security the armed forces of this nation provide. This doesn't mean we turn a blind eye to misconduct or misdeeds; we do not. But we have a moral and ethical obligation to our service members and our veterans to ensure they are getting the best armor, the best health care, the best educational opportunities commensurate with their choice to put our nation first.
Once upon a time in the not-too-distant past, members of the Armed Forces were derided, belittled, and damned for being part of an immoral war machine. Come on, you remember Vietnam and the treatment leveled at American vets. Yes, it was a complicated time, but we learned a great lesson from that period. We learned a government goes to war, not the army. We learned to discriminate between what was duty and what was morally reprehensible as we learned that dereliction of duty is not a cut-and-dried matter. But that was then, this was now, and I must believe We, the People have come to understand the importance of those who choose to serve in the Armed Forces. You can see that shift in airports, in public places, even in the grocery store.
Veterans Day is not Memorial Day. Veterans Day is to recognize the service given to this country with great personal sacrifice. All too often, there is blood, not lucrative investments, that is spilled on the ground, but that has little to do with Veterans Day. The bottom line is that every day must be Veterans Day.
As you listen to the next 11 months of non-stop bullshit coming outta the mouths of politicians, listen for the part when they talk about those who serve our country. Listen to what they say about service, about our responsibility to them, and then, demand concrete answers. Hold their feet to the fire and make the candidates address issues of veteran right, benefits, and even citizenship.
This is a non-partisan issue. Your party of choice has nothing to do with this. Your voice and your vote however, count.
To those of you who serve our country now, we salute you. To those who have served in uniform, we thank you. And for those who dream of marching, sailing, flying, or going to the moon, we support you.
The Wifely Person's Tip o'the Week
You have a voice and a vote.
Use them well.
No comments:
Post a Comment