Matt wrote:However, Questioner was sure quick to jump on me about my comment. But when other more "liberal extremism" type posts are made, rarely does Questioner give such a thorough counterpoint.
Sorry if I came across too sharp. But that man is a beautiful person. Look at how he comforted that baby. In the midst of all the ugliness of war, it feels cruel to belittle the good so many of our soldiers are doing. The soldiers don't get to declare war. And IMHO, they are being treated shamefully what with their benefits cut, their service being ignored by so many Americans who just want tax cuts. And worse, I think some of the prosecutions of soldiers may have been very unfair. And much worse, the way our soldiers have been treated when seriously injured!
This whole Walter Reed Hospital mess is an outrage. But do I hear the hawks screaming that we must take much better care of our soldiers whose bodies have been ravaged by these wars? Nope. Do they volunteer at the VA to show their gratitude toward those who have given so much? Nope! They stick a stupid sticker on their car telling everybody else to support the troops, and think they have done some good. I spit on their signs. Let them go to the VA or to a military hospital and volunteer to take somebody outside in a wheelchair in nice weather, or to read to a soldier, or if allowed, to take one out to lunch to give him/her a break from hospital food.
This lack of support for our soldiers (other than stupid car stickers) is a very sore spot with me. I did some of my training in a VA hospital, and the low funding leading to neglect of some of their needs just about made me sick. But by God don't ask us to pay one penny more in taxes to take care of our war wounded!
During the Vietnam war, Bob Dole came into our ward where we had quadriplegics and paraplegics. Trying to get adequate care and equipment for those men (all men at that time) was a constant battle. But dear Mr. Dole needed a photo op, so in he came and with the cameras rolling, pinned a purple heart on one of my patients (paralyzed from the neck down) and then swept out with his entorage--never showing that veteran the courtesy of even talking to him or asking him if he needed anything.
My patient let me know how disappointed he was that he could no longer aim a goodly glob of spit because he would have loved to spit on that purple heart or Dole or maybe both. The VA at that time wasn't given enough money to let him get some help at home so he could go back to his family.
Did you know that if a permanently injured soldier is evaluated as having less than a 50% disability, he/she gets shafted?
I just get my hackles up when any soldier is dissed.
