Veteran's Day

Today we honor the vets, we call it Veteran's Day, that is what we do. Some among us have done our bidding, they have risked all to do so, and we give them a Day. Some of us see it as more than a three day weekend, some of us get teary eyed. That is something perhaps, maybe even a parade.

Maybe we could do a little more, maybe we could see to it that 25% of the homeless are not our veterans. Maybe we could see to it that PTSD was an assumed disorder rather than dragged out fight. Maybe we could see to it that Veteran's Hospitals and where the veterans are have something in common. Maybe we could honor our promises to the vets. And maybe we could make and keep a few more in recognition of their singular sacrifices. Maybe a damn day pales in comparison to some concrete actions on our part. Don't tell me the name of your Party, I don't care, they are OUR veterans.

Maybe we could do a bit more to avoid making veterans, maybe that is the most fitting monument to them. Maybe since none of us have adequate words to thank them with, that would do best. I'm real sorry I only have this, I wish it were more.

Supporting the Troops

Whatever else may be said about the Iraq war and what to do about it, this much is sure; we made promises to our soldiers and asked them to do the dirty work for us, it is unconscionable to not take care of our injured troops. There is no excuse, money is not lacking, facilities are not lacking, trained professionals are not lacking; what is lacking is the will to use whatever means it takes to utilize the existing infrastructure.

The Dole/Shalala Report points up serious inadequacies in troop health care, Bush said, "we'll adjust..." Later reports had a caveat - later. These people cry the "support the troops" mantra and never do a damn thing about taking care of them when they're hurt until their feet are held to the fire. If I sound pissed off, I am. I have friends who are Vets and injured Vets, many whose war ended a quarter century ago, and they still suffer. Whatever I may have thought about their wars, it does not change the fact that they were brave, honorable people who did what their country asked and now we do not do as promised?

We are creating injured vets by the thousands today and we need to show the will to do what is right for them. This is not a political issue, it is not a partisan issue, it is an issue of morality. Try hard to find some.

The Governor of Oregon and Vets

Today I attended the memorial service for an old friend and I was reminded how painful it is to participate in a family's grief. Our Governor does this for our fallen soldiers and their families. These are not old men who have lived a full life, these are soldiers whose parents have out-lived their child, whose spouses no longer have the love of their life, whose children will no longer know the arms and kisses of a parent, whose friends have only memories. Their grief is appalling to anyone not made of stone, I share it at a distance, through a TV screen or newsprint and that remoteness saves me tears.

I don't care if you opposed this war from the very first, as I did, or you believe it is necessary now, we are responsible, this is our war and these people are ours. They are acting and dying and being hurt in our name, we don't get to duck that. I cannot and should not go to these services, except in spirit and possibly by representation.

There is no requirement that our Governor attend these services beyond his personal commitment. He undertakes a painful duty because he understands the concept of responsibility, our responsibility, Oregon's. Any person who would voluntarily subject himself to such emotional battering on behalf of his fellows deserves to be acknowleged. It is not just a matter of Ted Kulongoski being a "former" Marine, it is part and parcel with the man's character. I don't care if you voted for TK or not, on this day and those days of memorial service you stand with him, because he's standing in for all of us.

I thank the Governor for doing my job, for honoring those who served to the utmost degree, for honoring those who have lost their loved ones, for making the small acknowlegement that can be made of all of our loss. We are all so much poorer for their deaths.

Hey Vets

Today is your day, shopping sales and dinner specials aside, today we stop our busy lives and say thanks. Thanks for the citizenship to volunteer, thanks for the bravery to follow through on America's decisions, thanks for all you've lost and all we gain. That's not a lot of words, I don't think thousands would do justice, so;

Thanks

Our Veterans

American veterans have given more to this nation than anyone. They have risked everything because our nation asked them to. We told them we would look out for their interests. GWB, the RNC, and Greg Walden now tell them "Too bad, we've got a deficit."

More is known now about veterans' issues than when these programs were instituted and this knowledge has actually made these issues more complex and threatening. The waldenbush solution is to cut programs. I am not a veteran, but I am the recipient of their actions and sacrifices and I'm not happy to have to take any credit for the actions of this Congress and Administration in this regard. We don't get to duck the responsibility no matter who we voted for, these people "represent" all of us. If you don't want to vote for Chuck, that's fine, then get on the phone, write letters, rant at your neighbors, whatever you can think of to put a stop to this. I am truly ashamed and I am doing what I can.