Nov 12 2009
I was reflecting this Veterans’ Day, and thought about John. He was a good man, and I realized that I actually on very close personal terms with a World War I veteran. By the way, there is, from what I have been able to find, only ONE American World War I veteran still breathing, and he is 108 years old.
John did not live that long. He had a hard life. He was also the most kind, most tender, and most loving man for kids that I have even known. Please follow me on a very emotional track here.
Nov 11 2009
Below is just a small group of articles and reports coming in on this Veterans Day 2009. Some about Veterans Day, some about Veterans older and to the present, some about todays Veterans and Soldiers. Much will be said today, much seen, some will even think about, some.
While important it isn’t so much about what will be said or done by our political leaders, it’s really more about how the greater majority in this country who don’t serve, don’t want to really sacrifice, but are quick to use those who do, and their families, then quickly move away from their false meme’s when it comes time to actually heed the calls for the funds to pay for the results of our occupations of choice. And as always by not heeding those calls for sacrifice it ends up causing more suffering by those who’ve suffered enough for country and much much more in the costs of the results of their service!
Nov 11 2009
STREET MEETING
He confronts me
Smiling shyly, head down
Embarrassed at the charade
Brother
I see by your jacket that you was in Nam
I was there too —
Shows me the scar to prove it —
How ’bout a quarter for a fellow vet
To get some wine?
He shuffles — niggaring —
Wincing at the expected blows of righteousness
I give him a dollar and say nothing
You see
We both have come
To the same
Conclusion
Nov 11 2009
Across the country, there’s a movement quietly taking shape to reclaim November 11 as a day of peace.
What is now called Veterans Day was originally designated in the US as Armistice Day, the day that World War I ended at 11 a.m. on 11/11. In the UK and elsewhere, it is also known as Remembrance Day or Poppy Day.
Nov 04 2009
When is a veteran not a veteran?
When he or she is a Veteran for Peace, according to the committee which runs Milwaukee’s Veterans Day parade.
According to the committee’s logic, inviting non-veteran politicians to march in the Veterans Day parade is not political, but having the word “peace” in an organization’s name is.
Members of Veterans for Peace have again been barred from participation in Milwaukee’s Veterans Day Parade, although the parade website says the event is “Honoring all Americans who have served.”
The committee has refused to allow Veterans for Peace members – many of whom are combat veterans with Purple Hearts – from taking part in the observance on Saturday, Nov. 7, saying Veterans for Peace is “a politically motivated group,” and therefore not welcome.
So much for “honoring all Americans who have served.”
Chapter 102 members (I am one) did not ask to participate in the parade to make a political statement, but to take our rightful place in the annual event saluting all who served our country in uniform.
Yet the committee, which finds us “political,” invites non-veteran politicians — Scott Walker, Gwen Moore, Tom Barrett — to march in the parade, and welcomes veterans groups which are outspoken in support of military action and war.
The committee’s reply, from Chairman David Drent, said,
“There is no doubt that your organization is a politically motivated group. One visit to the organization’s website makes your views perfectly clear.
“We don’t make judgment on your purpose. End the war or escalate it carries the same weight with the board. A political statement is being made and there is no room in the parade for it.”
“We thank you for your service in our Armed Forces, but our goal has always been to have a day of honor that is 100% politically free.”
The committee’s decision was unanimous, he said.
Oct 31 2009
Ilona Meager met many of us, especially us veterans, through using this technology, especially in research and posting on interactive community boards, and her awaking interest in a subject she had never thought much about until reading reports about suicides by returned veterans of the Afghan and Iraq occupations well into the start of both conflicts. Her interest caused her to start researching the why these were happening, joining her were other online researchers, many like her who might have heard about but never really thought about an extremely important issue, we veteran advocates have been fighting to get much more recognition for from the masses since especially our occupation Vietnam. That issue is Combat PTSD.
Oct 28 2009
Last night on the PBS News Hour they had a discussion with the new AFL-CIO leader Richard Trumka
On a separate page from the transcript and video/audio links of the discussion they have a short video of a round-table meeting of the lobbyist of the AFL-CIO with Trumka talkin ‘bluedogs’ and ‘public option’.
Inside the AFL-CIO’s Health Care Lobbying Efforts
Oct 22 2009
Veterans group VoteVets.org is paying for a locally broadcast radio ad, in conjunction with Operation FREE, calling on PA Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) to resign over remarks he made that veterans who are fighting for energy security are “traitors.”
Radio Ad
Transcript: Found Here
Oct 20 2009
Some Four Plus Decades of, Enough is Enough
We’ve been going through this for some four decades now, and it’s gotta Stop Now, but I doubt it will, because it comes mainly from those that don’t serve as they wrap themselves in the banner of a political party that’s “Strong On National Defense” while condemning all others as not! It’s in their political ideology to be used and accepted by those that claim that ideology, like they found great enjoyment wearing and laughing about “purple heart bandages” not long ago. Even some who serve, and do so in our wars and occupations of choice will use it, strickly as their political meme, disgracing their own service as they attack their brothers and sisters, never having real facts to back up their claims, and never apologizing especially to their brothers and sisters!
Oct 09 2009
For those that seem to have a problem with the facts of how we humans live and readily do damage to our environment, and really seem not to care, that around us as well as adding to what everyone else has done making it a global problem, this post, and the links etc. that it contains, may educate you some, and this is only about what our military does, knowingly or not, and corrects or not.
Oct 06 2009
Yesterday, the fifth of October, I posted up a Parade Magazine article I found on Max Cleland and his new book {on my site and a few open threads etc.}. This morning I heard a short, but real good, interview on NPR’s Morning Edition {below with links}, that should be added to the Parade article. This, while short, was a pretty good interview as Max hit’s on a number of issues but unable to delve deeper. Here’s hoping as he has started to promote the book that we get to hear and see longer more in depth interviews, I for one hope so, not only because of the brotherhood of us ‘Nam Vets and the whole Veterans community, but because Max doesn’t hold back, never did, and speaks with feeling and conviction.
Sep 26 2009
This is gonna be short but Real Sweet!!
I want you to go over to VetVoice and visit a post Richard Smith just placed with all the good news of How This New Veterans Administration, under the Obama Administration, Really Works!!
Richard starts the long subject title with what I’ve got in mine, then leads into this:
{follow me below}