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Politicians are great flag wavers Nobody waves the flag more furiously than the person who has never worn a uniform in defense of their country. Nobody bubbles with as much bravado and is ready to go to war than the person who has never been there and never will be. Nobody talks a better game of patriotism than the politician than isn’t afraid to shed blood, as long as it’s someone else’s. And nobody has a shorter memory or less
gratitude than the public officials who sent military men and women off
to risk their lives, their health and their security than the government
officials who take from the veterans first. Veterans of World War I came home to resume
their lives and a little more than a decade later faced the Great
Depression. When the
government reneged on promises of financial relief for those who served,
they marched peacefully on Washington.
Makeshift camps were setup around the nation’s capitol.
The city’s chief of police was a veteran himself and sided with
them. But the
administration didn’t like the eyesore and no less than Gen. Douglas
McArthur was sent to disperse them.
You could go back farther in our country’s history to track
ingratitude. What did the
Revolutionary War survivors have? Only 50 years ago, Korean War veterans came home
with debilitating scars or mind and body that still need care for those
still alive. Vietnam
mutilated a generation of young men and women.
The government still denies a poison dubbed Agent Orange left any
long lasting effect. Tell
that to a veteran with cancer coming from no other known cause. With all the veterans from past service still
needing assistance, mainly in health care, a new generation of Americans
is being asked to serve their country in the Middle East, Asia and
wherever the leaders choose to become involved.
The heroic politicians snug in their official
haven utter challenges to enemies they will never see face-to-face.
“Bring ‘em on!” “We will never retreat!”
The cost of human lives is sidelined as figures
of rebuilding and bounties are tallied up.
A billion here and a billion there are insignificant sums to the
people we put in Washington. The worst part of all is the callous treatment
of veterans and the neglect to their benefits.
From generations back, the government entered into a moral
contract with the American military man and woman.
Go and protect us from the enemy and we will always take care of
you. This has become empty
words. The flags of patriotism are being waved
furiously, hiding the human cost of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Daily our troops are dying or being brought back with severe
injuries. At the same time,
the government is trimming the budget at the expense of veterans. Congress in July loped off $1.8-billion from the
health care funds for medical treatment of veterans.
Ron Colby, national commander of the American Legion, called it a
“national outrage.” At the same time these congressmen and their
families are entitled to the best medical treatment available, at Walter
Reed and other facilities. At
the same time Americans are sent to serve their country, our elected
officials are having their country serve them.
Each year they vote themselves fat pay increases.
In the last ten years, since the Contract with America
congressional pay has been raised $50,000 per year. It would be an interesting turnaround if these
well paid officials were asked to pull a tour of duty on the
frontline—instead of safe at home watching their bank accounts grow
will veterans suffer without medical treatment.
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