Psychoblues
Senior Member
My biological brother died in January of 2004. His affliction was only recognised and then admitted by the VA in the middle of 2003 even though his last year of service was in 1971. Cancer most definately caused by Agent Orange, his VA Doctor expressed. His dilemma was well recognised by the VA and had been for many years, according to his Doctor. He suffered and ultimately died due to the disease that went on improperly diagnosed for all the years in between. He never wanted or asked for compensation. He only wanted to breath, eat and drink like normal people but didn't understand why he couldn't. He died a genuine hero but totally unrecognised by anyone beyond his immediate family for his contributions to America.
USMB was kind to me then. Posters then expressed deep feelings and sympathies for my Brother and me. Even then, we knew that we were on opposite ends of the political spectrum but the kindness and genuine compassion showed through all of that. Death is important even to right wingers, I surmised.
What about the Veterans that are returning from the so-called War On Terror? Will the Powers that Be behave any more compassionately than they did for my Brother? Will the Powers that Be truly initiate attitude and understanding that might forego the lifelong miseries of my Brother? Will the Powers that Be have the fortitude of solution and the genuine attention to the problems of the returning Veterans to properly address their dilemmas?
Maybe you have to die to be considered a "genuine Veteran"? I think sickness, explained or not, is the responsibility of the United States Government as their Veterans return from duty with illnesses that defy otherwise explanation. Continued refusal of the Powers that Be to properly address the problems of their returning Veterans will be the ultimate failure in this so-called War On Terror.
Psychoblues
USMB was kind to me then. Posters then expressed deep feelings and sympathies for my Brother and me. Even then, we knew that we were on opposite ends of the political spectrum but the kindness and genuine compassion showed through all of that. Death is important even to right wingers, I surmised.
What about the Veterans that are returning from the so-called War On Terror? Will the Powers that Be behave any more compassionately than they did for my Brother? Will the Powers that Be truly initiate attitude and understanding that might forego the lifelong miseries of my Brother? Will the Powers that Be have the fortitude of solution and the genuine attention to the problems of the returning Veterans to properly address their dilemmas?
Maybe you have to die to be considered a "genuine Veteran"? I think sickness, explained or not, is the responsibility of the United States Government as their Veterans return from duty with illnesses that defy otherwise explanation. Continued refusal of the Powers that Be to properly address the problems of their returning Veterans will be the ultimate failure in this so-called War On Terror.
Psychoblues