Bridging the Gap
Of course, these special set of issues that are the day-to-day dealings of this sector of our Nation's population are my life--and the lives of my closest friends...my peer group. So, obviously, we are intimately aware of the Veteran and Active Duty Suicide issue that is largely linked to the improper handling of PTSD and TBI--otherwise known as the Invisible Wounds of this decade long war.
These issues are so intimately known that they are daily topics of conversation within my home--and the homes of my "circle"--so I often forget to explain what PTSD and TBI are until I look out on a crowd or across a table at a coffee shop to be met by a blank stare. It is in these moments the fact that I'm a spouse of the LESS than 1% of our Nation's population counted in the "Active Duty Military Sector"--I'm most certainly part of the minority hits me square on the forehead. Even when counting the Veterans and Active Duty Service Members together, one gets a whopping 7%--still a minority.
PTSD--Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and TBI--Traumatic Brain Injury, although known to the Military Circles (those serving and those who are avid supporters) hear these terms tossed about rather willy-nilly commonly in conversation, but what are they and MORE IMPORTANTLY why should that 93% of our Nation's population that makes up "The Civilian Sector" give a damn about PTSD, TBI and some measly 7%? This is key. No--this is the crux upon which the lives of our Veteran's and Service Members lay.
Early on in this relatively misguided adventure of becoming a spokesperson for Service Members, Veterans and their families--most especially the spouses--struggling with the aftermath of multiple deployments for both Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, I realized that without the "buy in" of concern from the civilian population, the plight of this 7% would fall on deaf ears and tightly closed wallets and checkbooks...money makes the world go around, and the entire non-profit sector competes fiercely for a teenie-tiny piece of the "money pie", so why should some civilian donate their hard earned dollars to this cause called "Battling B.A.R.E." rather than to other causes that hit closer to home like breast cancer, leukemia, heart health, obesity or equal rights for all no matter their sexuality? After all, everyone has their cross to bear, and cancer--among other diseases--are killing people right and left through no fault of their own! I mean, honestly--we have a volunteer Military Force! These people WILLINGLY signed up for this--they knew what they were getting themselves into! My (aunt, uncle, sister, mother, brother, friend, etc.) didn't volunteer for breast cancer! They didn't CHOOSE this demon they are fighting, but those who signed on that dotted line to serve in our Nation's military certainly chose to fight this demon-and now you are asking ME to help THEM? THEY made their beds--let them sleep in them.
OK--first allow me state that while no civilian has ever said the above directly, each and every one of them have stated this much louder in their actions than words could ever say. Some of you reading this are getting pretty angry at these allegations. Now before you go clicking that "X" button, let's look at some facts--one glaring fact in particular:
If any other population was plagued by such high unemployment, homelessness, marriage failure and suicide as the military population--someone would be occupying Wall Street. So why aren't the military--well, they aren't allowed. Basically, they gave up their right to have an opinion (otherwise known as freedom of speech) to protect this freedom for the rest of us--and whether or not there is an article in the Uniform Code of Military Justice that says a Service Member will not get in trouble for the actions of their spouse or dependents--Service Members get in trouble for the actions of their spouse and/or dependents all of the time. So, if someone wants to make a point and occupy Wall Street because they are fed-up with the way Suicide, PTSD and TBI are being ignored, they can't because it directly affects their livelihood. So, like good "soldiers" they put their head down, shut up and carry on with the mission at hand.
OK, again--why doesn't the Civilian Sector take up this plight and protest on behalf of the Military? The answer here is simple--most of the Civilian Sector is clueless because they are so far removed from Military at all and/or they really have no clue about the true sacrifice of blood, sweat and tears necessary to remain a free Nation. Additionally, no one seems to have brought this issue to the Civilian Sector in a way that will have anyone buying in--guilt trips don't work for anything but making people angry....I can "should" on people all day long about why they "should care", but at the end of the day for human beings there is a fact: "It's all about me"--meaning ourselves. Everything we do in life is all about us, and until something affects us directly--meaning realistically threatens our enjoyment and pleasure in life, we aren't going to do a dad-gum thing about it. Fact. End of story--we are ALL the same.
Look at me--it took my own husband attempting suicide for me to do something. Prior to that, I'd feed badly for those left behind...I felt "someone" should do something--but that someone surely wasn't me. I wasn't about to willingly subject myself to that kind of public scrutiny over such a controversial issue--nor would I donate my dollars to any other cause--oh and I had good excuses, too! We were dealing with being upside down on our house because of the housing collapse--like so many other families. We were an active duty family living pay-check to pay-check...surely these "causes" would get their money else-where. I mean, after all, we'd already gone through 3 deployments and countless training missions were we were apart as a family--some other family who hadn't sacrificed "as much already" would feel compelled to "give"--the problem was, every other family had just as many, if not more, excuses....
Bottom line--and a massive issue in society as a whole--no one wants to take responsibility. No one wants that proverbial finger of blame pointing squarely at them. Think about how we react when someone points to us in "real life"...we look around us and over each shoulder to see if there is someone else, and when we realize there isn't we respond with the classic look of confusion and a "who me? Surely you don't mean me."
Yes America--I mean you. I mean every Military and Civilian family alike. I mean each and every one of us--because if not us then who? No one--that's who--and we damn well know it. So stop kidding yourselves and let's take a mental trip to what we'd look like without this freedom that we enjoy and take for granted each and every day of our lives.
Freedom of speech would be gone and freedom to share information would go away, too. Only the select would be educated--so take away Facebook and Google, CNN, ABC, NBC, FOX, etc....the Internet would still be for the elite like it was before it was made public.
You wouldn't be picking your career--sure you'd have dreams, but they wouldn't be attainable because you just weren't born into the right class. You'd imagine what it would be like to make the amount of money you wish you could, but reality would be only a few would be wealthy. The rest would be struggling to survive--facing every day with uncertainty of where the next meal would be coming from.
Think about it. In fact, make a list of every activity you do daily. Once that list is made, cross of everything that wouldn't be possible without freedom....
None of these other "causes" that are out there would even be possible without that 7%. Think about it...
Now I'm not saying that the this 7% are the only ones facing issues. We all have our crosses to bear--right? But these 7% were willing to die for you to continue enjoying this freedom. They were willing to die so that you wouldn't have to. Is that something you'd be willing to do for a total stranger? For most of us, that answer is simple....no, we wouldn't.
Fact #2: We do have a volunteer Military and our Nation's ability to defend itself is at stake, too. Why? Who would want to volunteer to die for the freedom of total strangers when that person grew up watching those strangers remain unwilling to make any sacrifices and fail those that served before? Another easy answer...no one.
Fellow Americans, we can't rely on the 7% Military/Veteran population to fix this for themselves. They are struggling to make it every day. We can't rely on our Government to fix this--they can't even balance their own checkbook or are too busy fixing global issues to see what is going on in their own back yard. We have to rely on ourselves--like our forefathers who founded this country--we have to rely on each other and the common bond that we have which is this--no matter our gender, race,sexual orientation, religion or creed, we are Americans. Let's work together to fix this--
Think about it--the most effective treatments for PTSD and TBI are not costly. Creating jobs for Veterans isn't difficult--most aren't dreaming of becoming rich and famous--they just want to know they family has a roof over their head, clothing on their backs and food on the table.
So, my challenge to you today is simple--for the next 21 days, do something everyday, to give back to that 7% of the population willing to die for your freedom. Do whatever you feel moved to do--grand gesture or small favor. Forego a Starbucks or a movie or a Big Mac--and give to those who were (and still are) willing to give their very lives for this country and for you.
I am sorry to be posting so late. My computer, Firefox, and Google do not get along.
ReplyDeleteBut please see the following:
You, as usual, hit on some emotive points of mine.
As you note, one percent of the population of this country are military. This is the way that is has been since even when this country was nothing more than a subservient, profit generating center for the UK. One percent stand up and do their duty.
And only seven percent have some connection of a sort with the military.
So we are the few, the proud, the mighty. We are the defenders.
My opinion is that is fine. I did what I did. I wanted to do more and I still dream about my brothers-in-arms and how I let them down by still not being there, still fighting.
And I do want to be perfectly clear. I did what I felt I should do. I also feel that I did not do enough. Many more did much more. End of story.
But why are the wounded so marginalized? Why after they have served are the Wounded Warriors not better accommodated? Why do those with issues have to suffer the indignities of being unemployed and homeless?
For me, I thank God, the VA, and my supportive wife. But I am fortunate. I am blessed and that makes me ill. I want those who did more than I to have more than I.
Please let me make a second post?
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of Veterans as friends and this is a situation that one of my friends recounted.
There was a specific fighting position of some size with three men in it. The position was taking fire and heavy weapons were being deployed against the position. With one incoming round, all three men were incapacitated. It was fortunate that they were not overrun. And that was only because this position was supported by overlapping fire from other fighting positions and had effective heavy weapons support of its own.
One was wounded with shrapnel and ended up losing use of his left hand. His weapon was struck and the round plus his mangled weapon did a job on his hand. He was evacuated and sent to Germany.
The other two were knocked out and were concussed. Of those one had his brained scrambled and it was obvious that he had traumatic brain injury (TBI). He was evacuated straightaway.
The other man regained consciousness in a few minutes and recovered functionality in a couple of hours.
This man continued on and he served his full tour; but even while still deployed he was placed on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). This medicine is used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. This point is important. This man is important. This man is my friend and it is he who recounted this narrative.
After his tour he did separate from the Army and of course he was diagnosed as having posttraumatic stress disorder. He did respond to treatment and he is doing well. But he is still on his SSRI and he still gets counseling on a monthly basis, which is significantly less than at first.
The main point here is that the first man with the physical wound received a Purple Heart as he should have and now has great care from the VA. He is working and has a family, doing well.
The second man also is getting appropriate care but that is ongoing. He did not get a Purple Heart and if he ever recovers, his VA care will be problematic.
My friend also does not have a Purple Heart and for a long time did not have a disability rating with the VA that compared to the soldier who did receive the Purple Heart.
The government who controls the VA budget and it is Congress who has VA oversight. That a gross indifference to those with PTSD is still in existence is still evident. Things are changing but there is a long way to go.
Therefore as noted in the post from Ash the country has to get with it and support the Veteran. The Wounded Warrior deserves respect and support. But that support is simply not there.
Look around. How many unemployed Vets are there? But kids fresh out of High School are being given jobs, no problem. How many Vets are homeless and are not supported? And how many in society think they are homeless because they are lazy? How many Vets have substance issues? And how many people in the community think it is not because the Vet is still battling insurgents but only because they are useless drunks and bums?
We have a failure to help our Veterans in need. This is a cultural problem.
It needs to change.
Preach it, Paul! :-) <3 -Ash
ReplyDelete