I Spoke with a Veteran Collecting for Disabled American Veterans

[Kathy in Cambridge]

Last night, I went to my local Stop n Shop and there was a guy my father's age (70ish) collecting money for the Disabled American Veterans. We struck up a conversation and I asked him if he knew about the cuts to Veteran's Benefits and he said emphatically that he did. We spoke for about 10 minutes, and said that GIs returning from Iraq are waiting over 3 months for appointments. I spoke with him about the thousands of war casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan overflowing Walter Reed hospital to the point where they have to house them in area hotels. He said the VA hospital up in Bedford MA is filled to the gills, but they may close that hospital next year!

We also spoke about how the government cut combat pay for the soldiers and benefits for the families. He has three sons in the military, and hears the common tune how families of the deployed soldiers have to go on welfare and food stamps to survive. He was a nice, soft-spoken gentleman but seemed pretty angry.

I think that any peace march needs to include Veterans like this man and some of those that have returned to the nightmare of the VA Hospital system with sickness and physical impairments. The Democratic presidential candidates need to address the forgotten soldiers and families of Bush's wars. These folks will probably become the most outspoken critics of the regime.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. hear, hear

And they'll be pretty difficult to tar with the unpatriotic brush-though those f*ckers still did it to Max Cleland.

[ComerPerro]

2. I think if you looked

You could find tons of veterans like this who would protest.

I just wish more people knew about this.

Its terrible what Bush has done to dishonor veterans.

[slappypan]

3. Dem candidates should visit VA hospitals

It would be great to see Dean (doctor) or Kerry (decorated veteran) or Clark (career military) visiting a VA hospital.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

4. So how do we get the candidates

to recognize that these folks could help polarize opposition to BushCo? Email them?

How do we get peace groups to reach out to these folks?

[DinahMoeHum]

6. I'd say e-mail the candidates websites first, then. . .

Peace groups are already forming alliances with several veterans organizations. Try the following:

Military Families Speak Out: www.mfso.org
Veterans for Peace: www.veteransforpeace.org
Veterans Against Iraq War: www.vaiw.org
Soldiers For The Truth: www.sftt.org

Peace groups: try United For Peace and Justice at
www.unitedforpeace.org

Good Luck.


:kick:

[DinahMoeHum]

13. Here's another link: Veterans for Common Sense

at www.veteransforcommonsense.org


:thumbsup:

[random]

5. This veteran is glad to see posts like this!

Unfortunately, many of us who served have been portrayed as rabid right-wing Neanderthals who can't read and watch Fox News 24/7. I protested numerous times with Veterans for Peace, and I can tell you that there are thousands of thoughtful, intelligent veterans out there who know first-hand what war does to people, military and civilian. Just remember that there are many reasons people end up in the military, some not voluntary, and they are our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers and loved ones, all human beings.

[damnraddem]

11. The peace group I am in includes:

veterans, parents of GIs serving in Iraq, and pacifists, including religious (absolutist) pacifists. We manage to do just fine together.

[leftbend]

7. As a veteran

I'm including myself in marches against this administration, I had the opportunity to protest Bush personaly when he was in Oregon, and I am talking to every veteran I meet about the policies that are hurting veterans that are already in enough pain. This immoral, greedy liar must be removed before there is no Veteran's Administration. I hope every Veteran will become involved in some way.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi leftbend!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[seemslikeadream]

8. There are a few Dems in the House

that are holding "Iraq Watch" one night a week. They started again last night and the next one will be Tuesday. They read letters from soldiers and speak their minds about bush. Its great to see. Some have not forgotten. One brought up the overflow at the military hospital just last night.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

9. Do you know who is holding these forums?

It would be interesting to participate...

[seemslikeadream]

15. Inslee, Abercrombe, Moran

ones I can think of at the moment. They started having them before the break and C-SPAN has been covering them. Next Tuesday night!

Joe Hoeffel of Penn. started it. Here's a link
www.dscc.org/newsroom/inthenews072503/

[RamboLiberal]

12. Is CSPAN covering the Iraq Watch

I'd love to see it and this is the first I heard some House Dems are doing.

[damnraddem]

10. In peace marches I have been in lately, they have not only been there ...

they've been in leadership. They've been among the spokespersons. They ARE among the most-outspoken critics of the regime.

And the chickenhawk jecklers call them anti-American along with the rest of us.