Homeless, War-Ravaged Veteran Really Happy to Have Been in Everyone’s Thoughts The Other Day

[rpannier]

Global Edition

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The Global Edition) – With another Veterans Day ended, one local veteran is telling the community that, despite being homeless and ravaged by several tours through violent combat zones, he’s just happy everyone thought about him the other day.

On Tuesday, 29-year-old Henry Stroehecker expressed his gratitude to people across the country to take a brief moment to acknowledge his four grueling years as an infantryman in a war-torn Afghanistan that cost him dearly both mentally and physically.

“I can only describe it as a waking nightmare,” said Stroehecker, itching at his arms as the result of a drug addiction that muffles but never silences the demons in his head. “But just having everyone think about me for one day a year makes it all worthwhile. I can’t thank everyone enough for their thoughts.”

snip

“I might not have health insurance or any sort of support system, but just being in everyone’s thoughts for the day, well, that’s just as good if not better,” said Stroehecker. “You did your part by just knowing I exist. Well, not me personally, of course, but the abstract concept of veterans in general.”

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I do like the Global Edition

link:
http://www.theglobaledition.com/homeless-war-ravaged-veteran-really-happy-to-have-been-in-everyones-thoughts-the-other-day/

[No Elephants]

1. Thank you. Sadly, both parties now flog the idea that war is something akin to noble.

I know that "noble" is not precisely the correct word, but I wasn't able to come up with a better one.

If I could, I would thank this veteran for sharing his experience, but I came to the conclusion that knee jerk thanking men and women for their service is not something I will do anymore.

Then again, we now have drones. On the down side, we've just about abolished the rule of law and the rules of how civilized nations operate internationally.

On the up side, drones don't require veteran's benefits or retirement pay and they don't suffer from stress disorders or brain damage or lost limbs, etc. They just make certain segments of society very, very wealthy.

[Enthusiast]

2. Wasn't it obvious that Henry Stroehecker

was being sarcastic? Maybe he wasn't, but it sure seemed that way to me.

This glorification of the military and war should be alarming to anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of 20th Century history. Ultra nationalism. "The greatest nation on earth!" It looks to me like THE POWERS THAT BE are preparing us for a mighty conflict that they hope to engage in in the very near future. I mean, we just can't allow these incredible weapons systems to go unused.

We are so very close to Nazi style fascism right now. It is right there if one only takes a peek behind the curtain.

"The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater."

— Frank Zappa

[No Elephants]

3. Seemed sarcastic to me.

On the other hand, he was not drafted. He volunteered, and probably at a time when veterans were even worse off than they are now.

And the time to consider all that was before he signed up.

I don't blame him because he was probably very young when he signed up, and/or very in need of a job. But, these are the things parents and kids should consider before anyone volunteers.

And I do disagree with him some on the facts. He does have the veterans health care system and veterans benefits and their are support groups for vets. None of it is perfect, but more than many others have.

[Leopolds Ghost]

4. This is like the Onion, right?

[rpannier]

5. yes it is