Christmas, life and aquariums.

[Jedi1199]

Not sure where I should post this tbh. Today is December 4th. As we approach the Christmas holiday, and we are all focused on our families and our own personal wants/desires... Toys for tots, and secret Santas... let us not forget the ones who made this whole freedom we enjoy possible.

Do you know that a US combat Veteran becomes homeless every 22 hours? Do you know that over 500,000 US combat veterans suffer from PTSD? Do you know that these men and women risked their lives fighting for YOUR FREEDOM??? How is it possible that we, as a nation, can so easily discard these wounded souls?

I don't want a secret santa gift. I will not give a secret santa gift to any member here. I will donate your gift to a VET who needs a bag of food.., I will donate your gifts to a VET who does not understand why his or her country that they risked the ultimate sacrifice for has turned its back on them.

It Truely makes me cry how the people I grew up with, who freely joined the military and fought in the desert, are now treated as the dregs of society. HOW DARE US as a nation do this?????

As we all prepare for the upcoming Holiday, please take a moment out of your life to remember those who made it possible!! That man on the corner with the piece of cardboard scrawled with "homeless vet" was once a neighbor, schoolmate, best friend to someone who has now abandoned them. These people risked their lives for US!!!!

 

[Jedi1199]

Do you know that US combat Vets die at TWICE the rate by suicide than combat?

WHY do we disregard these men and women? Because they are ugly? Dirty? Not part of "our" circle? WHY?

Why do they choose death? Because they have seen horrors in reality that we only see in movies and video games? For them, there is no reset button!! They have to live with their experience. and we casually dismiss them as "losers" "lazy" "worthless"

All these people want is to return to their families, their homes and lives... For many, there is no going back to what was. They face a life of hatred, prejudice, and abandonment.

While we worry about Trump or Biden, Gas prices, and what will be our new coral purchase, these Vets, who served the FLAG live a life of discord, hatred and abandonment.

 

[Jedi1199]

Does NOBODY care? Is that dang coral or fish THAT much more important? SMH

Perspective.... at the time of this posting.. 45 views... ZERO replies

 

[ColoredRock]

So many valid points Making me rethink a bit of our holiday.

 

[Reefbuds]

+1

 

[DaneGer21]

People care, but not all people can help.

 

[Jedi1199]

People care, but not all people can help.

BS!! This an excuse to make people feel better for NOT helping. A kind word, a bag of food, a shower and clean laundry... Nobody can tell me they can't help with that while they post here whining that their $5000 dollar aquarium has algae issues.

 

[ColoredRock]

So this has brought up a conversation in our house... all our kids are "adults" and 2 of the 3 still live with us for various reasons.

We have so many "separate" gatherings.. that the day does not really mean much any more.. it really is just getting together and enjoying life.

So invite military to enjoy a family environment .. or volunteer some place else during that time.

We have done the can of bags, Have done the family Santa .. I thought that would be awesome.. but when we got there ... it kinda felt expected. I wanted it to be more.

So.. thank you for bringing this up to make us think a bit.

 

[Jedi1199]

People care, but not all people can help.

OK, Sorry if I came off harsh. There are so may quality charities to choose. This is one near and dear to my heart. I understand that not everyone can contribute to them all.

 

[Jedi1199]

So this has brought up a conversation in our house... all our kids are "adults" and 2 of the 3 still live with us for various reasons.

We have so many "separate" gatherings.. that the day does not really mean much any more.. it really is just getting together and enjoying life.

So invite military to enjoy a family environment .. or volunteer some place else during that time.

We have done the can of bags, Have done the family Santa .. I thought that would be awesome.. but when we got there ... it kinda felt expected. I wanted it to be more.

So.. thank you for bringing this up to make us think a bit.

Awareness is the first step. Unfortunately, awareness is like saying "oh hey I have ich in my tank" You are aware of it, but Unless you DO something about it, it will wipe out all in front of it.

Vet depression and PTST are every bit as deadly as ich!

 

[MNFish]

Thanks Man!
22 suicides a day is too many.

 

[Jedi1199]

Thanks Man!
22 suicides a day is too many.

ONE suicide per day is too many!!!

 

[Goaway]

I cannot begin to tell you the horrors my dad's deceased friends went threw. No one would believe me. And i would probably get it half right. They served in ww2. My dad was too young, he served in 1956-1976.

Shellshock (ptsd) destroys lives. Mostly because people turn their backs on these afflicted individuals. They often have violent flash backs and many dont know what to.

I agree with everything you say. We've turned on each other. Our eyes became blind. Sadly, the professional sign holders take away from those in real need.

Let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

 

[kittenbritches]

Does NOBODY care? Is that dang coral or fish THAT much more important? SMH

Perspective.... at the time of this posting.. 45 views... ZERO replies

Probably because the post is aggressive, assumptive, and shaming.

Some of us have been abused at the hands of these VETS. Some of us volunteer to help homeless VETS every Christmas or Thanksgiving. Some of us have C-PTSD, and it's hard to continue to suck air most days. Maybe the other things people choose to put their attention and effort into is what is helping them to stay safe. No one else gets to say that we're wrong for spending money because VETS are going without.

Your outrage would be better directed at Congress. The US Military is the largest socialist organization in this Nation, and they certainly have the means to provide more support to our vets — but they have to fill out the forms. They have to show up. The government has made shifts over the last few years making it safer to seek mental health services without fear of discharge. The VA has so many resources — but again, you have to show up.

My ex is a retired 20-year Marine, with severe PTSD, and receiving 100% disability pay in addition to retirement pay.

My ex-husband has been serving in the Army since 2006, and intends to re-up as long as they'll let him.

My father and both grandfathers were lifers in the Navy.

I've been to countless VA appointments, weekly therapy, and 2/3 of my kids are on Tricare.

My heart breaks for the homeless and struggling vets, and I participate in several military charitable causes and events every year. And yeah, I buy corals and fish, too. These things are not mutually exclusive.

♥

 

[ColoredRock]

Probably because the post is aggressive, assumptive, and shaming.

My ex is a retired 20-year Marine, with severe PTSD,

Im so sorry.. I did not see the post as aggressive.. more as one as a time for reflection.

 

[ColoredRock]

Probably because the post is aggressive, assumptive, and shaming.

reread the initial post and can understand your feelings.. but it really does not change the underlying message of how we contrubute and make life better for others. Again sorry..

PTSD does not effect just the individual but also thier love ones that support them....and for our family brought up a valid point of how we make things better.

 

[Jedi1199]

Probably because the post is aggressive, assumptive, and shaming.

Shaming? It was meant to be. As a Nation we should ALL be ashamed of how we treat the ones who risked all for us to enjoy our freedoms.

Aggressive and assumptive? Not at all.

You are in the very VERY small minority. I give you full recognition for what you do for Vets. If more people like you existed in the world, maybe it would be a better place.

I absolutely agree that the government is the problem. Back in the 40s and 50s the government mandated housing for the returning vets. Low interest loans, and low cost homes being built all over.

Vets still enjoy low interest loans, but housing is not like it was back then.

What Vets do not have today is the quality reintegration into society that they enjoyed in the time after WWII. Those Vets were welcomed home as heroes. With ticker tape parades and confetti falling over them. The Vets coming home now get ZERO appreciation from anyone except their immediate families... if they are that lucky. They are treated as "less than human" by most of society.

It is kind of the "Snake bites its own tail" scenario. The VERY freedoms the soldiers fight for, turn back on them and kick them in the butt.

THIS is what I bring into context here. That WE as Americans, should regard these people as heroes... THEY earned it!!

 

[Goaway]

Alice in chains - rooster ... The story behind it says a lot about life after war. How it broke his family apart. Written by jerry cantrell about his father, who served in Vietnam. Long biography on it.

I though id leave that here..

 

[Weasel1960]

As a vet of 28 years I have to agree with @kittenbritches, the original post came off harsh. The old saying of catching more flies with honey….

I have friends who are suffering from PTSD. Family and friends are the first resources for those vets, then the VA and their various programs. Unfortunately countless service members become divorced or lose their jobs during/after multiple deployments. This then makes it even more difficult to track and provide assistance to a vet that needs the help.

I appreciate your coming forward and making others aware, and applaud all the efforts that you and others do to help. Public awareness is a powerful tool, especially these days with social media but true action and help needs to come from the government by stepping up to the plate with better laws, and protections for our vets as well as keeping in touch with them. Case in point, I retired in 2006, became eligible for my retirement this year when I turned 60. It fell on me to start the process with numerous phone calls and emails, even though they had my current address. Unfortunately the mentality with the government is to “wait and see”…

 

[Jedi1199]

I could touch off an issue here that plainly shows where priorities lie, and I am TRUELY tempted to do so. but I do not wish to detract from what this post is indented.

@kittenbritches You are entitled to you opinion. If you disagree with how I presented it, I make no apologies.