Vet Suicides, PTSD, and Election 08': DOES AMERICA CARE? »
Posted By Spadecaller 1 year, 11 months ago in NewsThe government deploys American soldiers to Iraq and Afganistan and when they develop PTSD, they prevent them from receiving care. Do Americans truly support their troops or is it just lip-service and popular rhetoric? Are the presidential candidates honestly addressing this? Take a look and see.
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Spadecaller1 year, 11 months ago
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"Dear Congressman Filner,
1.5 million people have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Almost one-third of them will have a serious mental health problem -- like depression, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. That's why I'm supporting IAVA and Drowning Pool's "This is For the Soldiers" campaign to make sure the mental health needs of our troops are a top priority.
We know you're a strong supporter of the troops. You co-sponsored the crucial Lane Evans bill, which would get veterans the counseling and support they need. But without your leadership, this bill will continue to just sit in committee.
We hope you'll join us and bring this bill before the committee. With your help, we can get this bill moving and get troops the care they deserve."
http://thisisforthesoldiers.org/
Is this too much to ask people to do? To sign a petition to help get veterans the care they deserve? If it is, why?
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Natureboy1 year, 11 months ago
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We should indeed be pushing for better mental health care for returning troops.
At the same time, we should be pushing for 100% elimination of the problem, by demanding that our government cease these imperialist adventures now and forever and limit the military to protecting our land and borders, as they should.
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Spadecaller1 year, 11 months ago
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Yes the best way to support our troops is to bring them home.
In addition, if we allow our government to push aside all the veterans traumatized by this war, our nation will suffer even more.
By ignoring this problem, our goverment will foster the domestic terrorism caused by outraged victims of PTSD.
How often do your read or hear about how a veteran who blows up and kills others and then themselves?
So with all this talk about supporting our troops; where is it when it counts the most?
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jumpmaster1 year, 11 months ago
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Bring the troops home and put them to work making floral arrangements and nurturing kittens.
Wait a minute. That's not what soldiers are supposed to do.
Better yet, retrain all military recruiters so that they absolutely, positively disclose to military enlistment candidates that they are in a military recruiting office and the job they are applying for involves doing military type stuff.
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Spadecaller1 year, 11 months ago
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bubba21 year, 10 months ago
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A VAST majority of the troops that are currently in Iraq and Afghanistan joined the military before or just after 9/11 and before we invaded Iraq.
Even if 100% of the people that join the military should "know" that they might have to shoot/kill someone, does that automatically INSULATE them from having PROBLEMS with that?
The problem is NOT that US troops have to shoot at people or bomb them and kill them.
The problem is HELPING those people that the government PUT in that position to DEAL with the physical, emotional, and psychological problems that come WITH that "duty".
THOUSANDS of soldiers have committed suicide because they cannot deal with, manage, reconcile, or forgive themselves of what they saw and did while "on duty".
They came/come home to a SUPPOSEDLY grateful nation and government, but NO one helped them/helps them with that after they came home, SUPPOSEDLY to a greful government.
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Spadecaller1 year, 11 months ago
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Thanks! For posting that you took action.
I'm tired of those people who drive around with bumber stickers, "Support our Troops" and they care nothing about their true welfare. It's nothing more than politics and phony patriotism.
Action speaks louder than words. I remember coming back to the states. Oh yes, there are some who will pat you on the back only because it makes them look good.
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Shadowolf1 year, 11 months ago
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For generations this nation made a solemn promise to those who served "You serve your country now;when you are through your country will serve you." Politicians in thrall to the corporations and K-Street have orders to privatize anything that might make a profit...they failed on frontal assaults like social security, so they started nickel and diming programs like the VA...leading to the current disaster...
...and yes Spade; I signed!!!
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scriblerus11 year, 10 months ago
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I followed the links to this page:
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizati... Action Template.dwt
Signed!
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Spadecaller1 year, 10 months ago
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I found this site to be functioning correctly; is anyone else experience problems?
http://thisisforthesoldiers.org/
(You need Adobe flash player installed properly in order to view and operate this page.)
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bubba21 year, 10 months ago
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I have posted probably HUNDREDS of stories of the last several months of the LACK of decent help or health care or disability that veterans have dealt with since returning home from Iraq or Afghanistan.
Vietnam veterans are not excluded from this - some have had to wait and fight for YEARS to get the disability and health care that they deserved from the beginning. In addition to the rise in suicides among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, many Vietnam veterans have committed suicide.
The nominated VA secretary - soon to be confirmed by a weenie congress - will be no better judging from that man's history in both government and the corporate world.
It is our Federal Government that has broken the promises to the people that have served this country by joining the military. Health care, disability, education, jobs -- the Bush administration has royally screwed way too many veterans on ALL of those promises.
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hyperbola1 year, 10 months ago
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This is just one more indication of how america has lost its way. There was a time when americans believed in the common good and that they should contribute to that common good. This is no longer true.
Why should americans expect that the troops will be treated according to the common good when nothing else in america is treated according to the common good?
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Spadecaller1 year, 10 months ago
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Here is "The Soldiers Code":
"I am an American Soldier, a protector of the greatest nation on Earth, sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
I will treat others with dignity and respect and expect others to do the same.
I will honor my Country, the Army, my unit and my fellow soldiers by living the Army values.
No matter what situation I am in, I will never do anything for pleasure, profit, or personal safety which will disgrace my uniform, my unit or my country.
Lastly, I am proud of my country and it's flag. I want to look back and say that I am proud to have served my Country as a soldier."
How is this code of honor being interpreted today by our politicians, our govenrment, and corporate America?
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bonaroo1 year, 10 months ago
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I know a few vets who have turned what they learned in the service into lucrative professions. However, they were lucky enough to have done their service when the U.S. wasn't at war, and didn't have to deal with the horrible effects that this article alludes to. A lot more of these men and women will come home and suffer for the rest of there lives with the realities of war despite the best of care and support. Its heartbreaking really. At this crucial juncture we as citizens should make sure that those who chose to uphold there end of the deal are taken care of, despite wether you think the war was right or wrong.
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Amazing11 year, 10 months ago
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And then there is a friend of mine whose son came back from Iraq with PTSD, or so we suspect. Something certainly not right about the boy. Now, he has received orders to go back. And he's just not in shape to do it. Are they hoping to kill off some of their obligations or what. His mother is just beside herself. And the boy is too addlepated to think straight.
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bubba21 year, 10 months ago
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Has their son tried to see a doctor at their nearest VA? Have they tried to get him to do so? They need to get him evaluated by a psychiatrist as soon as possible.
There are thousands of soldiers being sent back to Iraq and Afghanistan that have NO business going back, both for physical and mental injuries.
The Bush administration just chews them up and spits them out, all in the name of 'war' - actually in the name of profit and oil and corporate control ....
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Spadecaller1 year, 10 months ago
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Many vets return unwilling to see anyone about their problems. Unless they are Baker Acted (court ordered) to a hospital for evaluation, they will not go. Many of these cases end tragically. The Veterans Administration has refused to address these cases; in fact, they will not even acknowledge that they exist.
Review the hearings currently being held in Congress and you can check out my facts.
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Spadecaller1 year, 10 months ago
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This is not just incompetence, it is blatant disregard for the welfare of our soldiers. These are the same people telling everyone else, "Support Our Troops."
It's infuriating. How many of the flag waving neocons have posted their remarks and have offered their support on this thread? But there are a couple of people who thought it justified to sink this story.
Their partisanship loyalty and hate for centrists and liberals is obviously of greater importance.
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Jaydee401 year, 10 months ago
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I agree with you 100 percent but not being American I don't think my name would help you much and might even be used against the petition so I can not sign it. I think the best support any army could have is to not have their lives risked in vain. Unfortunately the powers that be don't see it that way. I hope all who have loved ones abroad this holiday season find them safe and in good spirits and home soon.
Last summer my 19 year old son changed his mind after watching the situation in Afghanistan, he had fully intended joining the Canadian armed forces with the desire to go to the middle east but he saw the BS and chose not to get involved. I support his choice but can only imagine how I would have felt this Christmas if he had joined up knowing he would soon be somebodies target.
Those who go do their duty, those left behind must do ours and see to it they are looked after properly.
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bubba21 year, 10 months ago
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I just posted this story - a very good, relevant commentary on our government's so-called 'care' of our soldiers and veterans --
http://donoevil.propeller.com/story/2007/12/13/...
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Lurch1 year, 10 months ago
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He mentioned that 50% of those vets who committed suicide had sought help for PTSD. He claimed that either the medical care providers were unproperly trained or the soldiers were misdiagnosed.
One more possibility. What if some PTSD cannot be cured or treated?
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Lurch1 year, 10 months ago
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I disagree with the `messenger`. We the people failed our troops, not when they came home, but when they left.
We failed when we let a lying puppet of the war profiteers send our troops to an unnecessary and illegal war for personal and political profit.
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