VETERANS DAY – IS A HOLIDAY FOR EVERYBODY ENOUGH?
History.com explains:
“Veterans Day is a U.S. legal holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day the following year, November 11th became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became legally known as Veterans Day.”
One wonders if a holiday where most people don’t have to work, and some get free meals and commercial discounts, is enough of a reward for those who have been asked to risk their lives to protect an Empire which has become known throughout the world as the United States killing machine.
Oftentimes veterans don’t live long enough or are too depressed to celebrate that day. Just a couple years ago Rolling Stone gave us the real scoop on how U.S. veterans are treated by the Empire they protect.
In “The Shameful Way America Treats Its Veterans” Tessa Stuart observed that “[T]he number of homeless Vietnam veterans today [2015] is greater than the number of soldiers who died during the war.”
So what does this mean?
Between 200,000-250,000 American troops died in the Vietnam War. So if these numbers are true many of these elderly former soldiers are homeless now. Was the Vietnam War worth this cost in human suffering for anybody but the 1%? Obviously not.
Can we make these losses better by a free meal at IHOP on Veterans day? I don’t think so.
The veterans from the Empire’s more recent wars (and mind you United States’ wars almost never end) do not fare much better except the government claims less of them die on the battlefield. However, that only means more of them struggle back home. See e.g. What Veterans Look Like After A Decade Of War In The Middle East In 10+ Shocking Pics By David Jay & James Nachtwey
The National Veterans Foundation reported in January 2017:
What we’ve learned in the 13 years since the start of the Iraq War is that a soldier’s journey is not quickly over. There are many things to deal with once he or she returns home from war. For many Iraq War veterans, a whole new phase of struggle began when they returned home from war. We, as a country were unprepared to support their needs.
If there’s no infrastructure in place to help vets out of the pitfalls and dangers of invisible injuries they suffer. This can be a result of deployment and the result can be devastating. These so-called “invisible” injuries include:
- Depression
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Suicide
- Substance abuse
Many of us, including veterans, wonder if the Empire’s government for, of, and by the wealthy is really trying to help veterans or actually fears them. See The ‘Red List’ starts with veterans: When our first line of defense is gone, the rest will be led like sheep to the slaughter! Often it appears our law enforcement agencies have been so trained to protect the wealthy they fear the reaction former soldiers might have to the tyranny which is palpable in the United States empire today.
And we all know what happens to those who the government doesn’t like. They call us terrorists no matter how old or disabled we are.
In my opinion we need to do much more for our veterans who have gone into harm’s way to protect us. Regardless, of how you feel about the empire these are people we should honor and protect just as they did for us.
BTW Ever wonder what other countries think about the way the American military empire treats our veterans, here are some articles expressing their views.
U.S. has a long history of treating veterans poorly
US military veterans face inadequate care after returning from war – report
Why Does The U.S. Government Treat Military Veterans Like Human Garbage?
VETERANS DAY- IS A HOLIDAY FOR EVERYBODY ENOUGH?