Pain, both physical and mental, comes in many forms; not all instances are remediable, but some are, if we really put our minds to it. The following video is of an American vet whose (mis)treatment by the Veterans Administration (VA) has only aggravated the problems he brought back from battle.
The same callous disregard for the needs of our own vets has been reported widely in Canada. The way ex-soldiers are treated in both countries bespeak an attitude whereby ultimately returnees are treated at worst as disposable bodies and at best as irritating reminders of our collective failures. I almost see them as metaphors for the many dispossessed in our midst.
Whether they are the homeless, the addicted or any other manner of marginalized, no one deserves to be subjected to anything other than compassion and assistance.
Hand-wringing accomplishes nothing.
H/t TizzyEnt
Should be required viewing before any recruitment . Some how an initial fascination with weapons and learning the art of killing doesn't speak to initial good mental either. It is almost like they are surprised when the other side fires back. It is sad but adults (over 18) who sign on to 100% guarantee of PTSD to defend nothing more than overseas business interests will never be resected by those who take advantage of them initially.
ReplyDeleteHenry Kissinger — 'Military men are just dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy.'
Believe them when they tell you who they are
Well-framed, lungta. I couldn't agree more.
DeleteThose who defend us bear the scars of doing so, Lorne. And we forget about them.
ReplyDeleteWe live in such disposable times, Owen.
Delete