DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN

For years now, the Veterans Administration has granted me compensation for service connected disabilities during my military service and time in Vietnam.  Frankly, I have mixed emotions over this development.

I humbly, but proudly join my father, Uncle Willy, other relatives, and thousands of brother and sister veterans who left their lives or a piece of their good health on a distant battlefield. Compared to most my disabilities were minor and I strongly support a half dozen charities helping the most disabled veterans.  

Next, I am pleased that a giant federal bureaucracy, despite it's snail like speed finally accepted responsibility for the friendly fire of Agent Orange showered on unsuspecting people nearly fifty years ago.

I am thankful to fellow Vietnam Era veterans and sympathetic physicians who encouraged me to persevere and hold the United States government responsible and press my claims. The sprayed defoliant cleared jungle overgrowth in Vietnam, but also rained down poison on military personnel and the Vietnamese People. I urge other Vietnam veterans to learn about the effects of this herbicidal agent on their health and take action.

Finally, I am reminded of how important education and awareness of world affairs and politics should be to all citizens and most especially to our young people. Like hundreds of thousands of other naive 

twenty somethings in the 60's, I trusted the gray beards in Washington when they proclaimed events in Southeast Asia posed a security threat to America. At the time the domino theory of spreading communism made sense. We marched off trusting our government. Now, over a half century later, nearly sixty thousand names are marked on a dark granite wall in Washington DC and thousands of physically and emotionally marked veterans attest to the fact that politics can be a despicable business. Old men continue to endanger and destroy legions of young people for many invalid and often dishonorable reasons.

Nowadays, political differences are sometimes settled with name calling and like the Salem Witch Trials the accusations require no justification, and as with all negatives the accused are automatically deemed guilty. As a former soldier and informed citizen, I defend and celebrate all our freedoms especially that of speech. However, speech devoid of reasoning and filled with rage is a most dangerous thing in todays "woke" society.   

I am no pacifist, but pray and hope more people will allow the bright light of information and education into their political conversations. I demand politicians avoid war and only use formal declarations in only the most dire situations. Too many young people die because of old politicians playing war or enraging the violent passions of others.   

WAITING ROOM BLUES .....

Today I am waiting with a half dozen other old guys to see a doctor.

As the antiseptic tinkle of Muzak pollutes the waiting chamber; bent, bruised, bespectacled, shuffling old farts file in, sign in, and collapse into chairs. Some of us read the wall posters, a two year old Woman's Day magazine or simply slumber in place until our name is gently called then shouted.

Hell, the joint is so quiet and somber it could be a funeral home foyer. Here we are, a bunch of senior men paying good money, or tax payer's good money, to be told we will not get any younger or healthier. Our high blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, PSA number, arthritic kinks, obesity, sleep apnea, deafness, and incontinence will remain our companions. These conditions are old man things that hang around like the flabby underarm wings of fat we once proudly wore as muscles.

The physicians are players who medicate us out the wazoo and offer cheery words that the next pill or treatment will bring us relief. We wait, politely listen realizing that nothing can stop our dreadful slide from good health to a dirt blanket. Do any of these young doctors or nurses really believe their potions or words can add years or vitality ?

One by one my fellow travelers and I will escape the examination chambers with another prescription or device. If we are lucky no body will get hospitalized or prepped for a gruesome operation. I  quietly celebrate leaving the doctor office still alive and able to find my car as the days sunshine folds into the dim coolness of evening.

Dear friends as we gray and shrink from healthiness, it is quite acceptable to enjoy the grim humor of our Final Lap ?

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot."    
Michael Althsuler

REDSKINS ? .... PLEASE !

In these times of an Obama Administration full on with foreign policy screw-ups, domestic economic uncertainties, and federal scandals at all levels, is it
appropriate that Obama political correctness minions turn their attention to team names ?

If the Redskins are a politically incorrect and insensitive term, how about the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, or San Diego Padres ?

Is it not offensive for Dallas to have a team which denigrates the manly profession of herding steers to "boys", and how sexist is a team that excludes the role of female bovine herders ? Is it very nice for the New York franchise to celebrate "Giants" when the physical condition of being a giant is often a health tragedy ? And, how about the hurt the name "Giants" inflicts on average sized folks and little people formerly known as midgets or dwarfs ? Are the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians as guilty of insulting Native Americans or Indigenous People with the slang use of "Braves" and the politically incorrect term "Indians" as the aforementioned "Redskins ?" Does the San Diego sports organization discriminate against rabbis, preachers, and mullahs when they use the Spanish word for priest (Padres) as their team nickname ?

Political correctness is a disease which exists in people who think they are smarter than everyone else. It is also a popular diversion for political leaders who lack the courage  or ability to solve the real problems which ravage our nation and world.

Unfortunately, political correctness is an appealing pastime for legions of Americans unwilling or unable to think beyond the next volley of stupidity spewing forth from Hollywood, Washington DC, or the Far Left Media. Isn't it time we shelve all the silly issues and expend our political and public relations energy on really important issues ?

TEA PARTY ... WHAT AND NOT ?

The Tea Party is not an organized movement with a national headquarters. It is not a political party with a clearly defined agenda or roster of leaders. From it's beginning a few years ago the Tea Party has been a grass roots and diversified crowd of un happy citizens. Millions are dissatisfied with higher taxes, overreaching federal bureaucracies, and government which serves it's own interests above the best interests of "we the people".  The Tea Party happened, and exploded onto  the political landscape just as Obama launched his nationalized health care program and other expensive socialist schemes.

As Obama has overreached his executive powers by usurping the role and authority of the federal governments judicial and legislative branches, the Tea Party movement has grown. The established political parties will not be toppled by the Tea Party and the Tea party will not be destroyed by the left wing media and the reigning powers in Washington DC with it's legion of Obama/Clinton czars and deep state operatives.

The Tea party is what our nation needs to steadily slow and reverse the degeneration of our political systems. The Obama Administration's foreign policy debacles, domestic economic morasses, IRS-VA-EPA etc. scandals highlight a government too big and way out of control. The Tea Party is what the country needs to reform and displace incumbent democrats and republicans. If our republic is to survive Obama and a possible Clinton era of more uncontrolled federal spending, taxation, regulations than a Tea Party is what the country needs.

The Tea Party must be the little engine that steadily chugs along on a steep grade of opposition to the DC establishment. The TP seeks to champion the lofty ideal of American Exceptionalism and fiscal accountability from it's elected bosses. Unfortunately, too many democrats and republicans have abandoned the winning principles and practices of the Reagan era.