Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Why I Don't "Owe" My Veterans

I am about to rattle a few cages here, especially if you are a disabled veteran, and most especially if you are a veteran receiving public benefits. I understand that you have done your duty, and may whatever power you hold most sacred bless you to the utmost for that.

But I would like you to rethink some things if you think you are "owed" your benefits for what you have done, and I will illustrate the reasons why with the story of my own great-grandfather, Ted.

Ted's parents were German immigrants to the United States of America during the height of the industrial boom, which was the late 1800s to early 1900s. They had a good life, and a little store, and all was fairly alright.

Enter World War One.

Their son was enlisted in the US forces and went overseas to fight. Ted fought his father's ex-countrymen. And he fought well. That didn't stop a bombshell from blowing his foot off while he was in action.

Ted came back to the States, minus a foot. He was directed to a workshop for other WWI veterans that had become "disabled" like him. The workshop taught him how to make paper flowers to sell to the public on the corner so that he could still have an income. Essentially, teaching veterans how to live of the public pity dollars. No different than getting the public assistance pity dollars that most disabled vets live off of today. (Spade a spade, like it or don't.)

You know what he said to that?

SCREW THIS! It was my FOOT that got blown off, not my HEAD!

Ted did not get public assistance (didn't exist yet) or public charity or public pity. He used the gray matter between his ears to make his living after that. He moved westward and got into film. Hollywood was a burgeoning industry at the time, and silent films were the cinematic artform of the day. He directed movies, worked with Harold Lloyd, met his beautiful Irish wife and had a gorgeous daughter to whom he gave a middle name in honor of his best friend, George Herman Ruth, Jr. (otherwise known as Babe Ruth), who became her godfather. My dad (Ted's grandson) still has the silver baseball from his mother's christening engraved with the man's autograph.

Ted helped shape the budding Hollywood, and was at the first Oscars with his wife. I have seen the copy of the picture of it, which my dad has, and he pointed out my great-grandparents to me, smiling brilliantly.

Not once did Ted consider himself "disabled" or think that the citizens of this country "owed" him for his service. He fought and served because it was his DUTY, not a DEBT to be incurred by the people that he was protecting. Such a thing is no better than hiring and compensating a paid bodyguard, really.

He used his wits to keep on going, keep living, and make his mark on the world, without the public dole - or what would have equated to the public dole at the time. Without a foot, mind you.

Please think of the course that my great-grandfather took, before you say or think that you are "owed" something for a DUTY that you damn well knew the ramifications of before you even took up arms.

And if you're wondering where the fortune of my great-grandfather went, and why his great-granddaughter has had to make due and thrive in such a hard life as she has, then allow me to illustrate succinctly what happened for you.

Have you ever seen Rocky V?

Very close to that.

And this was before his daughter was married to my grandfather, by the way. She married a war vet, too, like her mom did. He didn't get anything blown off though, thank heavens.

This post is not meant to disparage our honored war veterans, but to ENCOURAGE and INSPIRE them by putting things in perspective.

In order to restore the constitution that you swore an oath to uphold, protect, and defend, we have to actually adhere to it. As explained in Davy Crockett vs Welfare, there is no Constitutional authority, to use public funds for charity of any kind. http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig4/ellis1.html

Thank you for your bravery.

12 comments:

  1. The only people to who restitution may be owed would be the involuntary draftees.

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    1. There hasn't been a draft since Vietnam. That would eliminate a whole heck of a lot of folks right there.

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  2. True enough, and I agree on many points. But I am curious as what your thoughts are about the the Vets who come back in a condition that they truely are not able to take care of themselves and/or their families? Also what are your thoughts on pensions for Veterans that have been in the military their entire working lives? I'm not trying to be argumentive, I'm just discussing.

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    1. Pensions are just deferred pay. You signed up knowing you'd get one and how much it was. Same as any other job.

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    2. My thought is that if a vet is in such a condition that he has no one to help him and *does* need outside assistance, then it should come from specifically set-up funds, charities, foundations and drives, whathaveyou. VOLUNTARY programs set up by people who CAN afford it and WANT to. I know some would think "well, who wouldn't want to support our vets?" and I agree with the thought, but there's a difference between forcing people to pay X% at gunpoint (via taxes) to that cause, when they're struggling so hard to keep their house, feed their family, and afford care of their own, and can only contribute Z% safely. Forcing someone to cough up that extra money "or else" is not what the vets fought for, I don't think.

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    3. My father was a vet. I can freely say that he certainly didn't expect a free ride from his fellow countrymen when he got out. It was a job that he VOLUNTARILY signed up for.

      And like with any employer, if your employer fucks you, you can't justify taking it out on your peers. They didn't make the agreement with you, the employer did. And if the employer didn't keep their end of the deal, then you need to talk to them, not hold a gun to the head of your neighbor to pay for your bills because you are 'entitled' to it. You aren't entitled to jack von shit.

      How did so many veterans develop this sickening entitlement mentality anyway? It's disgusting, and does not befit a free people.

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  3. Ted doesn't exist.
    Surely your stance can stand on its own merits instead of relying on such an emotional crutch?

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    1. Blogger since December 2012 (which we're only five days into) with no stats, no pic, less than a handful of views, and a "pseudonym," eh? :P *cough*troll*cough* *ahem*

      Get off my blog.

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  4. I wear a CMB ,my Dad wore a CIB,My grandfather was in France in 1917,his Granddad was at Gettysburg.I served because I owed my people and my Nation.We are square.

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  5. Sorry, you're flat wrong.

    We have an all-volunteer military. What you appear to advocate is that now, after the fact, the terms and conditions of enlistment.... terms and conditions THIS COUNTRY AGREED TO, be changed.

    These programs are a result of our (veteran's) blood shed for people like you. When I raised my hand and swore the oath (which I did 6 different times) it was under a set of promises this country made to me and millions of others who've gone on before and after.

    But at the end of the day, when we signed a contract and the nationed signed back.... yes, in fact, that DID, and DOES, obligate this country to do what it is doing for those who've bled.

    You say: "Please think of the course that my great-grandfather took, before you say or think that you are "owed" something for a DUTY that you damn well knew the ramifications of before you even took up arms."

    How many would take up arms for a country if with your attitude was policy?

    Forgive me, but when this "Ted" fellow enlisted, they didn't make the promise that he would receive anything as a result of wounds.

    Well, guess what: Women weren't allowed to vote back then, either. Would you advocate that we return to that standard?

    Here's the thing. It's remarkably easy for those like yourself who never thought highly enough of their country to wear it's uniform. Look at how Obama (apparently one of your heroes) and how he's busy implementing what seems to be the policies towards our veteran population that you seem to admire so.

    You are part and parcel of why, so far, I've been successful in keeping my son from enlisting. You think so little of the freedom you enjoy because of the blood spilled by others to protect you that you foolishly think that there should be no cost on the Nation's part for the lives destroyed, or blood spilled in it's defense.

    Well, of course, let's take your bizarre perspective to it's logical conclusion, shall we?

    Correspondingly, there should be no Labor and Industries for those injured at work. After all, they knew what might happen when they took the job.

    Those dead teachers in Sandy Hook?

    Nothing. Getting killed is just part of the job. An UNUSUAL part, to say the least, but who cares what happens to their families?

    The 4 police officers slaughtered in a Federal Way donut shop a couple of years ago?

    Same thing.

    As veterans, we are the only segment of society that has prepaid our freedom AND our benefits. If we are unworthy for what YOU, in the guise of the United States of America PROMISED us for the risk of spilling our blood, then it's time to end food stamps, medicare, medicade, welfare, subsidized housing, student loans or any other program provided for those who have done absolutely nothing for this country.

    Yes, I am a veteran. I have not filed for a disability as yet, primarily because I'm not altogether convinced the parts falling of me (so to speak) were a result of my years away from home defending people you.

    But I might. And if I do, as much as it sucks for people like you, it will be because when I signed on the dotted line.... you.... this country.... promised you'd provide it.

    K.J. Hinton, FMR 1LT, General Staff, US Army

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  6. This contract that you said we agreed to is complete crap. We never made a contract. I have a contract with the government and my dues come out of my paycheck (taxes). Even though I don't agree with this war I still support you. You need to talk to your employeer (government) about extra support. You have to understand that this is a war the government wanted and they hired you for it because you wanted it. Maybe you should consider supporting the people that build your homes, make your cars, grow your food, etc. Don't think what you do for your country is more important then what everyone else does. I'm all for supporting my fellow Americans but only when they're humble even if they decide to waste they're mon y on drugs and become homeless

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