The True Cost of WAR!

I was heartened by reports in the Oregonian that the parameters of claims for "post traumatic stress" will be adjusted for VA claimants without the requirement of "stressor events".

For most americans, the thought of having to participate in military service would be stressful and counter productive to the career path they hold as most inviolate. Hey! They've got to pay off the tariff they incurred in thier passage to the maybe middle class  with the loans they had to get to earn the "rite of passage", maybe.

However, all studies over the last hundreds of years is that service in the military abrogates the socio-economic blocks that limit class and affords some military veterans access to the Political and Economoc elite. You can see these results on CNN and FAUX News as these ex military guys prattle on about things that us "Grunts" know is total baloney.

The reality is that all the equipment of WAR is lethal, whether or not it is directed at an "ENEMY"! When "tactical equipment" is deployed it usually ends up killing or mutilating humans that happen to be stupid enough to get in the way, and that includes the soldiers that have been trained in that specialty.So one question might be "WHY DO WE DO THIS ?"But the most important querie might be, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

I'm a Viet Nam Vet and I'm really tired of how that experiance still affects my life. I embarrased my Wife and probably permanently effected my relationship with my daughter in law and her boy-friend (and I hope her future hubbie, because he's a really good guy and a LIBERAL) when I was overcome at the recent Blues Festival Fireworks display. My Wife pointed out that preceding the Fireworks I had "proudly" stood and saluted the "Star Spangled Banner" but when the explosions started I was overcome by the grief and anger that the last sound that all of my lost friends and  other Veterans had probably heard was an explosion that everyone seems to feel is "patriotic"?

So, I guess I'm permantley wierd, and alot of people would say "move on and get over it" but it seems I can't and there is the reality. I attended a movie theater showing of the initial release of ""Saving Private Ryan" and after the final scenes (which included a true miltary salute) I was emotionaly overcome and as I looked around me I saw about 30 other men, mostly  older than me, sitting in the darkness, and several of them sobbing. The "cost of war" never, never ends. And most of you will never understand  untill we all undertand that WAR is obsolete and it's going to get more expensive as we are faced with the cost that have been hidden by the Military and the VA , by taking on the costs that have been externally buried in our communities across America.