May, 11, 2008
Veterans deserve better treatment
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THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
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A recent letter from Ferndale said, “It is certainly not patriotic to manufacture a war built on lies in order to secure future oil supplies.” If this statement is in fact true about oil, then it won’t be the first time that economic issues have influenced wars.
Our political leaders and commentators take positions on war. But many have never faced danger as a soldier, sailor, airman or marine. This includes Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Paul Wolfowitz and, arguably, the president. It also includes Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.
I and other Vietnam veterans know the feeling of being forgotten in the field, then later being unloaded back on the streets stateside. No parade, no World War II GI Bill, no Rosie the Riveter, little thanks.
Iraq and Afghanistan veterans get no parades either. Worse, combat duty tours and IEDs have increased. Many return home forgotten or go anonymously to veterans hospitals without arms or legs. There are suicide issues. There is too little media acknowledgement of these heroes. They deserve better.
So, leaders, if you talk big about war, please be thinking also about the American men and women out there who face the danger.
Carl Steiner
Maple Falls
