Shelter for Homeless Vets
Ted Folkert
November 11, 2014
I wonder what took us so long.
Today, Veteran’s Day, the Los Angeles Times featured an article about a 32 unit housing building for homeless veterans and some of those who are inhabiting the units. Many are Vietnam veterans who have lived on the streets for many years as we passed them by and ignored them. They are invisible you know.
Thirty two units – what a generous offering for the thousands who need lodging, health care, psychological help, food and clothing. Many more have died on the streets, unable to seek help or continue to exist with the addictions that controlled their lives, their only respite from the evils of warfare that caused their downward spiral into oblivion.
They were treated like unlawful aggressors and murderers when they returned home, those who returned home. They were cajoled, insulted, and slandered by the antiwar protesters, although all they were guilty of was following orders from their superiors in the chain of command, the primary principle of the military that enables the military function.
They didn’t start the war, they didn’t vote for it, they just ended up there, most of them drafted against their will. They killed and maimed millions of Vietnamese because they were ordered to, because they had to in order to survive themselves. If they had deserted we would have killed or incarcerated them, they had no choice.
But when they came home, we deserted them, we ignored them, we refused to hire them, we punished them for a war that was unnecessary, started by sabre rattlers exercising hubris and ignorance, power mongers who should have been the first ones on the battlefield but never showed up for the war.
May those who followed their orders and never came back rest in peace. They are true heroes. May those 32 for whom we finally provided housing rest in comfort as they reflect on the lifetime that our fearless leaders destroyed for them, the fearless leaders who never showed up for the war, they just beat the drums and strutted like brave heroes but in true cowardice. It is easy and painless to start a fight if you don’t have to compete in it. Having to actually compete should be the first requirement of starting a fight or a war.
The leader who declares a war or starts a fight should lead the troops. When that happens the likelihood of necessity is much greater and the decision to resist the temptation is much greater.
Think about it!
Hurray for our military members, past and present. I don’t know what we would do without them and I don’t know why we don’t do more for them.
The strange thing about this national holiday, although it is certainly more worthy than most, is that it is difficult to say “happy veterans day”. It isn’t a happy day.