Our government has been sinful. No, not for legalizing homosexual marriage. It's been sinful for the way we've treated our wounded (and not wounded too) war veterans. Dedicating a new Walter Reed hospital is a step in the right direction, but our sins, and they are ours since we're a government of the people (technically), go further than that.
These people have put their lives on hold for us. They lose their homes and we're ok with it. They lose their health and we're ok with it. They lose their work, either through being laid off or losing the ability to work and we're ok with it. They lose their lives and we're ok with it. Shouldn't we be not ok with it? These folks have made huge sacrifices and we all care about are rising gas prices, taxes and whether A-Rod is dating Madonna.
Granted, nearly 7 years after 9/11, these soldiers most likely knew what they were getting into when they signed up for service and how shabby we treat war veterans. Yet they made the sacrifice anyway. It seems to me that the least we as a nation can do is take care of these veterans upon their return home. Yes it will cost money but let's face it, we as a nation are rich enough to take care of them. We just need to find the selfless collective will we used to have. But it seems to me that providing veterans with an education or, if they are wounded, proper health care, is the least we can do to say thank you.
But yeah, let's waste our energy and resources gossiping about A-Rod, fighting gay marriage, analyzing to the nth degree what Imus said this time and whether Sirius and XM satellite radio can merge. That seems to be so much important to think about then the way we are giving the shaft to those who volunteered to help protect this country (whether you think fighting Iraq was wrong is moot, these kids did believe it was the right thing to do and are paying the price). Happy Independence Day.
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