"I Am A Veteran"

[babylonsister]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/28602

I Am A Veteran
Original piece by
Jim Ramelis



I AM A VETERAN

I am a Veteran.
I am white, black, brown, and red.
I am from the country, I am from the city.
I am from up North, down South, back East, and out West.

I am usually from the working class, sometimes poor, but rarely rich

Sometimes I joined up because I want to fight. More often, I am a
young person who wants to work, to get money for school, or to have an
adventure

I don't want pity, I just want what I earned and was promised.

If I am hurt in service, I deserve adequate health care, both in
service, and when I am released.

I want the benefits promised me by the recruiter and the armed forces,
not spin, not lies, not homelessness, not drug addiction, not alcoholism,
and not years waiting for VA claims.

When on active duty service I don't want to be put in harm's way for
greed or opportunity, or the profit margins of large corporations, or to
control someone else's country, but to defend my country.

Freedom of speech is my right, too. I can disagree with a policy I
don't like. I don't make policy; please don't confuse the war with the
warrior

You don't have to support every con man, liar, actor, and hustler that
gets elected to public office to love the kids who are fighting , and
demand all the best for troops, Both in the field and when they come home.

Please also remember the Veterans who are homeless, who are traumatized
both by what was done to them and by what they did, who are drug addicted,
and who are alcoholic

Sometimes the way to support the troops is to bring them home. Do you
want your child to be the last one to die for a war gone bad?

Stop the War in Iraq. No War in Iran,

I am a Veteran

By Jim Ramelis
Viet Nam Veteran

* Jim is also a member of the Veterans for Peace, in fact a
Chapter chairman

[Maestro]

1. Nothing more to add except support.

.