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Today...A mad liberal,a mad winger,an Iraqi vet and ME !

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vetwife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 02:57 PM
Original message
Today...A mad liberal,a mad winger,an Iraqi vet and ME !
Edited on Mon Oct-25-04 03:46 PM by vetwife
What a strange day this afternoon was. I stopped to put that golden Texas T in my car and saw a family who was beating on the hood and obviously angry because the gas was so high. This was the working poor and it showed. The young guy was about 22 and furious and screaming about George Bush. this is a small town. I said I hear ya. I kept pumping the gas. I went into pay when a R-winger and the liberal are in a full fledged screaming match about Bush, the War and Kerry and democrats and republicans. I stepped to the counter to pay and the young fresh faced boy who stood behind the counter not over 20 and had a genuine smile on his face said, "Will that be all"?

I said, No I need this two liter coke. He said, I'm for Bush, and I just got back from Iraq." I took a deep breath and turned around and these two left and right folks are coming to blows.
I said, First of all young man, Welcome Home" and Thank you for your service." The liberal doesn't say anything. The winger jumps up and says, See these democrats don't care about this young man who fought for us. The liberal screams ,,You ------Bas...., he didn't fight for nuthin but oil and Bush. The young man dropped his head. The winger said, Communist. He must have thought I was a Bushie.
And I had to speak up. I said "HOLD IT". The warrior is different from the war. This young man did what he was told to do and I for one supported his efforts no matter how wrong I thought the foreign policy was. They both look like I am speaking a foreign language.
I told the young man who had his head dropped, Look son, I appreciate your efforts. I am a democrat. I am patriotic. I don't believe in the war but I believe in you. I prayed for you. There are millions who wanted you home and safe but these two nuts are trying to influence you in the wrong way. They both were ready to pounce on me. I stood my ground. they kept arguing.


I said, if you vote for Bush that is your decision but you need to find out how shafted you are going to be when you need the VA three years from your discharge. Two years they will see you. Did they tell you about the depleted uranium? Did they tell you about the enrollment fee at the VA? Did you know the day we invaded Iraq
28 billion was cut from Veterans benefits? I am now holding up the line where the youg man is intensely listening. The other cashier takes the patrons. I said, "Look, I am a democrat. I am voting for John Kerry. Don't believe that democrats are unpatriotic and are against you. I am the wife of a Vietnam Vet who was just like you in 1972. He came home and never thought he would ever need the VA.
Today he is 100 percent disabled and there is a lot I am sure you are not beling told just as he was. I don't care if you are a republican, a democrat, a libeterian or presbyterian, our organization will help you with anything you need but be sure who you think can help you once you are home for good and willhave an exit plan for you and your firends. We are patriotic. And I thank you for your service.

Soldiers need to find out everything about what they are entitled to. Take care and realize by looking at me that I supported you and still support the troops. John Kerry was a combat vet and he supports the troops. Look beyond this nonsense here and what you hear on television. You were old enough to go to war and you can vote for who you please, this is America, but be sure who ever you vote for has the veterans interest at heart. He smiled and said, "Can I call you sometime"? I said. Anytime, Day or night, Son and again, Welcome Home.

The two fools were still cutting up and I told the liberal, You are going about this the wrong way and I told the winger and in my opinion all of you are just wrong. The liberal followed me out to the car and said, "did you tell him you were for Kerry, I said, I did, and I told him I was for him and his service as well, just like Kerry. The winger got in his car and left, acting like he wanting to kill all dems but I just seem to happen in on the wierdest places at what seems the wierdest times. The young man seemed so confused.

I hope he calls me.
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immoderate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:03 PM
Response to Original message
1. Vetwife, I'm glad you are on patrol
BTW, how is your school case going?

--IMM
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vetwife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:05 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Just fine. It worked out after my visit. thanks !
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napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:07 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. How'd things work out at the schiool?
I looked for some info from you about your meeting and all I saw was some else who said they talked to you, and all was OK.
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vetwife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:13 PM
Response to Reply #4
8. Don't give me too much credit. I speak with my heart and
spent years when I was a 911 operator on classes and OJT to calm and diffuse situations. You actually have to take classes for that when danger is on the other end of a phone. I thank you anyway but I am sure anyone on this board would have done the same thing.

About the school. the woman was brought in on the carpet told to cease and disest and they brought my daughter's grades up and gave her another teacher. The teacher was in trouble for taking political sides. thanks for asking.
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DebJ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:43 PM
Response to Reply #8
13. whoo hoo!!!!! So VERY glad to har that!! Yes!!!
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Terran Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:07 PM
Response to Original message
3. Your eleoquence never ceases to amaze me, vetwife!
I really hope you get the chance to run for office some day. You could make a huge difference in peoples' lives. Hell, I think you already have.

Dirk
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fugue Donating Member (846 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:09 PM
Response to Original message
5. Thanks for all you do . . .
You never cease to amaze me. ^_^
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DrZeeLit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:09 PM
Response to Original message
6. Okay, so now I'm crying...and
I hope he calls you.

I have a brother-in-law who saw his best friend blown up next to him in a foxhole in Vietnam. Marine. He recently told me he threw his medals out the window on the ride home from the airport. He has never much talked about it. He is vehemently against Bush and happily pro-Kerry. I take a lot of stock in his service, and feel the same as you do about the service of all our men and women.

I wish most of our kind (dems/liberals/whatever) would be as poetic as you in putting those ideas into words. Thank you.

And if he does call, would you find a way to let me know? I trust you will help him and all those who come your way. You are to be saluted.

Kerry On!
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vetwife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 06:43 PM
Response to Reply #6
19. I promise I will. I will let you know if he calls
I may visit that store more often considering I know he works there and just chat.
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reprehensor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:11 PM
Response to Original message
7. You truly rock.
Keep it up, sistah!
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TwentyFive Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:14 PM
Response to Original message
9. THANK YOU!!! Too many 18-22 year olds buy the GOP spin & lies about us
Edited on Mon Oct-25-04 03:16 PM by TwentyFive
This was great....you walked right in to a firestorm, and stated your case beautifully!! Like the old line says, "speak the truth, even if your voice shakes!"
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Lars39 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:19 PM
Response to Original message
10. "Did they tell you about the enrollment fee at the VA?"
What?!?! I didn't know about that! How much? And how in the heck do they expect some of the vets to come up with an enrollment fee?
I know they put the fee out there to discourage enrollment, etc., but good grief! Just when I think I've heard everything!

Glad you were there for him, vetwife! :hug:
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vetwife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:33 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. Sure Did
250.00 enrollment fee to be seen at the VA. If you are not service connected and if your income is over 24,000 a year you do not get seen. You are in category 7 or 8. The prescription c-pay is up to 15.00 or soon will be. per prescription. This does not apply to anyone over 50 percent service connected. It applie to those who are not combat injured though and do not have a S/C disability.
They will see all Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom vets up to two years and then they have to be categorized. They have to have a service connection disability to not pay (part of the 108th Congress) and its stupid budget from Bush. Now get this. The day Mission accomplished was declared and major hositilities were considered over they spoke volumes from Monkeyboy. Because these troops are peacekeepers and nationbuilders now. Bush declared major hostilities over and guess what to get a service connection disability, you have to be where Major hositlities are. I got that in black and white from Washington. See how badly these guys and gals are gonna get stuck. A vet with PTSD is having to sue the DOD to even get out ! Check out what Elizabeth Edwards said last night on C-Span. Same thing I am saying here.
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vetwife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:39 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. You just can't make up stuff like this and why it happens to
me so frequently I just don't know. But every word is true !
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DebJ Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:48 PM
Response to Reply #11
14. Vetwife: eloquent, perfect response at gas station. PLEASE tell
me more about your quote below:


"Now get this. The day Mission accomplished was declared and major hositilities were considered over they spoke volumes from Monkeyboy. Because these troops are peacekeepers and nationbuilders now. Bush declared major hostilities over and guess what to get a service connection disability, you have to be where Major hositlities are. I got that in black and white from Washington."
I want to call my congressional reps and get my political group friends to do the same.
Thanks
DebJ
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vetwife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 04:29 PM
Response to Reply #14
17. Ok no one addresses this and I have called upon several Senators
to address this. I got a folder from a friend who writes about enviromental toxins for all of the VA Medical centers back in January.
In this folder from THE VA HEADQUARTERS it clearly states that a service connection disability can only be acquired where there are major hostilities. I will find that in the new Law and post it. Then I got to thinking. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Major hositilities over on the USS Abraham Lincoln..Mission Accomplished. Does that mean a loophole? I think it does the way the brochure reads. It surely needs addressing and I have been saying this on talk shows and posting it here and calling but no one will tell me what did that Aircraft Carrier speech REALLY mean regarding hostilities over.. I will find the law Under th title 38 for Veterans and IF and EF.
Maybe you will read it another way, I don't. Pretty clear as it reads.
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Lars39 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:49 PM
Response to Reply #11
15. Thanks for the info, vetwife.
We all need to know details like these. I'll see if I can find EE/c-span transcript, too.
I remember the speculation here about vet benefits when "mission accomplished" happened. Truly shameful. And there's less psychiatric help available now than there was during Vietnam, from what I understand. :cry:
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vetwife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 04:37 PM
Response to Reply #15
18. Right off the VA homepage
Edited on Mon Oct-25-04 04:39 PM by vetwife
Veterans who serve on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after November 11, 1998 or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for a period of two years from their date of discharge.

We created this page to provide shortcuts to valuable information and services of interest to Returning Service Member.
................................................................
LOOK CLOSELY AT THE WORDS PERIOD OF HOSTILITIES. BUSH DECLARED THAT OVER ON THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ! WE ARE BACK UP NOW (yeah right) AND NATION BUILDERS, LIBERATORS AND PEACEKEEPERS.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Now this off VA Homepage

Gateway to VA Health Care
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care to its customers. Our goal is to share information about these benefits and services to make it as easy as possible for you to receive the care you need.


Returning Service Members
Benefits information for Veterans returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).


Eligibility
Find out if you are eligible for benefits, how to apply, and what it will cost, then complete an application form online. Have a question? Call the VA Health Benefits Service Center toll free at 1-877-222-VETS
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donco6 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-25-04 03:50 PM
Response to Original message
16. Isn't it sad that the country has come to this.
People are coming to blows at gas stations. You obviously are the voice of reason, but how much longer will we even be heard at all above the shouts and breaking glass? I worry about this country.
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