Don't spit on me and don't cry for me.

So a few of my friends have pointed out the way the America as a whole is treating veterans of the global war on terror is very weird. It used to be that a returning veteran was someone that employers looked for, people looked up to and if people didn't like the veteran they would just leave them alone (WWII era).

Then the veteran became a focal point of blame. A veteran was a baby killer, suicidal and homicidal, generally thought of as crazy. People looked down on veterans, spit on them and excluded them. Many veterans threw away or burned their uniforms because they were tired of being treated like shit (Vietnam era).

Today veterans are looked at like we are broken. Employers don't want to hire us because we might be a liability, thanks to movies like "Home of the Brave." Every time I tell a professor I was in the Marine Corps they get misty eyed and tell me they are sorry. I don't want your tears. I don't want your damn apology, I want people to be fucking thankful and I want to be treated like a fucking person, not damaged goods. I'm not saying I want a parade in my honor or that I want everyone I meet to say thank you, that's not what this is about. This is about actually taking care of veterans.

 Why do veterans need to be taken care of? We did a service for the citizens of the United States at less than minimum wadge, making literally 10 times less what I would with the same job in the private sector. And now active duty personnel are being asked to do just as much for less money. The Veteran's Affairs is constantly trying to restructure the Post 9/11 GI Bill so that they don't have to pay veterans as much. I gave up four years, some give two, others twenty, and some gave everything.

How can the problem be fixed? Two things. The first thing that should be done is that the Veteran's Affairs should be restructured and doctors, psychologists and other medical personnel should be held responsible for not diagnosing veterans with PTSD when they have it as well as being held responsible for diagnosing veterans with PTSD when they don't have it. And second, employers need to be reasonable, being a veteran should be a selling point. We have discipline, good work ethic, and generally know the limits of our capabilities. To hire a veteran with an honorable discharge is to hire someone that you know can stay out of trouble or at least out of the limelight. You also know that they can be committed to something for an extended amount of time. I don't know what is bad about those qualities.

Team Rubicon

A friend of mine started up a volunteer organization that teams veterans up with doctors and sends them to disaster areas around the world. The organization is called Team Rubicon. They have recently responded to the tornadoes here in the United States and have deployed to numerous countries around the world (Turkey, Haiti, Japan, Chile and more), not only helping in crisis situations but also on general humanitarian missions.

Check them out by clicking here. Donate by clicking here or if you are a veteran or work in the medical field why not volunteer.

If nothing else show your support for these hard working people by following them on twitter or liking them on facebook.