Ben Arown-Awile
Banned
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2001
- Messages
- 889
Tomorrow a week will have past since Americans paraded down Main Street, waved flags, and with teary eyes and swelled chests, gave heart felt thanks to all the Veterans who fought for Freedom and the American Way of Life.
*****
On any given day there are an estimated 300,000 homeless vets.
Nearly half of the homeless vets are from the Vietnam era.
Eighty percent of them have substance abuse problems.
45 percent of them are mentally ill.
The Veterans Administration and its network of local government and non-profit organizations can only come up with 100,000 beds each night, enough for only one out of three.
The shortfall is likely to expand as financially strapped municipalities continue to cut public health and housing projects. And a whole new generation of combat veterans is about to hit the system.
*****
Wrapping ourselves in the flag and playing patriot feels good doesn't it?
But, what we, as a nation, are really saying by our failure to address the problems of these vets is, "Get lost, Bum!"
*****
On any given day there are an estimated 300,000 homeless vets.
Nearly half of the homeless vets are from the Vietnam era.
Eighty percent of them have substance abuse problems.
45 percent of them are mentally ill.
The Veterans Administration and its network of local government and non-profit organizations can only come up with 100,000 beds each night, enough for only one out of three.
The shortfall is likely to expand as financially strapped municipalities continue to cut public health and housing projects. And a whole new generation of combat veterans is about to hit the system.
*****
Wrapping ourselves in the flag and playing patriot feels good doesn't it?
But, what we, as a nation, are really saying by our failure to address the problems of these vets is, "Get lost, Bum!"
