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 Greetings! You are reading an article from The Mudville Gazette. To reach the front page, with all the latest news and views, click the logo above or "main" below. Thanks for stopping by! March 10, 2007 ReedBy GreyhawkThere are two sorts of congressional representatives in America - those who've visited Walter Reed, and those who haven't. Both sorts are now rightfully screwed: Imus: Have you been aware, even since 1981, of the state of treatment that veterans have been receiving throughout the Veterans Administration hospitals?He might want to visit the one in the capital city of his home State some day - especially now that he's been invited: But Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, the VA hospital used by most veterans in the Oneonta area, is a far cry from Walter Reed, said Stratton’s director and a current patient from Hobart.In fairness, there are 12 VA Medical Centers in New York, and several smaller facilities, so visiting them all is more than a day's work. Of course, the Dems "new direction on Iraq" now includes $20 billion in pet projects not related to the war or its veterens. Posted by Greyhawk / March 10, 2007 7:37 PM | Permalink 8 Comments |
November 26, 2010America@war [Greyhawk]
I think anyone who's ever pondered the "comment" option - once only available on blogs and bulletin boards, now ubiquitous on almost any web site - will appreciate this:
The so-called faculty of writing is not so much a faculty of writing as it is a faculty of thinking. When a man says, "I have an idea but I can't express it"; that man hasn't an idea but merely a vague feeling. If a man has a feeling of that kind, and will sit down for a half an hour and persistently try to put into writing what he feels, the probabilities are at least 90 percent that he will either be able to record it, or else realize that he has no idea at all. In either case, he will do himself a benefit. That's wisdom from the past, captured for posterity at the US Naval Institute, shared via the web on the institute's 137th anniversary. From their about page:
"The Naval Institute has three core activities," among them, History and Preservation: The Naval Institute also has recently introduced Americans at War, a living history of Americans at war in their own words and from their own experiences. These 90-second vignettes convey powerful stories of inspiration, pride, and patriotism. Take a look at the collection, and you'll see it's not limited to accounts from those who served on ships at sea, members of the other branches are well-represented. I'm fortunate to have met USNI's Mary Ripley, she's responsible for the institute's oral history program (and she's the daughter of the late John Ripley, whose story is told here). She also deserves much credit for their blog. ("We're not the Navy nor any government agency. Blog and comment freely.") We met at a milblog conference - Mary knew (and I would come to realize) that milbloggers are the 21st-century version of exactly what the US Naval Institute is all about. Once that light bulb came on in my head, I mentioned a vague idea for a project to her - milblogs as the 21st century oral history that they are. "Put that in writing," she said (of course - see first paragraph above!) - and here's part of the result. Shortly after the first tent was pitched by the American military in Iraq a wire was connected to a computer therein, and the internet was available to a generation of Americans at war - many of whom had grown up online. From that point on, at any given moment, somewhere in Iraq a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine was at a keyboard sharing the events of his or her day with the folks back home. While most would simply fire off an email, others took advantage of the (then) relatively new online blogging platforms to post their thoughts and experiences for the entire world to see. The milblog was born - and from that moment to this stories detailing everything from the most mundane aspects of camp life to intense combat action (often described within hours of the event) have been available on the web... And et cetera - but since you're reading this on a milblog, you probably knew that. And you know that milblogs aren't just blogs written by troops at war, that many friends, family members, and supporters likewise documented their story of America at war online in near-real time, as those stories developed. The diversity in membership of that group is broad, the one thing we all have in common is the impulse to make sense of the seemingly senseless, and communicate the tale - for each of us that impulse was strong enough to overcome whatever barriers prevent the vast majority of people from doing the same. Everyone at some point has some vague idea they believe should be shared - we were the people who, from some combination of internal and external urging, found and spent those many half hours persistently trying to write it down. But where will all that be in another 137 years? Or five or ten, for that matter. That's something I've asked myself since at least 2004 - when I wrote this:
Membership in the ghost battalion has grown in the years since, and an ever growing majority of those abandoned-but-still-standing sites are vanishing. Have you checked out Lt Smash's site lately? How about Sgt Hook's? If you're a long-time milblog reader you know the first widely-read milblog from Operation Iraq Freedom and the first widely-read milblog from Afghanistan are both gone from the web. If you're a relative newcomer to this world you may never even have heard of them - or the dozens upon dozens of others who carried forth the standard they set down. If you have a vague notion that something should be done about that, (a notion I've heard expressed more than once...) then you and I and the good folks at the US Naval Institute are in agreement. Preserving the history documented by the milbloggers is just one of the goals of the milblog project, the once-vague idea that we're now making real. And it's a big idea, if I say so myself - too big to explain in one simple blog post, so stand by for more. Likewise, it's too big a task to be accomplished by just one person. So if you're a milblogger (and exactly what is a milblogger? is a topic for much further discussion on its own) I'm asking for your help. All I'll really need is just a little bit (maybe just one or two of those half hours...) of your time, and your willingness to tell the tale. We've already made history, it's time to save it. (More to follow...) Posted 4:02 PM | Permalink |
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The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
 
 
 Furthermore, I will occasionally use satire or parody herein. The bottom line: it's my house. I like having visitors to my house. I hope you are entertained. I fight for your right to free speech, and am thrilled when you exercise said rights here. Comments and e-mails are welcome, but all such communication is to be assumed to be 1)the original work of any who initiate said communication and 2)the property of the Mudville Gazette, with free use granted thereto for publication in electronic or written form. If you do NOT wish to have your message posted, write "CONFIDENTIAL" in the subject line of your email. Original content copyright © 2003 - 2011 by Greyhawk. Fair, not-for-profit use of said material by others is encouraged, as long as acknowledgement and credit is given, to include the url of the original source post. Other arrangements can be made as needed. Contact: greyhawk at mudvillegazette dot com  Tending Distant Far from hearth and home, watching What tales we'll tell When things grim Some distant sunset, vision fading Saluting fallen friends whose names - Greyhawk, Baghdad, December 2004 |
Well done Greyhawk. We need to expose all the slackers, especially those that speak with fork tongue. Big mouth Murtha comes to mind. When is somebody going to look into his visits or non-visits to Walter Reed? And if he did visit, why didn't he blow the whistle?
It looks like Imus made yet another politician look like an idiot.
I don't listen to Imus (have no idea what local station carries it, or what time it would even be broadcast), but that was awesome - show the pols to be the hypocrits they are...
I will bet the farm Imus will not get any more of the elected leaders to step in the chain saw, The joy of the interview is this poor sad man had no clue he had been gut shot and thinks he did quite well on the show,Sad,sad,sad.
I'm old and slow, but I remember Walter Reed being on the list of base closings as near as 2005. If I remember correctly they wanted to build a new facility somewhere out in Virginia away from DC, a bigger and more modern place.
So, who's gonna invest money upgrading an old place slated for distruction when there's talk of, and a need for a new and better place?
I'm not letting anyone off the hook, (especially Congressmen and Senators who look good hanging on hooks), but has anybody inquired as to who voted no on the new vacility and who voted yes? And did they know or care?
As much as Imus loves to blame Bush for everything, this ain't bush's fault. The blame rests at the feet of congress who'd rather spend on pork.
What-the-hell. Time for a beer. Maybe two.
During WW2 my dad spent 5 long years in a military hospital..a wounded soldier with a serious Injury to his heart. He lived until the end of the 60's, worked, raised a family and NEVER ONCE had a bad word about the amazing care and help he received. I make a point of visiting VA hospitals in my area..not that I see the "Back Rooms" but I do hear grumbling from folks waiting for appointments or prescriptions..but I have neither heard about the environment or care they receive. I had thought about the Heat Wave in France..where during the vacation month there the families left their elderly and sick folks to be cared for..there were so few caregivers, no a/c, apparently no water..AND WORST OF ALL NO CALLS FROM LOVED ONES TO CHECK ON THEM. This situation is far worse and we all know in big medical systems some get longer waits ..but in the end it is whether you get to leave in better health or with hope. It is too bad that the Senator from New York had so little time to actually SEE what he was talking about..in fact ..they spend a lot of time enjoying THEIR luxury appointments in their Office Buildings and Gyms, etc. PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT OF "REAL LIFE" LIVING FOR THESE FOLKS would give them an idea of what the REST of the FOLKS who pay their salaries and also for their luxuries...manage to live with! THEY ARE THE ONES WHO GET THE BEST OFFICES, GYMS, CAFETERIA'S, SPECIAL POLICE GUARDS, HARIDRESSERS, ETC. ..AND BY THE WAY..THE BEST HEALTHCARE OPTIONS AND RETIREMENT OPTIONS....all they do is talk a lot, aggravate us with regulations and hot air! Perhaps it is they who should allow US to INSPECT their accomodations and then we could CUT their BUDGETS and give that MONEY to the Veterans who make it possible for them to TALK AND GO TO THE BEST RESTAURANTS, LIVE IN MANSIONS AND TALK SOME MORE! I will RENT them a room and they can ride the subway with me to work everyday...JUST LIKE ALL THE REAL PEOPLE AND LET THEM WALK TO THEIR OFFICES NOT RIDE THEIR "SPECIAL SUBWAYS" TO THEIR OFFICES.
And to the gentleman who commented on the Walter Reed Plans..It was slated to be closed ..and moved elsewhere AWAY from DC..So ..to end, we always hear the same complaints about care..every FEW YEARS..SO MANY OF THESE SENATORS AND REPS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES...ARE THEY DEAF AND DUMB? OR DO THEY THINK WE SHOULD CUT THE BUDGET FOR BULLETS IN ORDER TO CARE FOR OUR VETERANS?
Politics may be a Dirty business..I say let them keep it to themselves and stop attacking the VERY SOLDIERS AND VETERANS WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR LIVES DEFENDING THEIR RIGHTS AND MINE!
WHEN KERRY WANTED TO CUT BILLIONS FROM THE MILITARY BUDGET ALL THROUGH THE 90'S..I DIDN'T HEAR HIM OR HIS PALS SAY "BUT NOT THE MEDICAL SIDE, .." OF COURSE HE WOULD RATHER WE NOT HAVE BULLETS , GUNS, PLANES. SHIPS OR R & D..
When my family goes off to work I really want to have as Sense of Security..and when I look out my office window I DO NOT WANT TO SEE A PLANE COMING AT ME...I wouldn't even want to vacation and take a plane thinking that the Military HAS NO WEAPONS TO USE SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN.
these FOOLS SHOULD SACRIFICE THEIR LUXURIES..AND GIVE THEM TO THE PEOPLE THAT DEFEND US AND OUR WAY OF LIFE..IN FACT, INSTEAD OF GOING TO JOHNS HOPKINS FOR THEIR CARE...let them go to a VA Hospital in their Home Town! When they get "Sick" they get Special Quarters even in the Hospitals I must use...I WILL GIVE THEM MY ROOM..and a Taste of the "Real World"!
I understand that the V.A. budget has increased something around 75% in the past six years over and above the "Billions of Dollars" the dhimmi's have added for pet projects not connected to the military in any way. The only way to correct the problems in the total V.A. system is to get rid of the America hating, Military hating left wing liberal democrats that have infected the system. They display nothing but hate so how can anyone expect them to actually do their best to help a wounded member of the military. They won't and it won't change until someone stands up and fires them lock, stock and barrel.
Everyone knows what is going on but no one has the guts to say it. Too ate up with PC BS.
I rarely watch Imus anymore as I got tired of the number of lefty politicians (Kerry, Biden, etc) and media types (Chris Matthews, Tim Russert).
Imus used to talk about going to Walter Reed with Sen. John McCain to visit the wounded; if that is the case, where were Imus and McCain on this issue in the past?
My guess is that they were steered away from the problem area(s) just as Bush and others were. Not hard to do with visiting dignitaries...or visiting/inspecting general officers, for that matter.