What I Did This Weekend
“What I Did This Weekend” by Little Jimmy Ramelis
On Saturday I went to a Veterans organization meeting. I am a Chaplain and Service Officer with a couple different Veterans’ organizations. A national Service Officer was there and told us it has gotten so bad with multiple tour Iraqi veterans that some soldiers, in lieu of committing suicide are going back to Iraq with no resistance or volunteering because the survivor’s benefits would be better for their spouse if they got killed, than if they committed suicide. Wow, I reckon things are a little out of hand aren’t they?
I heard the same Service Officer telling guys that I know beyond a doubt that were Bush supporters all the way that Veteran benefits and services have been pulverized by the Bush cuts, and that service continues to deteriorate. It now pretty much boils down to waiting for a new President in the hope of giving veterans a better deal. A few years ago, you would have never heard Bush cut down in front of a Veterans group. The worm is definitely turning. The Bush supporters were holding their heads down and looking sheepish. I live in a county that went 60% for Bush in both of the last two elections and now I can't find anyone who voted for him.
I work closely with veterans and more and more, it is beginning to look like the aftermath of dealing with stressed out Vietnam veterans is going to pale with what is going on with the Iraqi vets, doing these multiple tours. The big statistic that is not mentioned or is minimally reported on Big Brother media is the wounded. We are somewhere in the vicinity of 30,000 and so many of these soldiers are losing arms and legs.
Today I went to a luncheon for my Senator, Carl Levin. He is Chairperson of the Senate Armed Services committee. Levin talked about the importance of electing a Democratic President. He feels a Democratic President would tell the oil companies, “Lower the prices or I will support a wind falls profit tax on oil”. Levin feels Bush won’t do this because he is in the pockets of big oil. The Republicans in the Senate just filibustered a windfalls profit tax proposal. Senator Levin cited a statistic that the latest poll showed that in an Obama v McCain matchup in Michigan, McCain wins by 5 points. But the same poll showed that when vice-presidents were included, and the poll was ran as Obama-Clinton v McCain-Romney, that Obama won by 5 points. Michigan is crucial for the Democrats and it is not guaranteed to be in the Blue column.That was a very interesting poll. For those of you who don’t know, Romney has Michigan roots and big ties to Michigan. Levin promised us Social Security would be there for all of us. Levin stressed how fragile that Democratic majority in the Senate is. On matters of war and global intervention, Lieberman votes with the Republicans, so there is really a 50/50 split. All in all, Levin is a good Senator who usually goes with the middle class and the working people of the U.S. A.
Next weekend I am going to the Peace Alliance conference in Chicago. I will write and tell everyone all about it and The Peace Alliance.
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Yes I am a Democrat
My post "What I did with my Weekend"got into a few large email circles besides appearing here. Not all the feedback was as positive as I got here. Mostly I was questioned about being a Democrat,supporting Carl Levin becasue he continues to vote to fund the war, and it was infered that if one is concerned about veteran's care, then one shouldn't hang with the Democrats. I wrote this in response:
Hi. I am want to say I respect your decision to either stay out of the political process, to be totally independent and not align with any party, or to go with the Green party or other alternative parties. Our political system and the two major parties are bad shape.
I wrote “What I did with my Weekend” for my blog on www.crossleft.org and shared it with my friends. The common ground, besides the obvious of what I did with my weekend, is that in both cases, the Veterans and the Democrats are waiting for a new President.
As far as maintaining an affiliation with the Democrats, it is sheer pragmatism on my part .I am not under any illusion that the Democrats in their current state have the answers to all our problems. Both parties are ever evolving entities. I am trying to rewrite, along with a lot of others smarter and with more money than me, the identity of the Democratic Party to that of a more progressive party. There are plenty of Progressives in the party, but the party does not have a progressive majority. The Congressional Progressive Caucus gives my views voice and closely mirrors my values. http://cpc.lee.house.gov/. At last glance I think there were 72 members, including Dennis Kucinich, Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee, Jim McGovern, Jim McDermott, Charles Rangel, John Conyers, and Robert Wexler. As far as I know all 72 members in Congress are Democrats, I didn’t verify that, so feel free to correct me if I am wrong. In the Senate only Bernie Sanders is on board. He is an independent. There is a large overlap between the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), http://pdamerica.org/index.php The Progressive Democrats of America are trying to flood the Democrats with progressives, people just like you, and change the nature of the party. Much the same as the “neo-cons” did with the Republicans. The list of Progressive Democrats includes Medea Benjamin of Code Pink, Thom Hartmann, Tom Hayden, Jim Hightower, David Swanson, Norman, Solomon, Lennox Yearwood, and several members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. I think this is the best hope we have of changing the country.
If I go see Bart Stupak (my Congressman)to advocate for The Peace Alliance or to advocate for better care for wounded veterans, or universal health care, it makes a lot of difference if he knows I am a known Democrat, in the Mackinac County Democratic party, and active in the party, as opposed to someone he perceives as an antagonist or someone who isn’t in touch with the mainstream. I am just a pragmatic realist who sees being a political activist on the Progressive end of the Democratic Party as the best way of getting change to happen in America. I respect your decision to see it differently.
The day may come when I walk away from the Democrats. I think I will live to see the day that the Progressive takeover of the Democratic Party works or there is some sort of progressive Dem/Green/progressive Independent alliance and another party is created.
Big work little Jimmy
Jim,
It is this type of work that best expresses our progressive goals of social responsibility, demonstrates the deep committment men like you & Rev. Roger have to humanitarian service inspired by your soul level understanding of that which Jesus taught. Your heart and soul shine with a beauty that enlightens us all. Bless you my friend.
Rich
Ten Thousand Disabled Iraq War Vets Dependent on Parents
Jim...excellent piece. God bless you in your work with our veterans. Our Viet Nam veterans returned to face the scorn of many at home and now these vets return in obscurity...no parades for either.
AARP July/August magazine has an article entitled "When Vets Come Home" and reveals ten thousand recent veterans of this war now depend on their parents for their care. Statistics show that 28% of wounded Viet Nam injured would die and 38% of WWII injured died and only 6% of our current injured vets die as a result of their wounds. The difference is our soldiers have an amazing, best in the world, trauma center that saves lives, but they come home with lifelong debilitation and slashed benefits. They estimate the number of brain injuries alone might total 320,000 or twenty percent of the entire military forces that have served so far. The PTSD/depression statistics are likewise disturbing...31% of Marines, 38% soldiers, and 49% of our Guardsmen are suffering with psychological symptoms.
Jim, thanks again for the work you do with the vets and the consciousness raising work you do here. Be blessed brother.
Amazing Statistics
Those are incredible statistics, aren't they? I voluntarily drive a D.A.V. van about once a month to the V.A. hospital and some of the Iraqi vets are so stressed. I have that AARP magazine and haven't read it yet. I am going to get right to it.
delete edit reply
How Do We Delete Comments or Blogs?
I accidentally double posted a comment...how do I fix my bumbling blunder?
Blunders
I have some limited editorial abilites and can help you get rid of one of them. I am voluteering to help Steve out. I need to learn more.
I deleted every word in a message once, using the edit function, and it didn't repost.I don't know if that works all the time or it just did for me becasue I have some administrative functions.
Keep up the good work, Jim
I likewise hear many horror stories from my fellow veterans who have served in good faith and feel that the current administration has not served them with the same fidelity that they served with.
'Tis very troubling all the way around.
In spite of all the crap, I have seriously considered going back in as a chaplain. Not because I support the administration, or the military-industrial complex that in so many ways preys on the lower and lower-middle class of the country to provide cannon fodder; but because I know the morale of those soldiers, sailors and airmen is suffering greatly, and there is a large part of me that would gladly lace up the boots again in order to help them... Were it not for my kids asking me not to, I would probably be in COBC now....
Keep up the good work, Jim. We need more people like you who are willing to try to patch the broken spirits of those who serve so bravely.
Looking forward to info on the Peace Alliance as well.
Chaplain Roger
Roger, are you considering actually going into the Armed Forces as a Chaplain? Do you have previous military service?