Righteous Rantings

In debates with my friend regarding Health Care and it’s place in American Politics, my status as a Disabled Veteran has come up.

He believes that one should not have to endanger one’s life in the service of this country in order to receive quality Health Care. The phrase “Christian Nation My Ass” has come up, and I have heard tell that it even comes with it’s own hashtag on Twitter.

I have thought about this concept and I guess that it’s like expecting to win the lottery without actually buying a ticket. Not that my disabilities are “wins” by any sense or means, but the care I receive might be viewed that way by some.

What I and so many others get from Uncle Sam isn’t a reward or a bonus. It’s not even in my mind a benefit. It’s an act of gratitude for our service. My back is deep-fried crap from heavy armor, packs, and equipment carried through heat that melted some plastics before your very eyes?

Taken care of. Thank you.

Can’t hear so well anymore because some zealot who probably can’t spell his own name decided you’d look better in “pink mist” form and tried to blow you up with stuff from the local Jihadi Radio Shack?

We can assist you in coping. Thank you.

Suffering from Ocular Hyper-hydration at the merest hint of either the song “Taps” or any form of violent inhumanity?

There’s help when you’re ready. Thank you.

Veterans are “entitled” to these things because they gave so much for everyone else. We were willing to die if necessary just so the rest of America will never have to do or see the things we did.

We didn’t win the lottery by injuring ourselves (or by having someone else do the injuring), we are simply being compensated for damages received while defending this Nation. Call me inhumane, but I guess I don’t see how someone who has done nothing for this country besides vote for an American Idol contestant should receive the same Health Care benefits that I do. I guess I think that we as veterans deserve the benefits we get, and that others shouldn’t use us as a metric for the treatment of everyone else.

Yeah. We ARE special, actually. We did extraordinary things, and because some of us got hurt in the process, we get extraordinary treatment.

I’m sorry that some people get hurt and have nowhere to turn. I’m sorry that cancer is a death sentence to many families. I’m sorry that bankruptcy is a real danger to those with outstanding medical bills.

But those issues have nothing to do with our Disabilities. They’re not our fault, and it’s not the job of Veterans in general to solve the problem.

We get what we get because of what we gave. Others want to get the same treatment without giving up a thing.

Fine. You got me. I don’t agree with that.