Have A Great Day! (18 Veterans Will Kill Themselves Today)

It's Tuesday May 13, 2008 and on this day in history, The Beatles debuted the movie Let It Be in 1970 and back in 1943 German and Italian forces surrendered in Africa but that's nothing compared to what we have for you today.

Right now, it's 7:30 am here in Seattle and 10:30 back in Washington DC where as far as I can tell, not one elected official has thought today about the fact that by now, two or three, maybe more, young American men and women who served their country in Iraq and Afghanistan have killed themselves.

Some may have used a gun and pulled the trigger when they couldn't take the pain or the wait of up to six months that they are told to wait before seeing a mental health specialist. Some may use pills or drive their car into a wall. Some will slit their wrists.

All our brave young and women we as a nation have failed to serve with a hint of the honor and courage that they served us.

I am embarrassed at how little I have done to help them. Here's a few places I found that are trying to help. Places like Veterans For America. Or the PTSD NewsLadder (learn more about what it is and the challenges those suffering face.)

So what else is going on today?

There's a lot of important stuff happening on Capitol Hill today. Here's what I found on the Senate Public Calendar -- well, let's just say today and yesterday won't go down as the busiest day on the hill. 6 hours of work yesterday guys? Solid effort.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

10:00 a.m.: Convene and resume consideration of S.2284, the Flood Insurance bill.

Previous Meeting

Monday, May 12, 2008

The Senate convened at 2:00 p.m. and adjourned at 8:00 p.m. No record votes were taken.

President Bush is, well, not doing much, just talking about his daughter's wedding.

18 men and women a day, that's what we're averaging, some days may be light, maybe today will be a light one. But then again, maybe yesterday was a light one and today the average will be brought back up.

They're killing themselves in Massachusetts and Florida. They're killing themselves in West Virginia where the primary is today. They're killing themselves in Denver where the Democrats will have their convention and in Minneapolis where the Republicans will gather. There are more kids dying here than there are in Iraq. How that can be, I don't completely understand but it's true.

Bob Graham said back in 2002 as he addressed his fellow Senators, if you don't read the classified intelligence report there will be blood on your hands. At 18 a day, let me see, in just under six days, we could cover all the US Senators in blood. Now, I understand that not all of the veterans are from Iraq and Afghanistan but since the Pentagon won't release how many, we have to presume a lot are -- and whether they fought now, or in Vietnam, or Korea or someplace in between, we should be shamed.

The weather looks good out here in Seattle. One of the headlines is about the Smoothie Race heating up in Seattle.

But I suppose somewhere here, there is a young veteran who feels he can't go on. Maybe he's one of the thousands suffering from mental health issues, maybe he can't face going back to Iraq again (some units have been deployed three or even four times now.) Imagine the hell that lets you survive war but not peace.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen.

A mother gets the news. A spouse hears a noise in another room. A child comes home from school. A dog barks. A neighborhood sits in stunned. A reporter tries to cover the story.

If you have you ever seen a flag taken from a coffin, folded and handed to the family, you know it seems to take a surreal amount of time. Have you ever seen that? Or heard taps play on a cold morning?

Eighteen times?

Comments

[Davwbaird]

I know the governor is on your side and her challenger is not. Here in Washington state regardless of their status help is available. I will do all I can to help. I have a iraqi vet living here.

[MissDaphne]

Thank you, James.
This breaks my heart.

[burnt]

Thanks James. It's very important to keep us apprised of these issues. We will have the opportunity to deal with them next year. Let's hope we have the fortitude to recognize the needs of those who have been abused and broken by this corporate war machine, and to provide the care they need. They deserve it.

This current negligence is a national disgrace.

[NorCalNative]

James, I am of the camp that American troops have no business in a war that is designed to aggrandize the Republican Brand. No mother should have to grieve over a death that didn't need to happen in the first place. Every life has value and I mourn for the families and loved ones who have to suffer for the mistakes of our Republican-leadership.

[ofbbg]

Let's see now - in 1916 we were "too proud to fight" - a year later Pres. Wilson said that we had to "make the world safe for democracy" (sound familiar?). In 1941 it was "Roosevelts War"'. I don't remember Korea as being Trumans war - or Vietnam being Kennedys/Johnsons war. What's your point?

[WasteNJ]

The sound of the bugler at a military funeral is one of the most chilling and long lasting impressions possible. God save these people who have been chewed up and forgotten.

[julieeiluj]

The v.a. system simply cannot handle the number of suicidal veterans at their current levels of service. We keep sending more men and women into harms way, and do not compensate for the pain and suffering their service creates.

[research]

Vet's, stay with us, the world needs you.

[James Boyce - Huffpost Blogger]

that's correct

in the link to the San Francisco Chronicle, there are more details on total numbers, percentages that are veterans, etc

[hopeless277]

I'm just so glad that Jenna's wedding went so well. Did you see the alter her father had built for her? Wasn't her dress dreamy? Best wishes to the happy bride and groom. I just know they'll be so happy together. I hear he has a really good job as a lobbyist or something important. Three cheers to Jenna and her husband. Isn't it just great to be an American?

[McLaren]

6,570 vets commit suicide every year? Are you sure? I think these numbers are horribly off. How many non-vets kill themselves every year, and what rates affect which group?

I notice one of the assumed reasons for this is that some who are in mental anguish are told it will be 6 months before they can be seen by a psychotherapist or mental health expert. This is what the entire country will have to deal with when we decide patients and doctors aren't capable of running health care, and we hand it all over to Bush and Kennedy.

[WTFbush]

Have you ever been to a VA Medical Center? I doubt very much that you have ever worn the uniform, let alone been in a combat theater or in direct combat.

Obvioulsy, ou are asking the wrong questions in an effort to deflect attenton from the real issue being discussed. Nice try.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18, DEAD.

[Thermodynamics]

Insurance that you buy for yourself generally does not cover mental health issues at all. Mine does not.

Yep, patients and doctors are not running our health care, now, today.

So as far as I am concerned this problem is something we all have to deal with. America's "great health care system" is a myth that only the pharmaceutical companies believe. Health care is better and cheaper in Europe, and they, unlike I, all have access.

[95flhtcu]

This is disgusting. Turn this into some unintelligable political discussion? INSURANCE COMPANIES run health care, not doctors and patients. IT's already like that. we don't have to wait and asking someone that just came back from a war zone to wait 6 months is now becoming murder.