A good friend sent me a package today...

[Lady Freedom Returns]

It had some little things one needs out on the street in it. Two of these things were a scarf and some gloves.

As I was coming down the street I saw a old Veteran that I have met a few times at the VA when I was with my ex. He was setting in the sun to warm up from a chilly night. He is a first Iraqi war vet and had some major issues with PTSD.

He has no coat, just a thin sweatshirt. I had no coat to give, but I did have the gloves and the scarf. I talked him into going to the VA to see if they had any coats in there Vet Closet. Or at least get some heaver sweats.

This is just one of the many scenes one sees everyday. To many of those that fought for our country are now begging in the streets. Many of them suffer from mental distress.

When one sees all this fighting in the House and Senate, one wonders, "Do they really know what is going on in real America? Do they really understand what pain so many are going through?"

The Conservative Republican's have been proving they don't.

[2naSalit]

1. They don't

and they don't give a damn about anyone but themselves and their ill-gotten positions of power and holding on to them with a death grip. They have no concept of respect and what that really is or means. They sadly mistake respect for status and so we have the issues we have in our nation today.

[freshwest]

2. Good analysis.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

3. They are going to have their own little "let them eat cake" moment.

I just wish more people would wake up before we all get to go to the guillotine!

[2naSalit]

6. A day or two ago

I likened it to their "Let them eat sh*t" attitude... which seems more like what we are seeing here.

[freshwest]

4. Good to see you posting, LFR. And no, they don't believe in equality, they believe the poor are dirt

Their god Ayn tells them so.

Thank you for being there for this veteran in need.

Is it possible he can get into one of those apartments I have heard about in AZ?

There was a wonderful story about a program there posted on DU, I just don't know what the title was.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

5. I hope so.

That is why I talked him into going to Building 90. That is where there is an office just for homeless Vets. They have a closet and bathing facilities as well as trained personal that will see he is in trouble with his condition.

I am guessing he has been off his meds for a while, he was not like I remembered seeing him the last time. But they will see it and help him. That is what they do.

[2naSalit]

7. That's good

we the citizens need to do what we can when we can for these citizens we allowed to be put in harm's way and now they are suffering for it. You're truly a good citizen!!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

8. We are all in it together.

I just did what others have been doing for me... helping.

[rhett o rick]

9. k&r thanks for posting. nm

[Lady Freedom Returns]

10. Thank you for K & R'ing it!

[AsahinaKimi]

11. I work as a volunteer at one of the VA hosptials..

I see this kind of thing every day. The thought that some of the Guys I work with are not getting their VA disability checks bothers me greatly. They have virtually nothing but that money to live on. Many may go homeless and the homeless shelters in the city are not the best nor is there much room. There is low rent housing, but what good is that if you have no money to pay for it. Its not like they are using their money to buy expensive cd players, color television sets or what have you. The money is spent on food, rent, and other utilities.

Republicans remind me of the guy who kicks the beggar in the street just for asking the time... Bastards have no concept of what its like to have nothing but the clothes on your back.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

14. Oh, I have been told by a conservative that I need to stop hanging with ...

"Such low life's."

I am sure that their beloved McCain would love to hear them say that.

Conservatives only care for themselves and that is what makes them the TRUE Deadbeats of society.

[Cha]

12. That was so thoughtful to give your hat and gloves to the Vet.

Does this mean you're out on the street in Tucson, LFR?

Those who are holding our Government Hostage don't care about anyone but themselves and their kochpuppet masters.. and they aren't "conservative".. they're Terrorists.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

13. Can Not Agree With You More!

The Conservatives don't care. They think with a mind stuck just before the Great Depression.

They can't see that we as a Country have changed and that we need to band together. We need to stop living for the "ME" and start living for the "WE".

[BKH70041]

23. How does that work?

"They can't see that we as a Country have changed and that we need to band together. We need to stop living for the "ME" and start living for the "WE"."

There's virtually 50% of the country who don't want to live as "we" but would prefer to live as individuals who decide when, why, where, and even if, they wish to join hands with others and not be made to do so by some outside force who thinks it knows best. And as citizens that is their right. I don't call that "living for the me" (though some might), I just call that being a free American.

It's time for many individuals to come to grips with the fact that there's a whole bunch of people who don't like liberals or our ideology and want nothing to do with either. I've only been here a short time, so maybe I've missed it noted, but that part of it is something I don't see entered into the equation when topics are discussed. But, these citizens don't want to be "we" with those of whom they don't agree and they aren't going to leave and live somewhere else as some suggest they do. Now to me the fact that we can choose to not associate ourselves with those we don't like is a good thing. If that means a whole bunch of people who want "we" don't get their way, then that's just how it goes. The days of "The debate took place, the majority decided to do it this way, so let's all set aside our differences and pull together" are long gone. The sooner people face that, the better.

Forcing people to be "we" when they don't want to be "we" will only create unneeded resentment and tension. That's a guarantee for failure. Way too many people want some type of consensus and it's just not going to happen.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

18. Yeah, but I do have an offer to stay with a fiend...

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018494038

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. k&r

[Lady Freedom Returns]

16. Thank you.

[Ikonoklast]

17. Any nation that refuses to care for its military veterans has no business creating more of them.

KnR

[Lady Freedom Returns]

19. Can't agree more.

This guy went through some things people should not. The first time I saw him was at the VA when I was up there with my ex. We talked about it. I could only halfway understand, my PTSD came from the Joplin Tornado, not from pure war. But some of the after we saw was similar.

That is why I think he let me come up to him was that he remembered talking with me.

[ladyVet]

20. That was a good thing you did.

Gifts that come from a heart that knows trouble are the best. As a veteran who has been homeless (though I managed to hang on with family even though it was stressful until I got a place), I know a tiny bit of the pain it causes.

I used to live in Tucson, it was my last posting. I loved it there. I used to want to retire to Arizona (somewhere in a small town) but that dream has flown.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

21. Never stop dreaming.

You never know...

[AustinActivist435]

22. Treatment

I feel this nation does not provide our veterans with the care they need.