A Choice on Veterans Day

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Guest Writer: Jon Zall, Colonel, USAF (Ret)

A Choice on Veterans Day

Veterans Day remembers the sacrifices of so many who have served our country and who continue to do so today. Many, of course, have paid with their lives or disabling injuries over the years. So, I would first ask you to consider taking a moment sometime today to "salute" them in whatever way you choose to do so.

You have seen the bumper stickers, "Support our Troops", and I know most of you do, regardless of administration policies and actions. Patriotism isn't the sole province of Republicans. And a lot of you have family and friends now in Iraq.

Please also understand that, in my opinion, "troops" includes our veterans, many of whom are being forgotten in a variety of ways by this administration. Nobody was sorry to see Saddam Hussein go. Nevertheless, many of us do not agree with how the Bush administration justified its actions in going to war. Nor do we agree with the Bush Doctrine, including pre-emptive invasions and regime changes as regular courses of action for the future. Nor do we agree with a Patriot Act that threatens the basic freedoms which many of you fought for. Nor do we agree with the deficiencies in veterans' medical care. Nor do we like the fact that veterans are three times more likely to be homeless than anyone else.

Why should military veterans, or anyone associated with the military, consider any option other than Mr. Bush for the coming 2004 election? I'm a veteran, retired with almost 27 years of service, who no longer believes this administration has the best interests of our veterans and our military in mind. Until two months ago, I (like many veterans) wasn't going to consider any Democrat – after all, I had voted mostly Republican for 40 years. But the weight of events and the actions of the Bush administration, especially with regard to veterans and the use of our military, including the Reserves and National Guard, caused me to change my mind.

That's why I decided to put the Veterans for Dean Blog into play. Something inside me said that if I am needing to talk about a lot of things that really bother me about the use of our military and support of our veterans, then I suspect there may be many more of you out there. The Blog is a forum for all of you – you don't have to be a veteran or in the military – who don't like the direction their country is taking. And, know this for sure, the blog is not intended to create dissent among our troops, veterans or active duty, but to intelligently lay out and discuss ideas. The blog also links to other important Veterans-for-Dean websites and other links of interest for you to check out.

Veterans, there are millions of you out there, and there is a better alternative for 2004! You can have a huge impact. On this Veterans Day while you honor your brothers and sisters in arms, resolve to make things better for those that follow them in the future, and for our country. Gov. Dean has taken time to clearly support veterans and their needs (see his Veterans Day statement, then go to Veterans Coalition site for more information). Dr. Dean will be happy to have you on board!

Jon Zall, Colonel, USAF (Ret)

www.vetsfordean.blogspot.com

www.blogforamerica.com