State of America's War Veterans

If you are reading this right now, you must be alive. You can thank your stars, and also your military veterans. If you think you're having a bad day, talk to someone who's been living in a nightmare. Your military veterans. Because your worst day can be better than their best day.

Gloom, despair, agony, defeat, depression and abandonment. It's the state of America's war veterans and quite possibly war veterans everywhere. I see them (or people posing as them for your sympathy) every day near my son's school. A dollar here and a dollar there. Sometimes a fiver, even a tenner if I have no change. Once in a while, I'll treat them to a McDonald's burger, fries and Coke. We as a species cherish rotten celebrities like the Kardashians and food network stars who couldn't boil an egg, yet we as a country have truly forgotten our gratefulness to the very people who fought for us and gave their lives for us. We're completely blind. We avoid them. Hate eye contact. We have abandoned them and discarded them like disposable diapers. The government cares even less; what little it does is smoke in your eyes. A deception. Yet the government spends our billions in taxes aiding Afghan and Iraqi troops and filling Karzai's coffers. If Obama can give away my hard earned thousands why can't I spend a few bucks where I want to?

They are homeless. Diseased. Suffering physically and mentally. Veterans are addicted to tobacco, alcohol and who knows what. But that's not a reason to not spare a dollar. $1. One fricking dollar. The denomination matters, but very little. What you're giving is a feeling of compassion and a ray of hope. Sadly, Memorial Day and Veterans Day have morphed into party holidays and retail sales boosters; fire the grill, let's get drunk and go buy an Ipad for the girl you just met at the bar. The only ones who remember are the ones who fought and the families that sacrificed a loved one. Give veterans a future. Invite a veteran to a local McDonald's today and spend a few minutes chatting with him.  It'll open your eyes and your mind. Many are standing hopelessly with a "Hungry" sign right outside some restaurant in Lakeland. I'm sure you'll find some in your neighborhood. No country is immune because the problem exists globally. There are many ways in which you can help. And every little bit counts. We may all learn to get along one day and end all wars. In the meantime, support your veterans today.

Living in the Darkness - America's Veterans
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P.S.: Some of these posts take a lot of time, commitment and effort. Like this one. They can drain me emotionally. I had to aggravate my wife by growing my hair out shabbily and remaining unshaven for an extended period. I worked out in the hot sun all weekend to get ragged and physically exhausted. Finally, I willingly put myself into a depressive state to get the look of a destitute veteran facing hopelessness, while all the time remaining alert and creative enough to use the camera and lighting optimally to maximum effectiveness. It's the look on my face, the intimacy of the flag and its effect on people in real life to stop and think that makes it worth while. Sometimes I wonder if anyone gives a crap and if I'm wasting my time. But, for a good cause, I'll keep soldiering on. Thanks for your time.