Thursday, November 8, 2007

"Be all that you can be"

Many American kids grow up and go into the military. They do this for a variety of reasons. Some want the educational support they get after they serve. Some are looking for job training for the future. Some need a way out of their communities and want to see the world. Some want to do the right thing, and fight for the ideals of democracy. For many reasons, our young men and women make this commitment.

This morning I heard a shocking statistic. More than one quarter of the homeless people on our nation's streets are military veterans. Many of the young people coming home from the conflicts in the Middle East have physical and emotional health issues that this country is unprepared to deal with. Affordable housing is nearly impossible to find. Other important services have limited capacity to really meet these great needs. So, what was once the richest nation in the world, is becoming bankrupt by the war machine. And we are not caring for our sons and daughters.

This web journal is about kids and our desire to do our best to guide our children to become all that they can be. This is even the language used by the army with its slogan "be all that you can be." What are we really doing to help kids in their efforts to grow and use their boundless potential?. Some are meant to be artists, some scientists, some farmers, or architects, or sales people. The possibilities are endless. We need all kinds of gifts and talents to support our communities.

Americans are generous, capable people. What are we doing to assist the young men and women who have given all to serve us and the ideals of freedom? The time is overdue to stand up with them and help them make their transition back into civilian life with the support of their community around them. No one should be homeless in America! And certainly our service people need the respect and care that will help them be all that they can be. These are our children!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I agree that we should do more for our military men and women. I am opposed to the war in Iraq, but I believe our service people deserve our support with better pay and benefits for themselves and their families.