Saturday, March 10, 2007
Friday, March 09, 2007
More on Walter Reed
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So someone else noticed that the treatment of outpatient soldiers at Walter Reed is more par for the course than unusual.
Caste Out At Walter Reed
So someone else noticed that the treatment of outpatient soldiers at Walter Reed is more par for the course than unusual.
Caste Out At Walter Reed
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
What Are You Complaining About Soldier?
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It is very difficult for me to listen to the generals falling all over themselves apologizing for the situation injured soldiers have been experiencing as Walter Reed outpatients.
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While the official response to soldiers' complaints over a number of years is inexcusable, it is not surprising. It's the way the military operates and the way our country routinely treats veterans.
It is very difficult for me to listen to the generals falling all over themselves apologizing for the situation injured soldiers have been experiencing as Walter Reed outpatients.
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While the official response to soldiers' complaints over a number of years is inexcusable, it is not surprising. It's the way the military operates and the way our country routinely treats veterans.
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First the military: from the moment a person enlists, creature comforts are pretty much thrown out the window. Soldiers aren't supposed to be comfortable. They're preparing for war--a distinctly uncomfortable situation. They're supposed to complain (it's part of the culture)--to each other, but not to their superiors. There's a chain of command and it's expected to be followed--a soldier may complain to his (or her) superior, but chances are good it will not move up the chain--and nothing will be done.
Some of this is necessary--discipline is essential to the military's mission.
But it's also a system that has difficulty recognizing true problems. Thus, the complaints of the soldiers and their families were treated the way complaints have always been treated in the military--par for the course, but no action required.
First the military: from the moment a person enlists, creature comforts are pretty much thrown out the window. Soldiers aren't supposed to be comfortable. They're preparing for war--a distinctly uncomfortable situation. They're supposed to complain (it's part of the culture)--to each other, but not to their superiors. There's a chain of command and it's expected to be followed--a soldier may complain to his (or her) superior, but chances are good it will not move up the chain--and nothing will be done.
Some of this is necessary--discipline is essential to the military's mission.
But it's also a system that has difficulty recognizing true problems. Thus, the complaints of the soldiers and their families were treated the way complaints have always been treated in the military--par for the course, but no action required.
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Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post had this to say:
Harvey would have had every right to expect the usual tut-tut from the White House. The commander of Walter Reed, Maj. Gen. George Weightman, had already fallen on his sword. Never mind that Weightman had been in charge only since August, which means he inherited the situation. The post commander was resigning, and that should have been enough. Harvey needed an interim director to run Walter Reed, so he turned to the medical center's former commander, Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley, on whose watch the shabby treatment of outpatient vets became standard practice.
Gates was not amused, and the next day Harvey was out of a job. Kiley was out as well, at least as Walter Reed's chief. It's hard to believe, but the officials who presided over a terrible failure of government are actually being held accountable.
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Unlike Robinson, however, I do not blame the Bush White House. I am no fan of President Bush, but this is the way the military (and much of government, actually) has operated for decades.
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It seems to me the difference is in having Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense. He comes from a different place, a different culture. He didn't get where he is today by ignoring problems. And he doesn't need this job.
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However, I don't expect this to change the culture of the military. It is what it is and much of its success is due to being what it is. It's one of the reasons we have civilian control of the military--to recognize when the military being what it is, isn't good. This hasn't always worked, but at this time, in this instance, it did
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Now to the veterans: we're really good at flag waving and parades. We can be very bad at actually honoring veterans' service. Veterans often return home to find they've lost their jobs. Getting military benefits can be really a pain (my son who served in the first Gulf War was taken off active duty just a few days before he would be eligible for full benefits--do I believe this is an accident? Sure, and I believe in the Easter Bunny. ) It took years before the military recognized that Agent Orange was the cause of severe illnesses from returning Viet Nam vets, and the same thing occurred with Gulf War syndrome. Veterans routinely return home and are thrown back into a "normal" life that they have forgotten existed--much less are capable of handling. Homeless, addicted veterans are still on our streets.
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So, excuse me, if I don't buy the remorse. I'm thankful that this has come to light; and that something will be done about it (as long as we're still paying attention). But I don't believe for a second that anything has truly changed.
We have always taken our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and veterans for granted. It will ever be so.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Ho-Hum
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Okay, I lied. I am posting something today.
These are things not worth getting excited about:
1. It snows in Wisconsin in the winter.
2. It gets hot in Wisconsin in the summer.
3. A Cubs fan says: "There's always next year."
4. Non-binding resolutions.
5. The 2008 presidential race (it's way too early, folks).
6. Ted Kennedy says something stupid.
7. Ann Coulter says something outrageous.
Feel free to add suggestions.
Okay, I lied. I am posting something today.
These are things not worth getting excited about:
1. It snows in Wisconsin in the winter.
2. It gets hot in Wisconsin in the summer.
3. A Cubs fan says: "There's always next year."
4. Non-binding resolutions.
5. The 2008 presidential race (it's way too early, folks).
6. Ted Kennedy says something stupid.
7. Ann Coulter says something outrageous.
Feel free to add suggestions.
I'm Back
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...I think, though I'm not posting anything today.
I've changed the name of the blog back to "A Room with a Viewpoint."
Quite a long time ago, a blogger somewhere else in the world asked me to change my name from "A Room with a Viewpoint," because that is the name of her blog. I did so, because I thought that was a reasonable request, since she used the name first.
However, she has never written back to thank me. She never even accessed the blog later to see if it had been done. So it doesn't seem to have mattered much to her.
So, to my two, or so, readers, watch this space for future postings.
...I think, though I'm not posting anything today.
I've changed the name of the blog back to "A Room with a Viewpoint."
Quite a long time ago, a blogger somewhere else in the world asked me to change my name from "A Room with a Viewpoint," because that is the name of her blog. I did so, because I thought that was a reasonable request, since she used the name first.
However, she has never written back to thank me. She never even accessed the blog later to see if it had been done. So it doesn't seem to have mattered much to her.
So, to my two, or so, readers, watch this space for future postings.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Who Knew...
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...that people in bars might get married? uh, no. dressed? nope. even? sometimes. But that's not it either.
Oh, yeah, drunk!!
So now Texas is arresting people for getting drunk---in bars!!
Even Madison is not that loony toons! Okay, we banned smoking in bars and bowling alleys. We even banned smoking in cigar bars! But we repealed it (the cigar bar thing, not the rest)!! But Madison is in Wisconsin--we drink lots of beer and brandy. We expect people to get drunk in bars! In fact for college students, that's the reason they go to bars!!
From every Texan (especially one who shall remain nameless, but his initials are HDD) who has derided Madison as as oasis surrounded by reality, I request a humble apology. (You could get away with it, if it were only Austin, but it's not, it's the whole state!)
Next thing you know someone will figure out that we eat too much in restaurants!! and we watch R-rated movies in theatres!! and we shoot guns during hunting season (nah, I won't go there, it's too easy)!! and we don't even want to think about what we do in bathrooms! Where will it ever end!!
...that people in bars might get married? uh, no. dressed? nope. even? sometimes. But that's not it either.
Oh, yeah, drunk!!
So now Texas is arresting people for getting drunk---in bars!!
Even Madison is not that loony toons! Okay, we banned smoking in bars and bowling alleys. We even banned smoking in cigar bars! But we repealed it (the cigar bar thing, not the rest)!! But Madison is in Wisconsin--we drink lots of beer and brandy. We expect people to get drunk in bars! In fact for college students, that's the reason they go to bars!!
From every Texan (especially one who shall remain nameless, but his initials are HDD) who has derided Madison as as oasis surrounded by reality, I request a humble apology. (You could get away with it, if it were only Austin, but it's not, it's the whole state!)
Next thing you know someone will figure out that we eat too much in restaurants!! and we watch R-rated movies in theatres!! and we shoot guns during hunting season (nah, I won't go there, it's too easy)!! and we don't even want to think about what we do in bathrooms! Where will it ever end!!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Identity Crisis
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You may recall that a while back I changed the name of my blog from "A Room with a Viewpoint" because someone in India asked that I do so. She had used the name for a couple of years.
However, this was some time ago, and she has not bothered to thank me--or even acknowledge the change. In fact, I doubt that she has even come back to see if I did it. I hope I'm not one that requires thanks for doing the right thing, but I didn't have to change it. It was a favor, and to someone I don't even know.
And, as much I like the Lewis Carroll poem, I think "A Room with a Viewpoint" describes my occasional postings more than "Cabbages and Kings."
So, I'm seriously thinking about changing it back. I suspect that she found the site when perusing the blogspot recent updates. I seriously doubt that anyone has confused my blog with hers, or vice versa. I have so few regular readers of my own, that I can't imagine that my blog is interfering with hers in any way.
You may recall that a while back I changed the name of my blog from "A Room with a Viewpoint" because someone in India asked that I do so. She had used the name for a couple of years.
However, this was some time ago, and she has not bothered to thank me--or even acknowledge the change. In fact, I doubt that she has even come back to see if I did it. I hope I'm not one that requires thanks for doing the right thing, but I didn't have to change it. It was a favor, and to someone I don't even know.
And, as much I like the Lewis Carroll poem, I think "A Room with a Viewpoint" describes my occasional postings more than "Cabbages and Kings."
So, I'm seriously thinking about changing it back. I suspect that she found the site when perusing the blogspot recent updates. I seriously doubt that anyone has confused my blog with hers, or vice versa. I have so few regular readers of my own, that I can't imagine that my blog is interfering with hers in any way.
Made Up Sins
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So Catholic bishops all over the country are granting "dispensations" to allow Catholics to eat corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's day.
This is probably the first thing that caused to me to begin seriously questioning the Catholic Church--made up sins. Of course, the practice of fasting and prayer are important throughout the Bible. But as with so many things, the Catholic Church had to make up a rule for when you have to do it (fast, anyway, prayer optional) and then make it a sin to break the rule (a venial sin to be sure, but a sin).
When I was growing up, it was forbidden to eat meat on any Friday, not just during Lent. Of course, this wasn't really a penance, at least in Wisconsin. It just resulted in the creation of the "Friday Fish Fry." Much more fun than hot dogs and accompanied by beer, if you were a grown up.
Then the Church loosened the rule, so you only have to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent. (I wonder how many people spent time in purgatory for something that ceased to be a sin.) And now, apparently, a holiday known more for green beer than for any religious meaning is enough for bishops to revoke their made-up rule that is supposed to be a reminder of Christ's 40 days and nights fasting in the desert, in order to add corned beef and cabbage to the beer and other distinctly not religious celebrations. (And isn't there a question about St. Pat being a made-up saint as well??) Ah well, it's just fried fish by another name.
So Catholic bishops all over the country are granting "dispensations" to allow Catholics to eat corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's day.
This is probably the first thing that caused to me to begin seriously questioning the Catholic Church--made up sins. Of course, the practice of fasting and prayer are important throughout the Bible. But as with so many things, the Catholic Church had to make up a rule for when you have to do it (fast, anyway, prayer optional) and then make it a sin to break the rule (a venial sin to be sure, but a sin).
When I was growing up, it was forbidden to eat meat on any Friday, not just during Lent. Of course, this wasn't really a penance, at least in Wisconsin. It just resulted in the creation of the "Friday Fish Fry." Much more fun than hot dogs and accompanied by beer, if you were a grown up.
Then the Church loosened the rule, so you only have to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent. (I wonder how many people spent time in purgatory for something that ceased to be a sin.) And now, apparently, a holiday known more for green beer than for any religious meaning is enough for bishops to revoke their made-up rule that is supposed to be a reminder of Christ's 40 days and nights fasting in the desert, in order to add corned beef and cabbage to the beer and other distinctly not religious celebrations. (And isn't there a question about St. Pat being a made-up saint as well??) Ah well, it's just fried fish by another name.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
And the Oscar Goes To...
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OK, not that anyone cares but me, but here is my ranked list of Best Picture nominees.
1. Capote (by a hair)
1. Good Night, and Good Luck
3. Crash
4. Brokeback Mountain
5. Munich
Too bad for Heath Ledger that Philip Seymour Hoffman is probably going to (very deservedly) win for his portrayal of Capote. In any other year, Ledger would be a real contender for his portrayal of Ennis in Brokeback Mountain.
OK, not that anyone cares but me, but here is my ranked list of Best Picture nominees.
1. Capote (by a hair)
1. Good Night, and Good Luck
3. Crash
4. Brokeback Mountain
5. Munich
Too bad for Heath Ledger that Philip Seymour Hoffman is probably going to (very deservedly) win for his portrayal of Capote. In any other year, Ledger would be a real contender for his portrayal of Ennis in Brokeback Mountain.
