Dilemma after War: Suicidal Vets

                                                                                     Introduction   

Hello, I am new to Steemit and I am very excited to have the opportunity to express my thoughts and ideas I have on the world we live in today on this new revolutionary platform. I have already commented on several posts and have up-voted many authors. I’m not looking to make money, all I want to do is be able to put forth my thoughts and open some minds to change this dreadful paradigm our society is living in today. If you are entertained or I hit a nerve, please up-vote my post, if not…no biggie. Also, I’m open to any advice in regards to the structure of my writing and the content. Any positive criticism is welcomed! 

 The topics I’ll discuss will be controversial and can even be considered “tin-foil hat” material. I am a Veteran of the Armed Forces and most of all a Combat Vet. So I have seen many horrible things in my life. I believe that people that have served their country and have put their lives on the line do have more of a right to be critical about the United States, its people, and the policies (Foreign and Domestic) that are pushed through our political system. I have a lot to say about the U.S. and its people and I will be very critical about our society, culture, military, economic, and political structure. I’m not a Republican nor am I a Democrat…hell I don’t know what I am…maybe more Libertarian? I really don’t know, but I would like to start my own political party and call it the “Common Sense” party…just a thought. 

  I understand by putting myself out there and discussing important issues our world is facing today, not everyone will agree with me and nor should you. However, please keep the dialogue open and discussed in a positive manner so we can all learn together and understand why the cogs in this giant wheel are the way they are. 

                                                              

 My first Steemit article: 

                                                              Dilemma after War: Suicidal Vet   

                                                                   

Why are veterans committing suicide? Is it because of this generation of young men/women’s mentality and the “sisification” of America? Is it because of the horrific shit they have witnessed on the battlefield? Is it because of the type of tactics the enemy uses on the battlefield? Or is it because of the hoops a veteran must jump through to get help from the VA and decides it is not worth it? Or could it be the prescriptions the VA gives to its patients to help curtail the symptoms of PTSD and help with pain management of all other injuries sustained on the battlefield? Most likely it is a combination of all the above.                                                                                                    

 I am a member of the “Combat Vets Motorcycle Association” and this organization has countless unselfish Brothers and Sisters that have put their lives on the line for this country and its people. Our motto is Vets Helping Vets and our mission is to help Vets in our local communities. From our conversations about Vets and suicide, it boils down to sanctioned killings and the constant feeling of facing death on a consistent basis. Then returning home to a country that acts like nothing is happening “over there,” Americans proclaiming half-heartedly “I support our Troops” while being selfish, cruel, and disrespectful to each other and not to mention all the greed and corruption in our government to further the agenda of the elites. Coming home to this atmosphere and then trying to adjust to civilian life takes a toll on their mental health. No one can really understand this if they have never experienced war and what it is like to come back home and live a normal life.    

When I started to write this article I thought I had it all figured out in regards to the statistics of how many Vets commit suicide. I was under the impression that it was 22 Vets a day? I participated in Mission 22 (http://www.mission22.com/#ourcause) and did the push-ups for the Facebook campaign. I researched studies and reports to get the real number for this article. A recent article from Military Times indicated the VA did a comprehensive study on veteran suicide. The VA released its findings back in July and it stated that only 20 Vets a day commit suicide. What is very interesting to me is this: According to Military Times “65 percent of all veteran suicides in 2014 were for individuals 50 years or older, many of whom spent little or no time fighting in the most recent wars.” What? Did I get something wrong? Maybe? But I take it with a grain of salt. Reality is Veterans know more about this epidemic and we live with it every day, researchers and politicians don’t!   

                                                               

Here in the U.S. our politicians, mainstream media, and certain subsets of our society proclaim “Freedom,” and “Democracy!” That is what America represents…Is this really true? If it is, then why have laws in the book that make certain drugs like Cannabis, Ayahuasca, and Psilocybin illegal? A recent news poll from CBS indicated that 87% of Americans support doctors to have the ability to prescribe cannabis for medical use. Again, 87% of Americans (of course I don’t know how many people participated in this news poll?). Yet our elected representatives drag their feet to enact legislation for medical/recreational cannabis. The reason why I mention this is because all three of these natural growing plants are great healing medicines for people with PTSD, TBI, cancer, and etc…  

                                                            

  The point is, when veterans return home from war, VA doctors prescribe a various amount of pills (AKA “Cocktail”) to help alleviate the pain a veteran is feeling. I take nine pills a day and I know many that are taking even more than that. This is nuts considering I can smoke a joint or eat an edible and get the same healing from my nine pills. Not to mention it is safer and has better healing power. What is interesting is the DEA came out with a report last week stating that Cannabis will remain a schedule 1 drug because it has “NO” medical benefits and “lacks adequate and well-controlled studies proving efficacy; the drug is not accepted by qualified experts; and the scientific evidence is not widely available” (Donna Leinwand Leger, USA TODAY 2016). This is complete and absolute BS! The reason why the DEA makes statements like this is because they cannot accept other academic studies outside of the Federal Government. If the DEA did, it would be detrimental to the DEA and the Federal Government stance on cannabis.   

  Now, think about this…a person enlists into the military, goes over to fight in the war, comes home, and then told that this is the only medicine you can take (chemical induced opiate medicine). They get these “Cocktails” which a user will become dependent upon, and becomes numb to everything around them, almost Zombie like, and then suicidal thoughts start to become the norm for many veterans. I have had one doctor tell me that they wish they could prescribe cannabis to me but they can’t. Not only that, if I did get my medical cannabis card I could lose my VA benefits. What the hell, I thought I was free, had choices, and my service to my country mattered? I guess not?  

 I understand that these plants are not for everyone and theses plants are not a cure all. But, don’t you think Veterans should have the right to choose what type of medicine is best for them? Hell, I think everyone at the appropriate age has the right to choose. But it will not happen because Big Pharmacy and all its politicians and lobbyist will lose out on major profits. So it really boils down to money and not about keeping its citizens safe.   

It is our duty as citizens to stand up to our elected officials and let them know we will not stand for not allowing our voices to be heard! I thought this was America, freedom, and where our elected officials work for us, the PEOPLE! Instead they work for Big Business and their own self-interest. We are all expendable…and I believe Veterans understand this very well.  

  Get a grip America! Next time you see a Veteran thank them for their service and let them know that you really care. Not only that, write your state representatives and let them know you are awake and that you want action. Keep doing it! And keep doing it! Get involved and educate yourself. Time to take action!   

Peace!