Images of flag-draped coffins are often attributed to wars fought abroad. A seldom acknowledged internal battle, however, also poses a danger to U.S. service members. In 2014, twenty veterans took their lives every day. The risk for suicide among veterans was 21% higher than the general population, with women having a significantly higher prevalence. Continuing reading here.
Zone of Non-being 
May 5, 2017 at 11:39 am
Excellent article, my friend. 👏👏👏
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May 5, 2017 at 11:44 am
Thank you, thank you, thank youu, you are far too kind! 😀
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May 5, 2017 at 12:07 pm
Like unintelligible rapper Future once said: “I tell the truuuuuuth! I’m just bein’ honest!” 😂😂😂
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May 5, 2017 at 12:40 pm
LOL!! =D
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May 5, 2017 at 11:48 am
I just don’t understand something. Why do they sign up? And after signing up, many of them sign up again because we have all heard of multiple deployments overseas.
It has been suggested that the young sign up because there are no other jobs available and I say to that, “Hogwash!” I know poverty. I have had a real personal, up in my face acquaintance with poverty, but never was I of the mindset that to relieve said poverty situation was to join the army and kill someone who had never done a thing wrong to me personally. And while I do understand that youth is some times the equivalent of stupid, that does not explain why they sign up multiple times to be re-deployed.
And since women are at the most risk of committing suicide, they don’t understand that we are the nurturers of life? How can we lie down and bring forth life and then get up, fire a weapon and take it? This concept is not understood by women who sign up to kill?
I have covered this many times and I will continue to do so because it makes no sense that we continue to produce children to feed rich white men’s wars and this has been going on for centuries and still, we have not learned a thing. Donald Trump could send no bombs to Afghanistan if he had to do it himself. As someone once said, “What if they gave a war and nobody came?” It is not rocket science.
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May 5, 2017 at 12:40 pm
Great points and questions Shelby! I am glad to hear that poverty would not drive you to align yourself with the forces of imperialism. Sadly, though, I think it has forced the hands of some people. Poverty is a determining factor with respect to who enrolls in the military. Black women are the most likely to enroll – and this is a population that earns just $0.64 for every dollar a white man earns.
However, I do not think that poverty is the ONLY factor at play. It is complex. There are non-tangible, non-monetary “benefits” to joining the military. Being a member of the armed forces makes people feel honorable and noble. Have you ever been in public and seen someone walk in with a uniform or “Veteran” hat? The whole place breaks into applause, people shake their hands, thank them for their “service”, and/or someone pays for their meal/beer. Being a service member gives people a sense of meaning and purpose. A sense of prestige. A sense of belonging to something bigger than your self.
I agree with you – I would never join the forces. This has nothing to do with being a coward, like veterans often claim. I do not believe the armed forces “protect” my rights or “defend” anything. They protect the needs of imperialism. I do not doubt the sincere allegiances of the brave folks who died and are currently fighting on the front lines. We must take into account that there was a draft before 1973. But nowadays, since enlistment is voluntary, people have bought into the propaganda if they actually believe all that terrorism non-sense. The United States government has no problem lying to justify its political and economic agendas. By its own admission, not a conspiracy theory, it staged the Gulf of Tonkin to justify going into Vietnam. So, that is roughly 60,000 soldiers dead because of a LIE. President Johnson knew it was false, but refused to withdraw the troops. Robert McNamara knew it was false, and didn’t do anything. This is why Henry Kissinger said “military men are dumb animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy”.
It boggles my mind how this affects women the most. You are right to highlight that women are the nurturers – yet are enlisting more, etc. This is where I think education comes in. Josie and I (NosyJosie – MindJoBusiness) were talking about the way the police often lack legitimacy with folks, but the military is seen as more official. People lack a sense of geopolitical awareness, so signing up does not register as a problem, in my estimation. We need to do more to connect the dots between domestic policing and foreign policing – to show that they are two sides of the same coin, and that they both need to be dismantled.
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May 5, 2017 at 1:12 pm
You are correct about how we laud the military and yet, we can find it in ourselves to castigate cops when they cross the line but we give no thought to when the U.S. military does the same thing and the sad fact is that many of those who don a cop’s uniform at one point, were military. Some of these people get what I call, ‘the killing fever’ and so to continue to feel that high, they join the police force and then we hear of citizens being riddled with hundreds of bullets and excessive use of force.
We have turned America’s streets into another Iraq and Afghanistan because the police have requested and received redundant military equipment from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and so add to that the fact of former soldiers making up the police force, it is a recipe for disaster which is what is taking place.
I do realize that there used to be a draft, but why was it that people like Mohammed Ali could know and understand that he was not about to fight the rich man’s war and so refused to let himself be drafted and risked jail, but others could not understand why he took his stance on the draft. It seems pretty clear cut to me.
And since all wars are bankers wars, we know who is making a ‘killing’ off wars and it sure ain’t the cannon fodder because I have listed times too numerous to count that the enlisted grunts receive somewhere between $18,000-$20,000 a year and if they have a wife and children, they qualify for food stamps and other public assistance.
And as far as prestige goes, the U.S. military holds none, in my opinion. Quite the contrary. When those in the military are thanked for their service, they are thanked by hypocrites because it has also been stated that “VA wait times for veterans to get seen at clinics are likened to Disney World lines.” Also, there are not enough people who have come forward to ‘man’ the suicide hotlines and that veterans who call in in an attempt to assist them in not committing suicide have had their calls get forwarded to voice mail. Is this the kind of ‘thanks’ these people should be receiving if we are indeed, “thanking them for their service to this country?” Methinks not. Those people who gush over our military personnel are outrageous hypocrites. And one thing I can say about me, I have never ‘thanked’ them for what they are doing because as far as I am concerned, they’ve done nothing at all ‘honorable’. Again, quite to the contrary.
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May 5, 2017 at 2:04 pm
At a personal level, I agree: the military has zero prestige. I see the armed forces as a legitimized gang. I see them as glorified thugs for imperialism. Words like “veteran”, “troop” and “service member” sanitize the global violence. As you alluded to – they are the hitmen who do the dirty work for capitalism. Lol @ “methinks not”. You are spot on! We can’t even enjoy a sporting event without having military garbage shoved down our throats. For Christ’s sake … we are forced to stand up, remove our caps, put our hands over our hearts, and listen to some mediocre vocalist screech their way through a battle hymn that glorifies violence: “and the rocket’s red glare, bombs bursting in air”. And then they haul some veteran out there and tell you their hero narrative – as if I am supposed to kiss their boots. Miss me with all that. It’s sickening.
A huge part of the problem is: people have someone in their family that is in, or was in, the military. They grew up in homes with American flags in the background. They are attached to the imagery of camouflage fatigues, etc. So when you point out the facts that the military is destructive and only necessary in a system of oppression, they start doing mental gymnastics saying “well, my father…” I respect your experience, but no one is interested in yo daddy’s biography. Lets talk about the fact that 1 million Iraqis were killed in the war. Lets talk about another 1 million being displaced. I am not interested in individual narratives of heroism. Lets talk about the STRUCTURE of imperialism.
I am sure the VA is still a shit show. Trump points to the VA all the time as a justification for “choice” of doctors. He is right that the VA is inefficient, but he is wrong that a more privatized system would be better. We need single payer.
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May 5, 2017 at 11:50 am
Reblogged this on shelbycourtland and commented:
There is a real easy solution to ending this epidemic of suicide among U.S. service members. Will you take it?
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May 5, 2017 at 12:40 pm
Thank you for the reblog!
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May 5, 2017 at 1:13 pm
Any time, Darryl! It’s my pleasure!
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May 5, 2017 at 3:05 pm
Well Darryl Walker, Jr., poet, bookworm, etc., etc., etc. I like that photo that accompanied your article. I worked at the VA here in Los Angeles for a few years, so I got to know a lot of veterans, especially the old ones that will live at the VA until they die. I like to talk with them. I know some of them join for the benefits, or because their buddy joined. Some join because they don’t think anything will happen to them. Some are “patriotic”, even if they come back missing limbs. The old guys are just happy for someone to visit them. Personally, I think the VA does not do enough for those they send to war. For instance, they issue the cheapest limb replacements.
“War is only necessary in a system of oppression.” I remember seeing Bush’s “talking head” on Iraq TV after we invaded as if he was an overlord. Also I never have liked the fact that we pin medals on people for killing other people, but a large portion of the population have been conditioned to feel honored in this area. (Maybe it helps to ease their own shame for taking part in destruction.) I believe it has been known for years that veterans are likely to commit suicide just as they are likely to die in combat. Some how the powers that be have managed to slide these issues to the side for the sake of Power.
As usual, Darryl, another good post. Btw, I am totally impressed with your achievements.
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May 5, 2017 at 4:41 pm
Hello Ms. Elva! Thank you so much! Since you like that photo, I will try to make it my WordPress avatar. I am long overdue for a new one, anyway lol!
Wow. Thank you for elucidating the reasons people join the forces based on your interactions with veterans. That makes a lot of sense: it is multi-faceted. It is amazing how people think they can be sent off to war and nothing will happen to them. This idea will only become more pervasive now that there are un-manned drones.
I agree that the VA does not do enough for veterans. It will never cease to amaze me how many veterans are homeless. These are folks who fought to “protect” the freedoms of America – and they come back and are denied basic housing, decent medical care, and, as you said, are given the cheapest limb replacements. *shaking my head*
A tradition which makes no sense to me is the whole 21-gun salute at the cemetery ritual. After a veteran dies, the military shows up with their guns to pay “tribute” by firing rounds into the sky. In the context of veteran suicide, how does that make ANY sense? Most veterans who commit suicide do so with a gun. They killed themselves because they were traumatized by the horrors of war. The fact that the military shows up at the cemetery firing guns shows how insensitive they are. To those who believe in God and the afterlife, they are only re-traumatizing the “soul” of the veteran as it looks down from heaven. Their “tribute” looks a lot more like the military’s way of firing bullets at the “soul” of the deceased. That is the last thing the military offers dead veterans: bullets fired at their spirit. That is only fitting from an institution that sent them into war and then failed to provide them adequate medical care.
Damn .. I wish I provided THAT analysis in the article, lol
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May 5, 2017 at 6:05 pm
Haha, okay?!! A GREAT analysis. Especially when you learn that during times of shooting incidents in the news extra care is taken to keep an eye on the veterans walking the grounds of the VA because some of them have been known to go into surveillance mode and have brought guns onto the VA grounds.
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May 5, 2017 at 7:50 pm
Wow, I did not know that! Sooo interesting, and makes a lot of sense. I would love to explore that further!
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May 5, 2017 at 7:51 pm
Have you ever witnessed that, out of curiosity?
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May 10, 2017 at 4:19 pm
Yes, I have. The whole VA facility went on lock down. Helicopters overhead. One Veteran shot at another in one of the buildings on site. I was not in that building at the time but I was on the grounds. After that new signs went up about not carrying firearms onto the facility.
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May 11, 2017 at 10:58 pm
Wow. Glad you werent harmed. Makes sense. I never would have thought to account for that!
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May 5, 2017 at 8:50 pm
Great piece Darryl, and of course I am in agreement. War is their dirty little secret — no one discusses the root problem, that we actually do not need war — it is a man made capitalist venture. Each of their wars leaves its veterans shell shocked, disabled and suicidal. Articles like yours spread enlightenment. As a teacher, I make sure I tell the kids, we absolutely do NOT need war, any politician that tells you we do is lying. Period. All the money they spend on war could be used for positive creation, health and well being. Thanks for the great read!
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May 5, 2017 at 10:05 pm
Thank you Christine! It is cool you are a teacher! What subject(s) do you teach?! I am glad you tell your students the truth about war. It is absolutely unnecessary. I remember: I was in 6th grade when September 11th happened. My teacher was always suspicious of the original story pushed by the government – about how it was physically impossible for a plane to crash through steel buildings and bring them crashing down. It all begins with people who are bold enough to plant seeds of dissent in the minds of the child.
We need to divest from the military and redirect those funds toward that which can raise the standard of living for the people. Imagine the ways we could improve our quality of life if all of that money was freed up. Imagine the ways the lives of those abroad could be improved if the military were not infringing upon their right to exist freely. And the military is the #1 polluter on the planet – so abolishing the armed forces will lead to a less violent and less toxic planet.
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May 6, 2017 at 12:52 am
I teach English and I also do homework help for Math and Social Studies. I too had teachers that questioned’accepted views’ and the status quo — best thing a teacher can do, imo! It is frustrating to see the mind boggling amounts spent on war and death — and astonishing to me that more people do not get how backwards we actually are! It IS physically impossible for a plane to crash through steel buildings and bring them crashing down! I believe Sept. 11 was a huge conspiracy designed to create more war. (It worked, have people noticed??) All my life I have known and seen Veterans suffer devastating effects of stupid wars. I make the older students read ‘1984’ by George Orwell — a great book for understanding the evil plans of governments.
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May 6, 2017 at 2:42 am
I am sure you are an excellent English teacher! Social Studies was always my favorite subject, and I liked Math until I started taking Algebra (it took me years to realize they are all related subjects). I believe the purpose of philosophy is not necessarily to get an answer, but to get the question right. So, in Algebra, back then, when I was told to “solve for the unknown”, I was agitated because that is not how my mind worked. I would’ve rather did it in reverse: question the known and make it a mystery. You know what I mean? I am more of the humanities type of person as opposed to Math (unless it is basic). That is why I had to go to summer school for Algebra smh lol.
Questioning the norm is the best thing teachers can, most definitely. I had a Native American teacher in 3rd grade who told a room full of 9 year olds that Columbus would “chop off the heads of her ancestors and hang them up on ships” so that is why she doesnt celebrate Columbus Day. It is absolutely necessary that kids hear the truth. Reading Orwell would have been great to read when I was in school!
I remember a few months after 9/11, my teacher took a piece of chalk and threw it at the chalkboard. It broke upon impact. He said “THAT is what was supposed to happen to those planes with the towers. It is impossible”.
It isnt even in the best interest of teachers to push war and death. It will lead to their unemployment lol. The defense budget eats away at the education budget. Out of anyone, teachers should be steadfastly anti-war … for self-preservation if nothing else (like being a human lol). But what disturbs me most is that high schools actually allow the military to actively recruit students on their premises. The war machine goes door to door trying to persuade its next victims to die and/or kill for a “cause”. It is very backwards!
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May 6, 2017 at 3:21 am
Glad to hear you had some great teachers who challenged you to question authority! We now know that, for example, the Neo-Conservatives had a list of all the countries they planned to invade, long before 911 happened! Since 911 they have successfully invaded and destroyed many of these countries. 911 was a planned excuse. When Bush declared his invasion on Iraq back in 2003, myself and all the teachers I worked with were against it. We were right, as no good has come of anything, just more war and worse destruction. Very 1984 ish. We have military recruiters come into the high schools all the time — I am against that also, as the message is ‘ you cannot do any better, may as well join the military’. It might be OK if the military actually did what they promised, but I know people who have joined and not ever received proper so called benefits. It is a racket, designed to waste lives. I think the military could be put to so many positive uses, like exploration, engineering and foreign relations — if we were at a state of peace (the NATURAL state of human beings.)
Math can be a lot of fun when taught the right way — as a mystery and also a perfect solution. I too love Social Studies and of course Literature. The important thing is to keep questioning, that is what I love about teaching 🙂
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May 7, 2017 at 9:20 pm
Wow – great point: “the military could be put to so many positive uses, like exploration, engineering and foreign relations – if we were at a state of peace”. I like that a lot!
There is an instrinsic beauty to math. The mathphobia is so real, though. I imagine you see this a lot. Not being good at math is declared as a virtue among many people. I agree: it can certainly be fun if it is taught properly. My niece is 11 years old and she always feels like it is busy work. When I was taught, it felt that way as well. It would be cool to have it taught as a mystery or perfect solution.
That is the most important lesson to give children: question everything. I despise whenever I hear parents answer questions with “because I said so”. This does nothing but produce a generation of obedient, soul-dead conformists who follow orders … willing to pick up rifles and kill folks overseas without a thought. Critical thinking is the first casualty of the war machine. Teachers, if they are like you, do the important work of preventing that death.
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May 8, 2017 at 11:35 pm
Haha, I grew up hearing “because I said so”. That phrase is really the lazy way out — the adult either does not feel like giving reasons, or thinks the kid will not understand those reasons. I will at least explain to kids ‘why’ they must do something… I find they are usually interested to know real reasons.
There is definitely math phobia — probably because it gets complicated with the many steps involved in some problems. My favorite kind of math problems are practical applications, something they will use in life (not just busy work!) So I always try to give real life situations where they would use the math.
I have often thought about what the military would actually ‘do’ if we were in a constant of peace. There is so much they could do! Things that would not involve war and killing. Most people in the military are decent hard working types who want to help and serve. Maybe someday Darryl, we will reach that type of utopia… 🙂
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May 8, 2017 at 1:04 pm
Get it Darryl! Happy to see your writing in another venue, and of course you’ve raised awareness about a very important, but hidden topic.
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May 8, 2017 at 2:49 pm
🙌 Yes! Trying to diversify a bit! It is Mental Health Awareness Month and Military Appreciation Month so I figured that was a solid topic to discuss. Always good to have your feedback 😀
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May 12, 2017 at 3:02 pm
And again I say, “we (people) are the architects of our own adversity”. I saw this today in the news. “A somewhat similar debate is happening in Texas, where lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban guns at psychiatric hospitals — just a year after passing a law that did the opposite”. Lawmakers (people) are debating whether to allow patients to carry concealed weapons into hospitals and clinics because the hospitals do not want to spend the money it would take to hire security guards to make sure people with guns don’t get into the facilities. One thing about the VA is that they do have 24/7 federal police on the grounds. But these other folks are not concerned, evidently, that they may have a mentally ill veteran walk into their facility after hearing firecrackers going off which has caused them to believe they are back in combat.
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May 12, 2017 at 3:28 pm
Does having armed guards make the place safer, though? Especially in light of a ban and PTSD with combat vets? Wouldnt that just exacerbate the matter? It feels like a “good guys with guns” argument.
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May 12, 2017 at 3:42 pm
Well, supposedly the armed guards on VA facilities are not mentally ill. I hadn’t even thought of that! Guns are guns aren’t they? I have been conditioned to see the VA police as “good guys”. But that is a whole nuther subject I do not want to delve into today. (smile) I wish I could put a smiley face on here.
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May 12, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Haha. I appreciate the honesty. That is my sentiment: a lot of police officers are veterans, and a lot of veterans have mental illnesses, so if they are trying to prevent mentally ill vets from using guns with mentally ill guards with guns … it becomes a circus, lol.
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