Published: September 05, 2008 11:43 pm            

Veterans Corner

Politics as usual!

There's a lot of news! As usual some of it is good; most is not so good. The many Navy Vietnam Veterans who live in our area are, of course, most interested in an update on the new bill (HR 6562). Others are interested in the latest on the Blue Water Navy Lawsuit. So let's get started.

The bill which would have forced the Veterans Administration (VA) to treat al Navy Vietnam veterans the same, has died. That bill, introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), died because everybody and his brother's uncle in Washington added a clause here, a phrase there, until it didn't look at all like what was originally proposed. It died because not enough "normal folks" took the time to insist that their representatives pass it as it was originally introduced. This bill was significant because it would have done away with "Brown Water-Blue Water" differentiation. To draw an imaginary line at the water's edge, and arbitrarily stop paying benefits to veterans who were already approved as service connected disabled was ridiculous when it was instituted in 2002. It is still ridiculous! It is a shame that it became "politics as usual" in Washington-and this bill, and the veterans it affects, were the casualties.

The brave Navy veterans who formed together and sued the VA back in 2002 (and won at every level until recently) stood for all veterans who served their country honorably on the South China Sea in the Vietnam War. These folks went where they were sent without a whimper, did what they were told to do with courage and honor-and are suffering now because of the herbicides that were sprayed in the air. The chemicals were sprayed to kill the jungle, but the wind blows-and it blew out to sea. The rivers and streams that were contaminated flowed out tot he sea. It has been proven, over and over again, that the folks on those ships, some just off shore, were just as exposed to the toxins as their brothers and sisters on the nearby land. Those chemicals have killed more than bullets ever did, and much more horribly.

The "Blue Water" vets have won at every rung of the judicial ladder until recently. Why? The judges understood the facts. Congress obviously couldn't. Therefore the VA appealed every decision until finally the Federal Court of Appeals, which consists of three judges, decided in favor of the government-and against these very people who fought for us! Remember, federal judges owe their jobs to the same politicians who confirm their nominations to the bench. Thank goodness, the veterans have not given up! Paperwork will be filed in the next several days to give these judges a change to "revisit" their decision before the veterans take it to the Supreme Court. I fee optimistic about the decision our highest court will hand down. They are exempt from politics and immune to the "good old boy" pressures. But how many of our brave veterans will suffer and die before the day comes? How many widows and children will suffer because they will be denied VA survivor compensation since the deaths of their loved ones will not be considered "service connected."

Folks, Rep. Filner had courage. But this bill, which could have saved the benefits for these brave and courageous heroes and their families, has died. Fortunately there are a few others like Rep. Filner in Congress. Unfortunately, they are in the minority. Most politicians don't seem to care anymore if the constituents are not rich or powerful. And anyone who tries to change the status quo is quickly branded a trouble maker, a wild-eyed-but well meaning crazy person. The act that the status quo sometimes needs to be addressed, or changed, is irrelevant to the main stream politicians!

Recently I met a gentleman who was one of the nine candidates for Congressman Pickering's job before the primary last spring. I had called him back then, like I called them all. I was trying to offer them a civil forum to answer questions about matters that are of specific concern to the veteran community. He didn't come, most them didn't. When I met him for the first time recently he laughed and said that I "must understand" that he didn't think I was "for real." After all, everyone knows that one person Never would ask important candidates to come answer questions, unrehearsed, from a group of plain citizens-nobodies- who have some very specific complaints and issues! Anyone who does something like that Must be crazy! After he stopped laughing, he was very gracious and said that, "in person" I didn't seem so crazy. Well, I'm not crazy, and neither are the large number of veterans and their families with whom I have the honor of working.

These veterans and their families, are the folks who have made incredible personal sacrifices so that these same politicians can have the freedom to campaign; drown us with the same old "canned" statements, promise us the moon and get amnesia the day after they are elected. Of course, the day after the election, most of them are set for life. Well, there is a new day a-dawning. The veterans in our area are not nobodies. And, they are tired of the status quo. They have decided it will not be "politics are usual" from now on. Politicians work for the people in this country, not the other way around. Candidates need to remember that!



Bobbye C. Jerone, Independent Veterans Advocate; Public Information Officer of the Veterans Alliance of East

Mississippi and West Alabama and president of the

American Legion Auxiliary No. 257, Meridian. She may be reached at (601)679-5055 or bvj1101@bellsouth.net.

        

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