please rate up and comment on my 146th ltte on Vet suicides and Obama

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2008/07/25/opinion/doc488a24e13042b833358911.txt
To the Editor,

A disturbing trend has been building among veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Suicide and attemted suicide rates among active duty, National Guard and reservists have been doubling every year since our occupations began.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, one in five of the more than 1.6 million troops deployed are at risk for PTSD severe enough to warrant treatment. The Veteran’s Administration has a 65,000 patient backlog for review of disability.

Anecdotally, I have talked with many other mothers of OIF and OEF veterans. They all report the same thing — “he can’t hug us,” “he can’t sleep,” “he drinks too much,” “he’s always on guard” and “he can’t get/keep a job.”

Our current administration has been eerily quiet on this tragedy. Of the presidential candidates, only Barack Obama has addressed this. On June 30, he stated, “We are more than five years into this war and the Pentagon and VA are still unprepared to treat the unseen wounds of battle. We know that incidence of psychological injury increase with each additional tour of duty in Iraq, and that our troops are not getting the support they need.

“Too many are falling through the cracks because they need help but feel they can’t get it. When I am president, we’ll hire more mental health professionals, increase training to recognize the signs and to reject the stigma of seeking care, and enhance mental health screening and treatment from enlistment, to deployment, to reentry into civilian life. It’s time to serve our troops as well as they have served us.”

I couldn’t have put it better, senator.

[w8liftinglady]

1. self-kick-i need a lot of help this week...

they made me thier punching bag in the "comments" section...show them what we're made of!

[w8liftinglady]

4. kick again-show my neighbors how America thinks..thanks

[stillcool]

2. happy to...

[w8liftinglady]

6. thank you-my editor prints all letters

[Canuckistanian]

3. Very good. But it's "attempted"

I have a feeling that Iraq vets are going to have huge problems, even worse than Viet Nam vets.

[w8liftinglady]

5. I know...but let's show who is really on the Vet's side

[ColbertWatcher]

7. I'm sorry I can't seem to comment on that site. Kick, already rec. n/t

[w8liftinglady]

8. you DO have to register...thanks for trying!

[ColbertWatcher]

9. I think I may have already registered.

So, it thinks I already have a password or other name.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

[w8liftinglady]

16. no prob..thank you for trying!

[w8liftinglady]

17. btw-your rating is there...your comment will be there tomorrow

[w8liftinglady]

20. and if I didn't say earlier...Thanks!!

[w8liftinglady]

10. and also-if you have registered

the editor has to approve...just to make sure there's no obscene language...it may appear tommorow..i'll post it if it is,

[w8liftinglady]

11. In case some of you don't know-my county is 75% R...

[w8liftinglady]

12. please get me on the most read and most commented page!THANKS

:yourock:

[w8liftinglady]

13. let me clarify-rate and comment at the website

my editor is a big 1st amendment proponent

[JNelson6563]

14. You go girl! I admire your determination!

You so rock! :yourock:

Julie

[w8liftinglady]

15. thank you SO much!!!

[ColbertWatcher]

18. We need a w8liftinglady in every county! n/t

[w8liftinglady]

21. thank you SO much! you WILL be printed!

[w8liftinglady]

19. thank you All so much-my editor prints all-get busy!

[w8liftinglady]

22. re-kick

[w8liftinglady]

23. so...I'll ask the sober DUers to comment-they will print all.

Thanks!

[w8liftinglady]

24. btw---i see that 124 of you have viewed....please comment!!!

[w8liftinglady]

25. so...i'll keep kicking til i pass out..love y;all

[w8liftinglady]

26. thank you all for rec;ing!I'll Keep it going as long as i can!

[w8liftinglady]

27. thanks to all DU...love y'all

[w8liftinglady]

28. i'm kicking once more...please respond!

[w8liftinglady]

29. Thank you all...please comment at site

[w8liftinglady]

30. Kicking once more!...please comment at site!

[w8liftinglady]

31. love y'all...please comment at site

[w8liftinglady]

32. Thanks,y'all..please post a comment!

[JNelson6563]

33. My comment has bee submitted

and will be posted upon approval. :hi:

Julie