A Little Label Says So Much

From My Blog


Someone dear to me is in constant severe pain and can no longer walk for any distance without using a cane. The Veterans Hospital graciously gave him a cane, which is the only real support they have given him though he has some very serious service related illnesses that have brought him to this degree of disability as a result of a war he fought bravely and well.

It seems that war injuries and disabilities aren’t very important and there are over a million cases still backlogged. Makes you wonder if anyone associated with the Veteran’s claims process is really doing their job and if they aren’t why doesn’t the government hire someone who will.

Anyway, back to the cane. It’s a very basic type of cane. Four parts to it. Two metal poles that slide and lock into place for the proper length for the person using the cane. A vinyl tip that touches the floor, a vinyl handle for the hand. I was looking at it closely and found a manufacturers tag pasted on the side and guess what it said…..”Made In China”

Now that might not seem too offensive to a lot of people but it made my blood boil and my tears fall. Our government seems to do everything it can to cheat disabled Vets out of their rightful benefits. But they send billions of dollars overseas to disadvantaged people and they give billions of dollars of contracts to foreign countries.

Canes for Veterans, made in China! Even a Veteran who can’t walk or stand too long without a cane or walker, even an amputee or wheelchair bound Vet could sit at a table and make those simple canes for Vets. Even a Vet not coping too well with his world because of PTSD or a Vet with neurological or brain disorders could make those canes. But no, our government would rather pay the Chinese and let our Vets live in poverty waiting for those million cases ahead of them to be decided.

Just a simple cane with a little label on it but that label spoke volumes about betrayal and non priorities.

When they are in the war zone our troops are being told how valuable they are and when they come home they are just human trash and I guess the Vets. Administration is confident they won’t have to pay all those million claims because many of those Veterans are going to die from their disabilities and the load of worry on their shoulders before their claims ever get to the top of the list.

Maybe the Chinese would do a better job taking care of the backlog of Vet claims, since they are so proficient at making canes. Maybe our government should ask the Chinese to enlist and fight its wars because our government seems to believe they are better at cane making than American citizens or Veterans would be.

I guess perhaps you're thinking “She’s so Angry!” And you’d be right because I am angry and If you aren’t why aren’t you?


10/26/2009