JOHN CANNON

“Dead man down in the middle of the road”
This refers to my black brothers and sisters who live in a whole other world that most of us whites just cannot understand.  As can be seen by the current political season, we have a long way to go in order to put society in a better place and grow the potential that exists in us all.  
 
“More children died at school today.”
It wasn’t that long ago, probably less than a generation, when that would have be a shocking statement and been met with “accident, health problem?”  But no!  Kids now have to worry about getting shot in school.  Then you hear if we only had MORE guns this could have been stopped.  Insanity personified.
 
“Families working hard can’t make ends meet.”
This hits home for me.  Some folks are working three jobs at minimum wage and that still doesn’t cut it!  Then to add insult to injury these asshole Republicans cut food stamps.  
 
“30,000 dead a year ‘cause they can’t see a doctor.”
There’s much talk about health care these days and I personally agree with those who say it is a ‘right’ and should be provided for everyone free, as it is in most industrialized nations.  Then we have the less covered subject of the homeless, millions of which are children, in the richest country in the world.
 
 
“Over-deployed, PTSD denied.”
In World War II a soldier could usually be expected to do as much as two tours in combat locations.  After that it was totally voluntary as to whether you would go back.  There was no disrespect or peer pressure if you didn’t take that third tour.  Your fellow soldiers were happy for you. 
 
But now, we have an over-stressed volunteer military and many of those soldiers joined just to have a job, feed their families and to further their education when discharged.
 
But now, there are soldiers serving as many as eight (8, yes 8) combat deployments.  Then, when they finally do get home they get subjected to a degrading system of diagnosis denial.
 
For God’s sake I have a degree of PTSD syndrome from my own life, but these guys are the real deal and don’t deserved to be fucked around.
 
And so, here we are in 21st Century America.  If ever there was a time for change, this is it.