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Community involvement isn't an option, it's a necessity. Monday, November, 23, 2009
Ending Homelessness Requires Affordable Housing And Community Support Wednesday, November, 18, 2009
Word Of The Year: "Unfriend" Tuesday, November, 10, 2009
The Dishonoring Of A Nation Monday, November, 2, 2009
Want To End Homelessness? Stop Offering Homeless Support Services. Tuesday, October, 27, 2009
Are "Sleep Out For The Homeless" Events Actually Effective? Friday, October, 23, 2009
Did You Know This Was "National Character Counts Week" ?
Tuesday, November, 10, 2009
The Dishonoring Of A Nation
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson on the one year anniversary of the ending of World War I, proclaimed November 11th as Armistice Day. Today it is known as Veterans Day.
The purpose of Veterans Day is to remember and honor – both living and deceased – all those who have served in our nation's military during times of war.
As such, let us remember those who are currently in harm's way, both in Afghanistan and Iraq. But, we also mustn't forget about those who served before them.
Sadly, a sizable number of them are living on the streets of our nation's cities.
The diversity of our nation's homeless Veteran's spans several generations: from World War II through to current day military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The exact and overall number of American Veterans who are homeless is difficult to pinpoint. However, it is estimated that one in four adult homeless have served in the military.
In August of 2007, while campaigning in Kansas City, MO. for the Office of President, then Senator Obama stated,
"Keeping faith with those who serve must always be a core American value and a cornerstone of American patriotism. Because America's commitment to its servicemen and women begins at enlistment, and it must never end."
I couldn't agree more.
All the same, it seems to me that we've haven't "kept faith" with our Veterans.
How else can we account for the numbers of men and women who have served and now find themselves without a place to call home?
Too often our response has been to avert our eyes; saying that it is the government's responsibility to care for our nation's Veterans.
Yet, we seem to have forgotten one reality: the government isn't comprised of our elected representatives. The government is the People. We, the People. You and I.
That, by default, makes each and every one of us responsible for providing solutions for ending homelessness among our nation's Veterans.
It is indefensible that any one of our nation's military personnel should be homeless.
It dishonors their service to our country…
… And it belittles us, as a nation.
Posted 2009-11-10 12:32:20
A Third Wave Of Addressing Homelesness Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Civil Overestimation Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Body Found In A River Near Long Beach Friday, February 26, 2010
Nationwide Vacant Property Takeovers Throughout May 2010 Friday, April 10, 2009
Vacation Time--But Not For The Blog
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