The Stain of Stereotypes

Have you heard the story lately, you know, “I’m in the store behind a guy wearing $200 Air Jordan shoes, Under Armor shirt with gold and diamond bling hanging around his neck, his hat on sideways and a $500 Apple Iphone in his hand and he pays for his food with food stamps! Then he goes out and get in a Cadillac SUV!” I think we have all heard the story a hundred or maybe a thousand times. It’s my conservative friend’s favorite story. I guess it helps feed the misconception that taxpayers are footing the bill for a bunch of lazy guys who refuse to work. The truth is there may well be some folks who are abusing the system, in fact; there may be a lot of them, but you can’t believe or buy into the idea that all of the folks on welfare or some other form of public assistance are deadbeats? The overwhelming majority of people on food stamps have jobs, and work forty hours a week and because of low wages still fall below the poverty level. And just for the record the majority of folks on welfare are not minorities but white. Here is the most recent breakdown: White 38.8%, Black 37.2%, Hispanic 17.8%, Asian 2.8%, Other 3.4 (U.S. Census Department). When I look at someone using food stamps I think of the children who will eat today because of those food stamps, the child who through no fault of their own was brought into this world and deserves a good meal. There are restrictions on what can be purchased with food stamps, you can’t buy alcohol or tobacco and there is no guarantee that the food purchased will go toward feeding a hungry child, but I would rather four deadbeats defraud the government than one child go to bed hungry. Go volunteer at your local food bank or soup kitchen and see how many folks are wearing Air Jordan, or driving Cadillac SUV’s, I have, I know better, I sleep well knowing that my tax dollars are feeding the hungry and a few deadbeats.

Another Stereotype that bothers me is that all older white guys with gray hair are Tea Party Conservatives. Not true, and I wish those who have hatred to spew about our President wouldn’t be so ready to say so in my presence because I then have to correct them which often makes them look bad. I hate to have my patriotism questioned because I proudly supported President Obama’s election. I served our country for 21 years in the military across two wars and proudly fly my American Flag outside my house every day. I don’t question the patriotism of those who support an opposing view, I know they love their country, so what gives them the right to question mine. I don’t much care for those who look at me and assumes I voted for a white guy – I don’t vote based upon color but based upon who I think would best lead this great country of ours. Stereotypes are hard to overcome.

How about this for a stereotype, “You were in the military how could you support Obama?” The truth is that the military supported President Obama over Mitt Romney nearly 2:1. President Obama collected more donations from the military than Mitt Romney. While the leaders of the military try to stay well away from politics, as they should, it is clear that the rank and file military family supports the President. Of course there are some military folks who opposed President Obama’s reelection and that’s their right as long as they follow his lawful orders, they are patriots and deserve respect.

Here is one more that chaps my behind. 47% of Americans draw some sort of entitlement from the government. Well, that I guess includes my military pension and health care. Let me be clear, folks who give more than 20 years in the military aren’t entitled to anything, they have earned every penny. I gave more of me to this country than I am willing to tell people, and some have given even more. The American people hired me as part of the all volunteer force. Their sons and daughters didn’t have to serve because I did. My family sacrificed because of my service, the $22,000 a year I receive in military retirement is a small price to pay for your freedom. The same is true for those who receive VA benefits and disabilities from military service. Mitt Romney has five sons none of whom have served how dare he include me in his 47% remark. Stereotypes, you see, can be hurtful as well

There are so many stereotypes that people like to apply I find it better to judge a person buy what they do rather than what they look like or where they work.

Picking on Those Who Served?

For 21 years 6 months and 3 days I gave up many of my rights
– when national disaster struck I was called to serve others while my family
had to fend for themselves – I missed Christmas’ with my family, countless
birthdays, graduations, weddings, births, and funerals. For 21 years 6 months,
and 3 days I worked for pay that was considered below the national poverty
level, my family was eligible for food stamps for more than half of my military
career. I worked days-on-end without a break, without sleep, and without
weekends….. For 21 years 6 months, and 3 days – I lived where I was told to
live, I moved when I was told to move, I spent years away from my family, I ate
things some would not feed their animals. I was given experimental vaccines and
had no right to refuse, I was subjected to chemicals, and radiation some would
consider a health hazard. I comforted a crying wife over the phone because I
couldn’t be there to hold her, I slept on the ground or propped up against a
tree, I relieved myself in a hole in the ground. I sat in a bunker as enemy
missiles screamed overhead, people tried to kill me frequently because of the
uniform I wore. My children grew up surrounded by men with machine guns who
were there to protect them. While my friends back home bought houses, invested
in education, and live a life, I chose to serve my country. I am not bitter over opportunities lost, over time lost, or over the stability that civilian life afforded. I was and am proud that I served my country, served during Vietnam, serving for more than a year during combat operations in Iraq, coming to the aid of civilians during floods in Colorado, Earthquakes in Southern California, and Hurricanes in South Carolina. I am not bitter that my wife was afraid to answer a phone for more than a year of her life for fear of what she would be told. I wouldn’t trade a single minute of a single day. Why, because if I hadn’t served someone else would have to serve in my place. I didn’t ask for parades, medals, certificates, or national holidays to celebrate my sacrifices because others in uniform sacrificed even more. My country promised me a few basics if I served – low pay but pay for life if I gave the bulk of my youth and vigor to defending my country. Medical care for life because a military career takes a toll on a person’s health, a good education after my service and sacrifice were no longer needed and a small piece of dirt where I could rest with my wife after this life on earth is over.
Yesterday, while refusing to consider a 1% tax increase for the richest
people in the world, yesterday Republicans and a few democrats on the armed
services committee voted to reduce entitlements to military retirees. Firstly,
I am not entitled to anything – I earned those benefits - . Sen. John McCain
led his committee to vote for increases in what we pay for healthcare, for
prescriptions, and to reduce veteran’s benefits. I know we are in a tough time
in this country and once again I am willing to sacrifice for the good of my
country but why are the middle classes the only ones doing the sacrificing? Why
pick on those who have served, and protected this country? I am at a loss as to
where our country is heading. I don’t give a damn if you are a democrat or a
republican…… making military retirees pay the price so lobbyists and the rich
can pay less is simply wrong!!!!!! Please raise hell and let your congressman
hear your voices……..