I am a Veteran (SHARE)

I wrote this letter as a form of protest.  Veterans have a louder voice than any others who could be out there protesting, and it is time for us as a whole to use that voice to make a statement.  This letter can be printed out and mailed or emailed out to EVERYONE... Representatives and Senators in Congress, the President, news organizations, posted on Facebook, everywhere.  And I highly suggest for people to add to it if they would like, as it will only raise the volume of our collective voice. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

I am a United States Veteran.

I invaded Iraq despite my misgivings about your rationale for war.

I continued to fight well beyond even though I knew it was wrong, as I began to suspect that my blood, sweat, and tears were being used to further corporate interests and American greed.

I honored my country and my flag in far flung destinations around the world, despite our country’s policy of indefinite detention and the horrors of Guantanamo Bay.

After my service ended I crossed my fingers that my service connected medical issues would be taken care of, only to learn that it was a futile gesture.

I was shocked and utterly disappointed by our country’s continued aggression across the world and our complete ignorance of the problems we faced in our own borders.

I stood up against injustice when my fellow citizens and veterans were attacked in towns across America for taking to the streets (under their constitutional rights!) to protest against plutocracy and corruption.

I am tired of being used by politicians to further their own ends.

I am tired of watching as other public servants (police) are being used as mercenaries to eliminate the constitutional rights of my fellow Americans.

I am sick of choosing between one corporate funded politician and another who is doing the same.

I’m sick of hearing news pundits attack protestors for camping (saying that it is illegal), while it is oddly ok for people to camp out for weeks for SNL tickets a mere few blocks away.

I’m tired of money being the sole prerequisite people need to run for office.

I’m tired of our men and women in uniform having to give up their lives for nothing, and for their benefits being withheld from them when they return.

The era of vultures is over. We will no longer stand idly by while you privatize our commons. We will not stand by while you take away everything from us in an effort to make more money for your corporate sponsors. We will not stand by and allow you to attack citizens of this country for having the guts to stand up to this faulty system. Your time is over. You’ve had decades, and you have done nothing but further your own ends while trampling over the carcass of your citizens.

You have one chance.

Stand up. DENY the corporate interests their pound of flesh. Make decisions that will actually benefit your constituents and do what you were hired to do. The time for change is now.

Sincerely,

~The veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan~