This is in response to an article written by Tiffany Willis.
The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act?was?named in honor of former Marine Clay Hunt, who dedicated his life to serving others long after leaving his beloved Corps. However, he sadly still became a casualty in an invisible war — a war myself and countless veterans fight long after we come home.
It is a war we often fight alone. The war is against an enemy called Post Traumatic Stress. It attacks us in many ways, but most commonly and not limited to nightmares, flashbacks, disturbing thoughts, mood swings, depression, panic attacks, emotional shut down, substance abuse, insomnia, anxiety, and hyper-vigilance. Living with these symptoms is often? too much to handle. Suicide and overdoses are how it kills.
Furthermore, our relationships, our families, our careers, and our physical health are all too often casualties of this silent war we fight daily. I know because I fight it too. Everyday is still a battle, though my symptoms have calmed down greatly due to my faith in God, therapy, and my deep affinity for writing.
However, I know I am fortunate enough to have a viable support network, stable housing, stable income, and reside in an urban area where care is easily accessible with an availability of additional resources to supplement where VA care is lacking. Many veterans are not as fortunate, for whatever reason. Thats where this bill comes in. It helps close the gaps in the VA system and creates additional resources within it that could save countless lives. Needless to say, it has a ton of bipartisan support.
Unfortunately, it has yet to become law. Why? Because of a certain spiteful overgrown petulant child posing as a senator named Tom Coburn. Watch this video.
When I saw the video of him blocking this bill, I had to with every ounce of willpower and self-control in me avoid punching a hole in my computer screen. Tom, there are things you just don’t do in life. You don’t screw over our Troops. Especially not just to play politics. There? are some things that are sacred. Some things are above politics. Senator, you are scum. The text book definition of a low-life. Until you have picked up a rifle and been to the front? line shut your hole and let this thing pass.
To the family of Clay Hunt, my prayers are with you and everyone here at liberalamerica.org ?is with you on getting this bill passed. Hang in there. Clay, my brother. Rest well. Your fight is over.
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David Christopher is a veteran, proud liberal, and a New Jersey native. He served as an Infantryman in the U.S. Army and is a PTS and MST survivor. David is a devout Episcopal, a feminist, sex positive, and a strong supporter of LGBT rights. The only strong hatreds he has are toward the Boston Red Sox, The New England Patriots, and The New York Rangers.
