2004 Soap Box Archives

Responsibility Overdue 06/07/04

The argument over the effects of Agent Orange on the troops who served in Vietnam has been going on since the war ended. There’s nothing new about it.

Unfortunately there is also nothing new about the U.S. government and most especially the Veteran’s Administrations failing to accept responsibility for putting the victims of Agent Orange (I’m told that there are 15 chemicals in that group) in harm’s way.

Agent Orange has wreaked havoc on the health of too many Vietnam Vets and now it’s high time that we took care of the myriad of health problems that these chemicals have caused.
These men served our nation honorably and should be treated in an honorable way.

Cancer, birth defects and heart problems are just a few of the catastrophic results of being exposed to Agent Orange.

Before anything can be done about it they have to admit that
the problems of the veterans exposed to Agent Orange were indeed caused by the chemicals. There is adequate proof in the ranks of our veterans, not to mention the long-term effects to the people of Vietnam.

It is a national disgrace for the government of the country they so valiantly fought for to allow these veterans to suffer for something they had no control over and no idea of what the effects of being exposed to Agent Orange would have on them and generations of their offspring.

There are sick people out there, people who did their duty and are being ignored for the simple reason that Veteran’s Affairs will not accept the voluminous research and case studies available to them, which proves that Agent Orange had a horrible residual effect on thousands of our Vietnam vets.

It’s time, no it’s way past time to rectify this situation.

How can we in good conscience send men and women to war and
deny them the medical care they need to repair the injuries they
suffer in battle?

Everybody knows that this is totally unfair, totally wrong and totally unacceptable. We owe these people big time. They put their lives on the line for us.

President Bush should lead the charge followed by the leaders of both the House and the Senate. It should be unanimous, no partisan politics, no individual trying to get credit. That time is long gone. These people are suffering, their families are suffering and every day we waste costs lives.
I am going to write letters to all the legislative representatives
for the state I live in asking their immediate attention to this matter.

I invite you to join me.

The American military motto is “No one left behind.” Let’s live up to the motto. Please don’t leave these patriots behind.

Pray for our troops.

What do you think?

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

 

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