Manns Medium

  The movie “Mending the Line” is a story about a Marine wounded in Afghanistan who is sent to a V.A. facility in Montana where he meets a Vietnam Vet who teaches him how to fly fish as a way of dealing with his emotional and physical trauma. The films director is Joshua Caldwell, writer Stephen Camelio and stars Brian Cox, Patricia Heaton, and Perry Mattfeld. Now when I saw the trailer, I was a little apprehensive about watching the movie because lately it seems that almost anything sends me back to my time in the Marines and host of unreconciled feelings as well as a few more nightmares but this one was different.   It showed true emotions and feelings as well as top notch action and drama, but the overall ending result was a massive feeling of joy and happiness that could never be explained or put into words. I am not about to sit here and try and tell you the entire movie because there is no way that I could capture the beauty and satisfying mark it will leave on you. ...

The recent stories about the long wait veterans have to endure to see a doctor for the first time and the possible loss of life because of this wait is nothing new to veterans and those trapped within this system.  For some they are quick to blame this administration for these stories but if they do a little research, they may learn that this has been an on-going problem since the  Reagan  Era if not further back.  So let’s not get lazy and ask only those veterans we know or the new breed of veteran, ask those who have been sitting in VA facilities for years.  The issue should be if this time will be treated as those times were.  A major story for a few months then as another shiny object appears, becomes just another whisper in the back drop.  You see, stories that sell papers may be the objective but to those veterans trapped in this maze, it is a little more than that, it’s a matter of life or death. I believe it was Montel Williams who suggest...

Some time ago, I solicited from the Department of Veterans Affairs disability income for which I had honestly believed that I had earned but like many veterans who has to endure the decision of those who may have never served a day or only have this position of authority because they knew someone or their parents knew someone, I got a letter that truly made me sick to my stomach.  Apparently there needs to be a large paper trail in order to get the benefits earned after service.  Now none of this is explained to you before you sign on the dotted line and just how many are they expecting to think that far ahead when signing up for military service.  For many of us, the thought of not returning home is the primary concern not that after we do our time we have cataloged the necessary documents to get awarded our benefits.  And it surprises so many that veteran suicides are so high and tempers are so short.  Imagine being told that all this awaits you after your se...

It never ceases to amaze me how some can love money so much that they are willing to take advantage of anyone and everyone they can to reach their goal of bathing themselves in green.  The worst part is those they set their sights on are normally those who have done them no harm.  Many people say that terrorism is the ability to stop the regular activities of citizens and robbing them of a sense of security.  According to Mr. Curtis L. Coy, Deputy under Secretary for Economic Opportunity, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, his department “has recently been notified of potential fraudulent attempts to contact Veterans using VetSuccess.gov.  These individuals may be operating under company names such as Auto-Desk, Venus Remedies, or Aesculap Implant Systems.  Be aware that these are potential fake inquiries, and you should not communicate with or send any information to these individuals.”  He warns all vete...

To a journalist, commentator pundit and reporter, the word is how much money it takes to win an election and the Democrats are having a fit about how much more money will be used in these upcoming elections to get their voices in the public.   They look at the recent Supreme Court over-reaching decision in the “Citizens United” case where they deem corporation people.   Talk about worshipping a golden image. Well when it comes to the presidential election there is a way to beat this monster called money and it is as simple and as plain as the nose on your face.   It’s making one commercial which will not only make the many being created from your opposition obsolete. The argument from the Republicans is that President Obama’s policies are not working and killing business, so to make that lie obstinate create a commercial that repeat these lines.   So when they say that my policies don’t work, ask them about the Auto Bailout. When they say that I don’t ...