I hope you're all safely enjoying Memorial Day Weekend, but before you eat another burger, buy another Louis Vuitton purse on sale, or drink another beer on the beach today... I have something I need of you. If you want to REALLY thank me for my military service, you can share this little "art project" with your Battle-Buddies and get them to talk about it with their Chain of Command. E-mail it to the Army Times, even though I know they don't give a fuck about this subject and are probably sick of hearing from me about it.
UPDATE 27-MAY-2014:
Um... so it seems this post is in the process of going viral, because it got about a thousand hits in 24 hours. That's more hits in one day than ANY PREVIOUS POST I've made so far, even the ones that I've deliberately plastered on every Facebook page & trending hashtag on Twitter in the past. Wow, thanks for getting this out there, folks! PLEASE keep it up, every person that sees this is another person who might actually decide to write to their Congressman/woman or Senator, which is EXACTLY what survivors need. Remind our elected officials & military "leaders" who it is they actually work for!
BUT, I also needed a moment to address something else that came up yesterday as an immediate result of this post's sudden "popularity" because it's actually quite relevant to the timing of this whole project. There's a deliberate reason why I chose a national holiday to do this...
Please enjoy responsibly.
UPDATE 27-MAY-2014:
Um... so it seems this post is in the process of going viral, because it got about a thousand hits in 24 hours. That's more hits in one day than ANY PREVIOUS POST I've made so far, even the ones that I've deliberately plastered on every Facebook page & trending hashtag on Twitter in the past. Wow, thanks for getting this out there, folks! PLEASE keep it up, every person that sees this is another person who might actually decide to write to their Congressman/woman or Senator, which is EXACTLY what survivors need. Remind our elected officials & military "leaders" who it is they actually work for!
BUT, I also needed a moment to address something else that came up yesterday as an immediate result of this post's sudden "popularity" because it's actually quite relevant to the timing of this whole project. There's a deliberate reason why I chose a national holiday to do this...
I am so sorry this happened to you and all the other women and men in the military. There is no way to make thing "ok", but please know that you have support. I support you, I thank you. I will share your outrage. Please do not feel ashamed. You are an American Hero. - Jennifer Parnell
ReplyDeleteWe are working on this here in DC. I promise.
ReplyDeleteI WANT to believe that, I really honestly do. I don't doubt that SOME PEOPLE among the jumble-fuck that has become the V.A. or Department of Defense ACTUALLY want to see this issue taken care of properly.
DeleteUnfortunately, the sheer volume of other survivors' stories dating as far back as before I was even born show me a long-standing pattern of "yeah-yeah, we'll get to it, now go away..." statements & behavior. Surely you can understand my skepticism, but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to at least TRY and do my part to fix this.
My Ex-wife was attacked while going to school (military) at chorry field in Pensacola, Fl.. She went to the appropriate people and they declined to do anything.. they finally decided to do something once I made it known that *I* would take out the guy that attacked my wife.. well, they gave the guy a BCD.. but.. it ruined our marriage anyway.. she never recovered, never got help.. Heck, it was never offered.. And, there was this stigma that it was her fault.. This must stop folks..
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't have come to you threatening someone for something to have been done about it. To me, it sounds like the only reason hey did anything at all is because in THEIR eyes, that guy "damaged your property"
DeleteSadly, I've seen it before. I'm sorry that this has torn your family apart the way it has, I hope that things are get better for both of you.
30 years after it happened to me, and things haven't changed a bit...
ReplyDeletePretty damned disgusting!
Yikes, that's really shitty. Unfortunately, you're not the only person who has had this experience from way-back-when. This has been happening since my Dad was still in the Marine Corps back in the 70's.
DeleteSorry to hear that this happened to you. I don' t doubt your story and you are right, something needs to change and it needs to change ASAP. Memorial Day is to remember those who paid the ultimate price for our nation's freedom, to remember over 375,000 who have been killed in battle. It is not the "official beginning of summer" for those of us who remember our brothers and sisters who were lost on this day.
ReplyDeletePlease keep on with your message, it is a powerful one and needs to be heard but, you shouldn't feel like you have a right to exploit memorial day to raise awareness for this tragedy because it isn't about that either. Hope to see you and all of those who read your post contact their member of Congress to put a stop to this.
I can see why you feel that way, however please consider the fact that service-members of all branches and both sexes have either died as a direct result from being attacked (like LaVena and countless others) or committed suicide because of ensuing mental health issues.
DeleteAre they not casualties as well? Do they not deserve to be honored and remembered just the same as those who died either in battle or at their own hands?
These individuals ARE casualties of war...and the terrorists are American! They attack within the secrecy of our own military ranks. Memorial Day is the perfect day to talk about this rampant issue destroying our military.
DeleteThank you for being strong sister!
Yes, Rebecca, all the more reason why this HAS TO BE ADDRESSED as soon as possible, because if we wait for when it's "appropriate" to talk about it, we'll be waiting for even longer.
DeleteWhen people started talking about gun control right after Sandy Hook, there was a lot of backlash along the lines of "it's too soon, this is inappropriate to talk about right now." Same with the issue of military sexual assault, just because it was put out on a holiday doesn't make the issue any less significant and urgent.
I chose Memorial Day for that exact reason, "appropriate" or not, this still has to be talked about.
The first time was 1992, date rape and because there was alcohol involved I must not have been clear that it wasn't what I wanted! I became much more cautious of who was around after that but then in the future I dealt with roommates who brought back men that I didn't know to the room, weirdo military guys who thought that it would be a good idea when my roommate left to try and get physical with me but I was prepared.
ReplyDeleteIn 2000, in Saudi Arabia, - I was certain I locked my door and still someone came in. Another military member and I am still certain I locked the door so that means they had a key.
You ask, why did you stay in SO long - because outside of that, joining the military was my best option. I had an abusive alcoholic upbringing with childhood sexual abuse and nothing ever happened to them so it seemed like just more of the same in the military and something I had to deal with. Is it right, hell no! I wish I had the guts back then that you do now - God Bless You! I know, I know you are an atheist but I can't help it, I will still be praying for you and sharing your story. Although I have seriously had to think long and hard about re-posting because of the language - you sound EXACTLY like me at 23! Amazing - we both felt like we had to be bad-asses to fit in and still this happens. Praying for you!