tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34799621.post902945017677056589..comments2023-10-08T02:00:27.178-07:00Comments on It Doesn't Take a Genius: Kate Thorntonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16449435177807306686noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34799621.post-74653919734141327422007-08-20T08:26:00.000-07:002007-08-20T08:26:00.000-07:00Thank you so much for your kind and understanding ...Thank you so much for your kind and understanding words.<BR/><BR/>I am Kate's brother, Bill. I am Chairman and Coordinator of South West Arizona Stand Down, a non-profit Association of veterans and thier families who care for veterans in need and homeless veterans of Yuma, LaPaz and Mohave Counties in Arizona. Each year in March we have a three day Class A Stand Down Event wherein we provide services and resources for these vets that they might improve the quality of thier lives. It's quite a large event for only being three years old. We're involved in a new project called CAMP ALPHA wherein we will establish a 30 acre permanent home for these veterans.<BR/>We're currently in negotiations with BLM for the land, and State Senator Amanda Aguirre, Congressman Raul Grijalva and Representative Lynne Pancrazi all of Yuma, are helping us to make this a reality. Please feel free to come spend a few days with our vets, or visit a Stand Down in your area. There are over 200 such events nation-wide.<BR/><BR/>This just in: The US Department of Veterans Affairs has no provisions for hospice for the over 90,000 veterans dying in America of terminal conditions.<BR/>Most of these conditions are service-connected, and these vets are mostly dying in VA facilities which are under-staffed, under-funded, and have poorly trained staff working for meager wages.<BR/>Doesn't it seem our vets deserve better? Can you go to a VA hospital and hold a lonely dying vet's hand in his final moments?<BR/>Could you show him that much respect? Imagine the feeling you'd carry for the rest of your own life.forthevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735283477094164067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34799621.post-27571337700936131212007-08-17T14:26:00.000-07:002007-08-17T14:26:00.000-07:00Hi, Stacia! Nice to see you - Thank you for the k...Hi, Stacia! Nice to see you - Thank you for the kind words. And Happy Birthday to all who share that mid-August time!Kate Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16449435177807306686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34799621.post-71038887596739337072007-08-17T14:00:00.000-07:002007-08-17T14:00:00.000-07:00Happy birthday Bill! What a lovely essay.The 15th ...Happy birthday Bill! What a lovely essay.<BR/><BR/>The 15th was my grandfather's birthday, and it's my niece's too.Staciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07969399927758009095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34799621.post-71537610276270355082007-08-16T06:51:00.000-07:002007-08-16T06:51:00.000-07:00DMH - thank you for your kind words, and many than...DMH - thank you for your kind words, and many thanks to your father.<BR/><BR/>Bernita - I think you have it exactly, and the very core of being able to enact violence on other human beings of all kinds depends on de-humanization. And thank you and yours, too.Kate Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16449435177807306686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34799621.post-79180958058117061032007-08-16T02:58:00.000-07:002007-08-16T02:58:00.000-07:00I sometimes blame this neglect on an attitude whic...I sometimes blame this neglect on an attitude which begins with a certain dehumanizing of soldiers - they are "cannon fodder" ( that archaic term is still in use) or they must have some violent gene as war lovers.<BR/>Freedom is never free.<BR/>Thank you, Kate.<BR/>I have two in uniform.Bernitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264585685253812090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34799621.post-28973869073704793802007-08-15T19:17:00.000-07:002007-08-15T19:17:00.000-07:00My father was a vet (noncombat). I wanted you to k...My father was a vet (noncombat). I wanted you to know how moving your brother's words were.Danette Haworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13220718895967380788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34799621.post-88949180171640713642007-08-15T12:09:00.000-07:002007-08-15T12:09:00.000-07:00Sue Ann! How nice to hear from you! Thanks for you...Sue Ann! How nice to hear from you! Thanks for your nice words, and thanks to your brother, too. Hugs & kisses!Kate Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16449435177807306686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34799621.post-89763065465894447542007-08-15T12:07:00.000-07:002007-08-15T12:07:00.000-07:00One of the bests posts on the web. My brother is a...One of the bests posts on the web. My brother is also a Viet Nam vet on disability.Sue Ann Jaffarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984054116933714621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34799621.post-69997590930951894552007-08-15T09:58:00.000-07:002007-08-15T09:58:00.000-07:00And thank you for serving, too Vic - and for repri...And thank you for serving, too Vic - and for reprinting my brother's words in your blog. I really liked your suggestions about required reading!Kate Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16449435177807306686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34799621.post-76687175592114236492007-08-15T09:57:00.000-07:002007-08-15T09:57:00.000-07:00Thanks for you and Bill for letting another proud ...Thanks for you and Bill for letting another proud vet reprint his words.Vic Burtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10355804791335643290noreply@blogger.com