There is enough sadness in the world...and there are enough tragedies that unfortunately cannot be helped. Natural disasters such as earthquakes... hurricanes...and tornadoes...cannot be prevented or stopped...once Mother Nature makes her decision to strike. And as people...we wonder why precious human lives are attacked with the devastation and destruction that can kill thousands in the blink of an eye.
But when death can be avoided...when there is no sane reason for a life to be lost...it beckons us to ask the question...how on Earth could that happen?
While our nation...and our planet...continue to suffer from hatred...acts of war and terrorism will require the United States to be on top with the best military force anywhere on the globe. So therefore...we depend on those individuals - men and women alike - who enlist in to the various branches of our armed services. These brave and courageous souls...acknowledge when they sign-up...that there is the chance...that they will find themselves on the field of battle. It, of course, is not their desire to be crawling on their bellies in a bug-infested jungle...or on the scorching sands of a hot desert...and no one considers it fun to kill another human being. But when soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors take their oaths of office...they recognize that there is always the possibility of going to war. And that before a foreign counterpart riddles an American with bullets...he or she who represents our "stars and stripes"...may need to shoot an enemy combatant dead...otherwise that adversary won't care for one moment...about ending the life of the American.
First-class training...combined with special skills, natural instincts and good luck...will help troops overseas who are serving our country...and who are fighting to save the world from the horrors of those who are evil. And please God...we pray that all who have freely volunteered to wear an American military uniform...will each return home...safe and sound to their loved ones...after performing their duties.
But as we know...not all of our "boys and girls" come back to the soils of our states...outside of a pine box. Others arrive on U.S. land...with or without a permanent injury.
When any of our "band of brothers...or sisters"...has been maimed - physically or mentally - he or she deserves to be treated with the highest caliber of quality medical attention. There are no excuses for anything less.
And even when an American does return to our shores...without a scratch...and with their mind completely focused on their future...that person will forever more be worthy of the respect...and the compassion...of someone who risked his or her life...so that we, as a nation...would be safe. Accordingly...whenever that armed forces veteran has any sort of health problem...it is the obligation of our federal government...to be absolutely certain...that he or she receives the best medical care...commensurate with someone...whose efforts helped keep our liberties and freedoms...protected and preserved.
Why am I writing today about United States veterans? Because on Sunday, August 21st, 2016...a 76-year old former Navy gunner was found dead in the parking lot of Long Island's Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Suffolk County, New York. Peter Kaisen shot himself to death. And he did so...presumably...when he was allegedly denied treatment in the emergency room of the hospital. This is an unacceptable tragedy. Friends and family have reportedly described Kaisen...who lived in Islip, New York...as a "quiet person" and a "loving father of three and grandfather of seven"... who "loved his family...and loved animals."
In addition to being outfitted in the past with a white sailor hat...Kaisen also helped others later while dressing in blue and with a badge. Newsday reports that the retired police officer's wife - Joan Kaisen - claims her husband had been suffering severe back pain...which apparently was caused by a 1960 automobile accident while in the line of duty as a cop. However...The New York Times says that two employees of the VA hospital...told the newspaper anonymously...that Kaisen was "frustrated" when he was denied the opportunity to see a doctor for mental health issues.
Meanwhile...as a result of this heart-wrenching suicide...two U.S. Congressmen are calling for a federal probe. Representative Steve Israel, a Democrat, and Representative Peter King, a Republican, sent a joint letter - on Thursday, August 25th - to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the F.B.I.... "demand(ing)" an "expeditious and transparent investigation" in to Kaisen's death. After all...as one source told The New York Times..."Someone dropped the ball. They should not have turned him away."The Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC...released data in July 2016...which reveals that an average of 20 military veterans kill themselves everyday. And a huge majority of those suicides - 65 percent - are of vets who are 50 years of age or older.
I believe all people who are ill should be provided proper healthcare. But it amazes me...that some murderers, rapists and other hardened criminals...receive better medical attention in prison...than our armed forces veterans. That is not right. That should not happen. We owe our veterans. They have sacrificed so much for us. We need to treat our vets at least as good...if not better...than convicted felons who are behind bars.
Joan Kaisen tells Newsday that doctors had recently informed her husband that there was nothing more they could do to alleviate his excruciating back pain. Could this be why Kaisen decided to take his own life? His family can only speculate. But for a man who gave so much to help others...as a Navy veteran...and as a police officer...it's a terrible shame...that somebody couldn't help him.
And that's The Controversy for today.
I'm Gary B. Duglin.
"We'll talk again."
The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.
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Photo credits: Kaisen Family and mintpressnews.com (Peter Kaisen), cnn.com and turner.com (Congressman Steve Israel) and abcnews.go.com (Congressman Peter King)
Copyright 2016 Gary B. Duglin and TheControversy.net. All Rights Reserved.
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