Comments on: Vet filling out a form http://jessicarulestheuniverse.com/2008/05/07/vet-filling-out-a-form/ Twisted by Jessica Zafra - Pumping irony since 1994 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:23:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: radiohead http://jessicarulestheuniverse.com/2008/05/07/vet-filling-out-a-form/#comment-35976 radiohead Sat, 10 May 2008 19:34:56 +0000 http://jessicarulestheuniverse.com/2008/05/07/vet-filling-out-a-form/#comment-35976 I'm very curious about the answer to No. 7. According to wikipedia: <b>Of the 66 countries allied with the United States during the war, only Filipinos were denied military benefits</b>. In 2002, US Senator Daniel K. Inouye delivered a speech before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and he said "<i>As an American, I believe the treatment of Filipino World War II veterans is bleak and shameful.</i>" I hope the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007, which the U.S. Senate passed just last month, becomes law very soon. Sadly, Augusto Roa Realuyo and jediknight's father didn't live long enough to see this injustice being rectified. It's also quite tragic that our country hasn't given the Filipino veterans the respect and honor they deserved. And I don't mean the pageantry and lip service during Araw ng Kagitingan and National Heroes Day. I remember this joke made by an ROTC officer back in college. He asked: <i>Why are they called veterans?</i> The answer: <i>Because they are better runners.</i> I'm ashamed to admit that I also laughed at this mean joke. My apologies to all veterans. I realized you deserve much better. I’m very curious about the answer to No. 7. According to wikipedia: Of the 66 countries allied with the United States during the war, only Filipinos were denied military benefits. In 2002, US Senator Daniel K. Inouye delivered a speech before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and he said “As an American, I believe the treatment of Filipino World War II veterans is bleak and shameful.” I hope the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007, which the U.S. Senate passed just last month, becomes law very soon. Sadly, Augusto Roa Realuyo and jediknight’s father didn’t live long enough to see this injustice being rectified.

It’s also quite tragic that our country hasn’t given the Filipino veterans the respect and honor they deserved. And I don’t mean the pageantry and lip service during Araw ng Kagitingan and National Heroes Day. I remember this joke made by an ROTC officer back in college. He asked: Why are they called veterans? The answer: Because they are better runners. I’m ashamed to admit that I also laughed at this mean joke. My apologies to all veterans. I realized you deserve much better.

]]> By: jediknight http://jessicarulestheuniverse.com/2008/05/07/vet-filling-out-a-form/#comment-35923 jediknight Wed, 07 May 2008 02:47:10 +0000 http://jessicarulestheuniverse.com/2008/05/07/vet-filling-out-a-form/#comment-35923 My father, too, was a Death March survivor. Someone would invariably ask him about his experiences during the Death March, and he would always attempt to tell one. He could never finish even one incident, though, for he would always get choked up. He would stop talking, eyes suddenly red and swollen. No, he was not embarassed by the tears. He would just sit there, not talking, with that "thousand-yard stare." Father's unfinished stories, my older brothers called them. I used to wonder about those things; those things that happened that could still make old men cry, even after more than half a century had passed. Maybe only civilised societies could achieve that feat? My father died at the Veterans' Hospital more than a year ago. We never did hear the endings to his unfinished stories. We have an idea, though. My father, too, was a Death March survivor. Someone would invariably ask him about his experiences during the Death March, and he would always attempt to tell one. He could never finish even one incident, though, for he would always get choked up. He would stop talking, eyes suddenly red and swollen. No, he was not embarassed by the tears. He would just sit there, not talking, with that “thousand-yard stare.” Father’s unfinished stories, my older brothers called them. I used to wonder about those things; those things that happened that could still make old men cry, even after more than half a century had passed. Maybe only civilised societies could achieve that feat?
My father died at the Veterans’ Hospital more than a year ago. We never did hear the endings to his unfinished stories.
We have an idea, though.

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