This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.
Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.
~The Dalai Lama
I remember you, THANK you and will stand by you always.
I've grown tired of politics playing you as pawns.
I've grown tired of a small non representative nano section of my country spinning fear into hate and the majority of you and humanity feeling the sorrow.
I've grown tired of the games they are playing with every single one of your lives, well being and support.
This is not what you signed up for....fought for...and died for....
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips.
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Emma Lazarus, 1883
America was once a sanctuary for all....I will fight for your well deserved sanctuary and peace for all. Rest my friends rest.
I will not forsake you my constitution, ...this I swear unto my life...I will fight with every ounce of energy for you as you did for me.
When I signed up at 18: I took an oath to the constitution to the United States of America. I will protect you as you have protected me. I honor you my brothers & sisters in arms.
Growing up as a kid in the mid-west I always dreamed of going to The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Metropolitan Museum of Art Those completely amazing places you see on PBS and read about in school.
I remember watching the opera, symphony and thinking someday I want to hear music there! Is it better in the Kennedy Center than it is coming out of my little glowing box on my parents living room floor?
I finally got my chance to go to The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts:
First a whole lot of gratitude to some amazing people who made it happen:
Thanks to my amazing friend at KSW Connect, LLC ! Without your support (that was straight from my PBS days) made possible... Smiles!
Also, The amazing people at the Wounded Warrior Foundation. Thank you for all you do!
F. Kirk Lininger Well done Sir!
The performance:
As we stood for the National Anthem, I sang my heart out and cried (at the same part as always..."when the flag was still there" Too many memories, I would digress farther than I ever have before if we go for that one :D) as I closed my eyes after the introduction to inhale, taste, feel and hear through my entire body the beautiful music I became restro-spective once again.
They played the usual patriotic hymns:
America the Beautiful : Carol Connors (melted my senses from head to toe!) TY
God Bless America etc....
I thoughts to my self about the actual who, what, where and how those words were written and the pain,loss, hardship that the revolutionaries went through to both leave their country AND fight for some SIMPLE common grounds that the republic would hold true....
Where I was once moved by those worlds now I question them. What are we doing today to ensure those things our ancestors fought for "still ring true today".
While the performance was amazing, I was thrilled to be there and a part of such a wonderful group of people, supporting a cause I support with everything I have....
The following questions came to mind:
Why are the private citizens being asked to provide for Wonderful Amazing Warriors?
Is our Government so pathetic it is once again going to "forget" the same people that believed in that constitution and answered that wake up call of 9-11 (no matter what your believe, conspiracy theory is currently)volunteered to defend the flag that still waves? Those injured, killed, those who survive without partners, fathers, mothers etc....Like they did denying Agent Orange, or Gulf War Syndrome?
What happens to those who don't show legs blown off...those with PTSD or TBI that doesn't show up until years later.
What are the statistics on suicide? Ratio of Enlisted vs. Officer? I will never forget being told I was only a number and expendable....That attitude must change.
Are we once again waiting until the actuaries report it is in our favor to address it and then pay it lip service?
This is how our government treats its wounded warriors? Pawning off their injuries? If there is anyone more deserving of PRIORITY FIRST class treatment it is those who have served in the name of their country!
My wake up call came eight almost nine months ago...
That will be the subject of my next blog...to be released...
Until then, My kindred warriors: Your service will not go un noticed. I will not allow your sacrifices to be forgotten. The time away from your children, families, your valiant effort will not be forgotten.
I will not stand down, as you did not stand down for me. Every hurt soul I will do the best I can to make sure you are never lost, forgotten or anything I can do to aid in your effort.
Let me make this CRYSTAL clear: The way the United States Government both protects our warriors and our VETERAN POPULATION AS a WHOLE must change.
Currently HR and employers have been looking for a specific criteria to fill positions. I call it "checking the boxes". When resume's come into your system's inbox the hiring formula is spun around and spits out what it considers to be viable candidates. Then they are filtered through HR (if they make it that far to a hiring manager) who unless she/he are prior service has not been trained to make the translation from military experience into the traditional "check the box" skill set.
So with the lack of translation there is no "special value" attached to a military skill set. However, if you dig deeper what you will find that what doesn't quite articulate into the traditional box is exactly what you are looking for in an efficient, productive and loyal employee to augment the organization.
So while veterans may not look "good" on traditional paper or check the boxes it certainly doesn't mean they don't have the experience. A majority of service members have not had the time nor propensity to pay attention to water cooler gossip. They have seen and experienced and shown or driven more team work than most management teams. They have done it while in intensely stressful environments, constantly adapting and overcoming on the fly. They know how to deliver. While in service to their country no matter what their designation, most likely someone's life was or is on the line if they didn't deliver.
How does this translate into a win/win for a veteran and private sector business? Quite simply you are hiring a proven individual who is highly trained to be disciplined, flexible, focused with stamina and loyalty.
They born ready to deliver the results necessary to drive the business.
I have great hope that like Microsoft other private sector employers AND DC will understand the "lost in translation" and begin to embrace transitioning service members who don't fit into the BA, MBA, PHD, internship, Big 4 traditional Resumix algorithm. Where results oriented actually translates into Hooyah!
(Hey CodeforAmerica.org can you help with the algorithm redesign?)
