Independence Day Weekend

Celebrate Independence Day, then join Howard Phillips @Ride4USA on 5 July at @ThunderTowerHD in Columbia, SC to support @wwp

Suicides by military veterans

“Every day, approximately 22 American veterans commit suicide totaling over 8,000 veteran suicides each year.”  Senator John McCain statement on the floor of the U.S. Senate 3 February 2015 on the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act.”

Contemplating 8,000 veterans committing suicide per year is shocking, unfathomable, and disturbing.  The oft repeated number of 22 suicides per day comes from a chart titled “Estimated Number of Veteran Suicides per day by Year” for 2010 in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) “Suicide Data Report, 2012” that was based on an “overview of data obtained from the State Mortality Project, Suicide Behavior Reports for Fiscal Years 2009-2012, and Veterans Crisis line.”  As shocking, unfathomable, and disturbing as the numbers present themselves on the surface, the number of suicides by military veterans may be even greater.

As Alan Zarembo wrote in the Los Angeles Times on 14 January 2015, caution should be used when considering the report, because the data was based on a sample of only 21 states; data is absent from states with significant veteran populations (California, Georgia, Arizona, and North Carolina); and on many death certificates, veteran status was not indicated, as displayed in a chart titled “Percentage of Suicides Identified as Veteran on Death Certificate.”  Adding to Zarembo’s cautions, it should be noted the report relied heavily upon those veterans utilizing the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and not other services.

Looking at veterans in California, on 20 March 2013 Rebecca Blanton of the California Research Bureau testified before a Joint Hearing of the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs and Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development that California had approximately 1.9 million veterans, the largest veterans population of any state, with 1 million being over the age of 60.  As of 2012, Blanton testified to the following veteran populations in southern California counties: Los Angeles – 323,431; San Diego – 222,348; and Orange – 132,529, totaling more than 678,000 veterans. Interestingly, the above VA report has as one main finding that “more than 69% of Veteran suicides are among those age 50 years and older.”  Contrasted with this number are the figures from the January 2014 briefing by Janet Kemp of the Veterans Health Administration titled “Suicide Rates in VHA Patients through 2011 with Comparisons with Other Americans and Other Veterans Through 2010,” which indicated the following increases in suicide rates per 100,000 by age group over the period 2009-2011: ages 18-29 increased from 40.3 to 57.9; ages 18-24 increased from 46.1 to 79.1; and ages 25-29 increased from 37 to 48.3 per 100,000.

 

Whatever the numbers from the 2012 VA report, it was prepared absent California data.  If San Diego County was home to over 222,000 veterans in 2012 that were not included in the VA report, it may be reasonable to assume the local veteran population is actually higher now, based on the reduction in the active duty force resulting in many sailors and Marines remaining in the local area after being discharged.  Therefore, with the concentration of military veterans in our region, a population not included in the VA report, the local problem of suicides by those who have served our country may be even greater than that addressed by Senator McCain and others.  

Shocking, unfathomable, and disturbing.

12,000 miles to say thank you

One man can make a difference  

 

14 June 2015 - San Diego

"90% of the nation never served in the military and 100% should be thankful" for the freedoms and way of life that our active duty and veterans have ensured we enjoy.  We should all do something tangible to show our appreciation.  Well said, Howard Phillips. One guy on a bike traveling 12,000 to say thank you.

Howard Phillips (on the left) shakes the hand of "New York Myke" Shelby of San Diego Harley Davidson at the Moreno Boulevard location on 14 June, prior to Howard leading a group of riders on this leg of his mission to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.  San Diego Harley Davidson hosted Phillips this morning and served as the rally point for the riders who turned out in support.

When Shelby was asked why San Diego Harley was hosting this event, he highlighted the relationship between Harley Davidson and the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).  As a Vietnam veteran, he also said it is important to embrace our young veterans, particularly those who have been injured.  Citing the oft reported figured of 22 veteran suicides happening every day, Shelby emphasized that there are invisible wounds, as well as the visible wounds the current generation are bringing home.  After meeting with some of the WWP alumni, defined as those who went to war and came back, Shelby found supporting Phillips to be a good way to provide some visibility on the support WWP provides.

For his part, Phillips is not a veteran.  In fact, he self-describes as "just a regular guy," one of the 90% who never served in uniform.  A regular guy who spoke of love of his family, pride in his country, and recognition that his good life is due to the sacrifices of our military.  Seeking to develop a sense of pride and appreciation for this in his fellow citizens, he hopes to have 1,000 people each donate $1 for each year of their age to support WWP.  He is giving up two months of his life to ride the four corners of the nation, visiting 50 cities and leading 10 participation rides in support of his goal.

One man, a regular guy, a patriot, riding a motorcycle around the country to help others recognize and appreciate our military, by doing something tangible to express their appreciation, and at the same time raise some funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.

As he led the riders out of the San Diego Harley Davidson parking lot this Sunday, Phillips is doing something, not merely talking about it.  One man CAN make a difference.

What do they have in common?

What do Brian Williams and Hillary Clinton have in common?  Distill it down to one word, which shouldn't take too long.  

Embellishment.
Aggrandizement.
Promotion.
Inflation.
Misrepresentation.
Glorification.
Exaggeration.
Hyperbole.
Dishonesty.
Unethical.
Prevarication.
Duplicitous.
Mendacious.
Deceit.
Dishonorable.
Deceptive.
Insincere.

After looking at this list of words, it occurs that some may be a bit tough on Williams.

Unworthy

To those concerned about Hillary Clinton's pursuit of the presidency, because of the "it's time for a woman president," perhaps such concern is misplaced.

Some compare 2015 to 2007, when a charismatic young black man began his run for the presidency.  In making the comparison, the concerned offer that people will vote for Clinton simply because it is viewed as "time to elect a woman president," just as they assume Obama became president because it was "time to elect a black president."  Maybe.  But there is a major difference between 2007-08 and 2015-16.

Obama had done nothing.  He had been a community organizer.  He taught law school.  He was a state legislator who voted "present" more often than not.  He was a first term senator with virtually nothing on his resume.  Because of the wholesale lack of experience, there were no major decisions to criticize, no errors in judgment upon which to capitalize, no senior legislative actions to dissect, no failures to dig up, and no tough votes to analyze.  Unlike Clinton, Obama was allowed to run solely on charisma and vague promises of hope and change, not on any record.

Clinton, on the other hand, has a record decades long that will be examined in minute detail.  This examination will include looking at sleazy financial dealings while Secretary of State, lying about landing under fire in Bosnia, Whitewater, email server, Benghazi, her record as a senator, her time as First Lady, supporting the likes of Anthony Weiner, paying female staffers less than male staffers, staying with a philandering husband, lavish lifestyle, inauthentic actions, general hypocrisy, reset with Russia, and many, many other areas.  Such examination will not be kind to her, because of her checkered, questionable, and failed history.  In other words, her record will be seen to be negative.  

With the inevitable negatives arising from the examination, can her campaign survive and succeed based on charisma that wins over the electorate?  The short answer is a resounding no.  Her grating personality, propensity for lying, aloofness, distrust of the media, reported vindictiveness, and very apparent sense of self importance and entitlement disqualify any personality based campaign.

So the "it's time to elect a woman" will fail, not because a woman can not or should not be president, but because Hillary Clinton is unworthy of being elected president.

Bikers and patriotism

With the (seemingly never ending) political season gearing up, images of politicians and motorcycles (most notably Harley-Davidsons) are being seen more and more.  For example, former Texas Governor Perry.

Or Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst.

There is something quintessential about the motorcycle and our unique brand of American patriotism.  The American spirit of independence and freedom, as Governor Perry described at a motorcycle event supporting wounded warriors, "What a great day this morning was — out there on a Harley-Davidson, riding by the heartland of America," Perry said.  "That is what America's all about.  Living freedom, riding free."

It is therefore not at all surprising that conservative politicians are those participating in motorcycle events or associating with bikers.  The ideals important to bikers are those of  conservative America. Individual freedom.  Small government.  Patriotism.  Supporting our military.  Individual responsibility.  Sanctity of the family and family values.  Strong individual work ethic.

Sure, at times some from the left have attempted to cash in on the biker mystique, such as John Kerry when he was running for president.  (Note the unambiguously unsafe status...no helmet, riding in chinos and a dress shirt, etc.)  But they just can not pull it off.

Bikers are far more likely to be solid American patriots, military veterans, conservatives, hard working, family oriented, and believers in those values that make America the greatest country in the world.  They are far more likely to love their country.

It will be instructive to watch who bikers support during this (seemingly never ending) political season.  It will also be instructive to see how those on the left play to or interact with biker patriots.  Bill and Hillary won't be riding a Harley to a BBQ any time soon.  Not just because they can't, but because they don't believe in the America in which bikers live and work, because they don't believe in the values bikers hold as crucial.  And because of their disdain for the military.

Count me as a military veteran, biker, and American patriot.

Mandatory service in the Armed Forces

After sharing some time over a cup of coffee with an Iraq war veteran today, I am reminded of the tenuous connection between America and the men and women who serve it in her military.  Issues and matters of concern to veterans, young and old alike, just do not seem to rise to the level of demanding national consciousness.  Similarly, the hawkish members of both political parties all too often speak of "boots on the ground" without fully realizing the implications of their comments.  And during budget discussions, we read and hear far too much about "cost savings" that will place a burden on the backs of those who serve, particularly the junior enlisted.

With roughly one-half of one percent of the national population actually serving in the Armed Forces, it is small wonder the above are encountered.  It is far too easy to glibly offer this or that comment or recommendation, when it is not based on personal knowledge or even awareness.  Self appointed experts, particularly on the left, offer nonsense with smug self assurance they know what must be done.  The problem is, they have no knowledge upon which to base their comments.  They are so far removed from those who are and have served in uniform, it is ridiculous.  And in the absence of the draft, the potential for a truly representative cross section of Americans erving in uniform is exceptionally low.  Law makers, with rare exception, have no personal experience in uniform.

And yet the law makers attempt to convince us that they know what is best.  They are no more qualified to speak of defense and national security matters than I am to speak of rocket science.  Most dangerously, this absence of knowledge and experience comes to mind when sabers are rattled and use of military force is debated.

Whether it is a president who abhors all things military, except when it is convenient to put military officers on display as potted plants surrounding the first lady during her participation in a entertainment awards broadcast, or members of congress who blithely opine about the merits of war fighting, the absence of real experience is damaging to the national debate.

Were it possible, I would wave the proverbial magic wand and enact an iron clad amendment to the Constitution that requires all those elected or appointed to elective federal office and cabinet secretariats to have honorably served for a minimum period of three years active duty in the Armed Forces.  Then and only then would it be acceptable for members of the "ruling elite" to comment about matters and concerns of interest to veterans, let alone contemplate authorizing the use of military force.     

Ride supporting the Wounded Warrior Project

At noon on 14 June, a ride starts from San Diego Harley Davidson in support of the Wounded Warrior Project.