Struggling Veterans

I spent some time thinking about what I was going to write about this week.  In observance of Memorial Day, I decided I would give my "two cents" on issues that are important to my community, the veteran community.  Although this is not a mainstream blog, and will not touch even a percentage of people, I hope those of you who do read it will take the most out of this post.  Dedicated to Sgt. Taurean Harris, Killed in Action: August 2, 2008; Foward Operating Base Kalagush, Afghanistan.

Every now and then, you come across an individual who is just naturally a good hearted person.  Someone who can bring to light the most negative situations.  A true soilder, a loving father, and a great friend.  Honestly, a person like this comes few and far in between.  It was an honor just to know him, and a greater privledge to have served with him.  Sgt. Harris was taken from this earth far to early, but he died just how he lived, in the service to others.  In the end, he was the one who died so that four others could live.

The label hero is thrown around these days way to often.  We are called heros for just serving our country.  I will be the first one to admit, I am no hero.  I am a man who decided to serve his country multiple times without the intention of recieving any special treatment.  It was something I believed in, and something that I will be forever proud of, but my actions were not the actions of a hero.  They were the actions of an individual who fought for a cause and something they felt as the right thing to do.  I'm sure if you ask many veterans, they will tell you the same thing, but they will be able to telll you  a story of a real hero.  My story is about Sgt. Taurean Harris.

The injuries of battle are not always physical.  Many veterans struggle with the emotional woulds of war.  We think of ourselves as tough and strong, and avoid any treatment options that are provided for us.  The grim reality is that Post Traumatic Stress is real, and causes massive damage to our lives.  After my deployments, I became a severe alcoholic and cocaine addict.  This is, unfortunatley, what many of us do.  We "numb" ourselves with these stimulants, and pretend that we are fine.  Often this is our cry for help, even if we do not realize it.  More often then not, these crys go unheard, and we fade away into the darkness of society. It is clearly evident with the countless number of homeless Vietnam veterans, and you can start to see it with the Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom veterans.

My story is one with a happy ending.  After years of abuse, I seeked the treatment that was offered, and took advantage of my benifits.  I strive for a life, that just a year ago seemed unattainable.  However, the emotional toll will never completely be gone.  I think back at my time spent in Afghanistan, and Iraq.  Some good, alot bad, but experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today.  I close my eyes from time to time, and can visualize the firefights and explosions clear as day.  On the better days, I see a Spades game going on, with a familiar smile and laugh, and his catch phrase "cut the malarkey."

Sgt. Harris, you are gone, but never forgotten.  Rest in Piece Brother  

And The People Have Spoken...Leave Medicare Alone!!!

Regardless if you are a Democrat, or Republican, you have to be amazed at the special election yesterday held in New York's 26 Congressional District.  Democrats argue that it was a victory for medicare, and the Republicans say it was the "scare tactics" used by the Democrats.  Whatever the case may be, let us look at the facts.  Christopher Lee (R) won 74% of the vote over Philip Fedele (D) just six months ago.  In Tuesdays election, Kathy Hochul (D) won 47% of the vote over Jane Corwin (R) who took 43%.  How is it possible for that big of swing in just six months?  There are many different ideas floating around, but the way I see it, people have had enough.  Jane Corwin had said she would vote yes on Paul Ryan's Budget Plan that would kill Medicare.  Once that relationship was made, her standings in the polls started to diminish, and even as she tried to distance herself from the proposal, her defeat was imminent.  If you look at the history of New York 26, Hochul is only the sixth Democrat to win that seat, compared to the 23 Republicans who have held it, since 1853.  To say it was a Red District would not do it justice.  In closing, I will leave it with this.  You can form whatever conclussions you care to on the "why it happened", but do you really have to ask?  If you cannot see that the answer is infront of you, then maybe the rapture did occur, and instead of taking everyone's soul, it took your common sense.



Sources of Information

http://www.politicsdaily.com/tag/Chris%20Lee/

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=412291

http://newyork.onpolitix.com/pages/247/u.s.-house-district-26-special-election-results

The Youth of the Nation

We live in a democratic society, but yet, some of us do not exercise our right given in the U.S. Constitution.  The majority of individuals who do not use this privilege fall into the "youth vote."  This category of voters consists of 18 - 29 year olds.  There are, however, signs of a change.  It is estimated that  forty-percent of the demographic voted in the 2000 election and 49 percent in the 2004 election.  Despite those rising numbers, the turnout was rather bleak when it came to the midterms.  Twenty two percent and twenty five percent respectively.  These elections are perhaps more important than the Presidential Elections because it votes in the entire House of Representatives and a third of the Senate.  Now turning to the 2008 election.  An estimated 2 million more young people turned out to vote in the Presidential Election and 66 percent of the demographic went to President Obama.  When you look at the numbers, the young people really sparked his election.  I will end with this.  I encourage all of you to vote and to instill the importance of voting to younger people in your life.  Not only that, but how their own values come into play on election day.  This is their America too!

Introducing...ME

My first post is not so much of a blog as it is an introduction.  My name is Lorin McRae and I am 24 years old.  I served in the United States Army for six years and two combat deployments.  My military service has sculpted  me into a very political minded person, and allthough I do not have much experience in the arena, I will be doing a political based blog.  I will give my opinions of current matters on "the hill" and politics in society, especially the younger generations like myself.  I will do my best to not be biased in my posts in the sence of party beliefs, but rather on the facts.  I am currently studying at South Seattle Community College and have big plans for my future.  Within the next two years, I am hoping to graduate from Hawaii Pacific University with a major in Political Science, with an emphasis on International Relations, and a minor in Journalism.  After graduation, I am planning on Law School with emphasis in International Law.  I would like to one day be part of the U.N. Legal Council and perhaps return to the U.S. and get into politics.  If you wish to contact me, you can do so at lorin.mcrae@yahoo.com.  I look foward to hearing from you.