Went to Stand Down to day. I try and go every year, mainly to socialize with fellow vets. Today I noticed for the first time the volume of young women. Oh, there has always been the older gals, like my wife, but they were few. These older women may have medical issues, but it's the kind that comes with age, not war. But today I saw many young women. A lot of them were walking with limps, canes, or crutches. Some with prostetics, just like the male vets. I know it's been a nasty war, war is always nasty. But our women have played a bigger part in this war than at any other time in history. And it's showing in our new Vet population.
I can't decide whether I like the new policies that allow women in war or not. One part that really bothered me was the number in the homeless line, male and female. There is a young woman I see around town frequently, she wears her hair standing up spiked and multi colors. I always looked at her with a feeling of disgust, thinking she was just someones spoiled brat, like so many I see up at the University. Today she was at Stand Down, she is a Vet, and she is homeless. This is really bothering me. I'm having a hard time dealing with this. Especially the way I had viewed this young woman in the past. Now I discover she is a Vet, and deserves far more respect than I have been giving her.
I guess many of us need to take a serious look at how we gauge others, and our attitudes towards the younger generation. Those young women with punk hairdos and tatoos are now fighting for our freedom.
