tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post4715714389670968804..comments2023-07-04T03:04:37.725-07:00Comments on The Veteran Experience | Ben Shaw: Permanent RetreatsBen Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08280885836684955658noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-18161422714792684122009-05-03T07:46:24.995-07:002009-05-03T07:46:24.995-07:00One of your very best.How many people, not just ve...One of your very best.<br><br>How many people, not just veterans. do you think have given up on something fundamental to their emotional/spiritual development? I would wager 95% of the people I know, including myself at some points.<br><br>It's sad.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763209657254848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-38073228825541789922009-05-04T17:10:35.682-07:002009-05-04T17:10:35.682-07:00Sometimes there's a difference between giving ...Sometimes there's a difference between giving up and recognizing the impossible. Sometimes a safe retreat is the only way they can stay within normal society at all other times, because the knowledge of a safe place to hide helps them have fewer incidents, whereas the stress level would go up if they felt they had no place, and would perhaps become destructive.<br><br>Albeit it is good if they keep on working at it, baby steps in the right direction are all that can be expected, and should not be criticized as being insufficient.<br><br>Perhaps telling them they don't need the shelters would be like telling a lame man he didn't need his crutch and kicking it out from under him. Though some, a few, may recover better without crutches, for others walking would be impossible unless leaning on some supportive aide.Poethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12340456181501341820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-40986461689019687082009-05-04T22:15:00.589-07:002009-05-04T22:15:00.589-07:00Be this as it may, the vast majority of "inju...Be this as it may, the vast majority of "injured" are capable of at least some degree of recovery from their wounds. They are wounds, after all, not lifelong afflictions. <br><br>There is a point when crutches are allowing one otherwise capable of walking to lean unnecessarily on support he can in time move quite freely without.Ben Shaw | byshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08280885836684955658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-19262167213850261972009-05-05T14:04:06.568-07:002009-05-05T14:04:06.568-07:00I agree with Ben on this point. When people stop t...I agree with Ben on this point. <br><br>When people stop trying, they have nothing left.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-16062151969057219352009-05-05T16:19:43.854-07:002009-05-05T16:19:43.854-07:00But yes, Poet, it requires discernment to judge be...But yes, Poet, it requires discernment to judge between giving up and recognizing limitations. So kicking crutches out from under lame people would not go over well for most; maybe setting the crutches aside for a determined length of time to see the response and expected recovery would be better, or using a cane. How is this metaphor translated over into the world of veterans? A different brand of support groups? Boycotting the VFWs? The inclusion of non-military in VFWs?Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07763209657254848735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1586080509912068029.post-12252562918800878862009-05-10T06:28:13.229-07:002009-05-10T06:28:13.229-07:00I think it is interesting that he commented that t...I think it is interesting that he commented that the rest of the country expected the returning Vietnam Vets to be screwed up. <br>Today does the rest of the country STILL expect this?<br><br>Has there not been some level of long overdue respect given to these guys? Do they since a feeling of great sadness from today's society that the disrespect to the Vietnam vets must never be repeated?<br><br>I really hope that they have some kind of understanding that many in this country are ashamed of the way they were treated.Sarahnoreply@blogger.com