Americans Who Support PTSD Veterans
November 00, 2006
Honorable Senator (or Congressman)
Address
Address
Address
Dear (Senator or Congressman) Name,
As a member of Americans Who Support PTSD Veterans we are writing in concern of the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) Veterans. We personally feel that veterans who have PTSD have historically been treated like second class
citizens. This is sad for individuals who fought for this great country only to come home and be ignored. We want to address
this issue with all of the senators and congressman to hopefully get someone to listen to our plight.
Veterans with PTSD have been subjected to a stigma where they are considered to be misfits who have no grasp on reality.
PTSD is a disability and should be treated as such, especially when it comes to reasonable disability accommodations. Violations
of these rights should be considered a federal crime and should be investigated and prosecuted properly. Currently there is
a strong focus on discrimination towards an individual’s race or sex which we feel that same focus should be put on
veterans with PTSD. PTSD is a real mental illness and should be treated with a high sense of importance.
Every
March in the federal calendar it is stated that: “SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS A FORM OF DISCRIMINATION.” Not taking away
anything from Sexual harassment and discrimination, but if harassment is a form of discrimination, why isn't PTSD harassment
a form of discrimination? Harassing anyone with PTSD should be a Civil Rights discrimination crime and should be punished
as such by the federal government, even if the federal and state governments are doing the harassing.
There have been some improvements in the Veteran Affairs system but they are simply not enough and more has to
be done. For a veteran to get service connected benefits, they have to wade through an eternal sea of red tape and wait years
for an answer. Can you imagine not being able to work and left with no means to support yourself? Hence, the huge and growing
amount of homeless veterans.
The claims process should be much simpler than it is now and we feel that the only way that this is going to be done
is putting more money into training those that handle the claims. There is a serious riff between veterans and the VA because
of the mistreatment that has been historically portrayed. As veterans we also ponder why illegal immigrants get so much of
our tax money to feed, clothe and send illegal immigrants to school rather than helping the veterans that provided the way
and means for the choice to be made.
There is always the idea that politicians are bought and sold to the highest bidder. To me this is not the case;
rather the issue is that there has never been a push to make sure veterans with PTSD get the treatment and compensation they
deserve. With the advent of technology, veterans are able to access information easier and thus are now becoming more vocal
about their rights.
Just consider that to date, 98,000 military personnel have come back from Afghanistan
and Iraq since the conflicts began and are now diagnosed with PTSD.
This does not account those that are in denial or have not gone to the VA for help. Someone with PTSD, who has
not been informed of the symptoms, begins to think they are crazy, and the world would be a better place if they didn't
exist. Due to this there have been too many suicides by suffering veterans. If nothing is done, and the politicians
sit by idle, then a big catastrophe is inevitable. Our question for you is where do you stand?
Respectfully yours,
John Doe
Your name
Address
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This letter sponsored by:
Jack “John” Cunningham/ John Waltz
Americans Who Support PTSD Veterans
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Americans_Who_Support_PTSD_Veterans/
