NOTE to all PTSD Victims:
There were 7 dudes who had
testified in our 1971 Winter Soldier Investigation, who
were present for 2008's Winter Soldier, Iraq &
Afghanistan.
FOUR of these seven 1971 WSI
testifiers who were at 2008's WS I&A are rated at 100%
for PTSD.
One of these four 100
Per Centers left the National Labor College's Kirkland
Center, where we had spent the previous 15 hours doing panels and
support work, and walked to Bldg #4 to change from his suit, to
something comfortable to rock at the Entertainment Venue in Bldg #7.
Keep in mind that this 100%
PTSD victim has emphysema, and walking from
Bldg #4 to Bldg #7 MORE THAN ONCE, in the Driving Rain could
make him susceptible to pneumonia, which can KILL a 60 year old Vet,
when rockets, mortars, and small arms fire couldn't kill him, 40 years
ago.
Turned out that our 60 year old 100
per center had left his "all access" badge on his suit, back
in his room. When he went to enter the Bldg #7 Music Venue, the
two NON-Veteran volunteer security people, with their 58 year old
"Volunteer Security Chief" right next to them, told him to walk back to
Bldg #4, in the driving rain, and get his badge.
Keep in mind, all 3 of these security
folks had been seeing our PTSD Old Timer for FOUR STRAIGHT DAYS,
working various support services at WS I&A. It was obvious he
wasn't carrying a "suicide vest", or any weapons
The 100% PTSD Old Timer was known by EVERY
entertainer in the Venue, and more than 100 of the Iraq Vets know him,
personally.
There was a 10 second dust up at the door,
then, within 1 minute, a Squad of Veterans who knew the 100 per center
ushered him into the Venue. End of story? Hell, NO !
Sunday morning, the "volunteer security
peeps" flexed their muscle. They had the 100% PTSD Vet BARRED
from Day #4. ( the REAL security peeps with the Labor College
loved our 100 per center, but the internal "volunteers" had a code that
superceeded the REAL Security folks authority. )
WTF??? 1st, a a "FIELD
DECISION", should have been made as soon as our 100 per center
mentioned "why TWO more trips, w/ emphysema and the steady rain".
In lieu of the sort of Occupation Field
Decision that saves lives at check points in Iraq, you'd think that
pleasant behavior by our 100 per center over the next 3 hours
inside the Venue would be the end of it, but no, that's not how the
aggrieved volunteer security folks think.
They have some bullshit authority, and
they will stop at nothing to prove just how important their authority
is. They will actually edit, barr, or delete any one who doesn't
ask "how high", when they say "jump". ZERO Tolerance. Just
like Reich Wingers.
MORAL OF STORY, my Sisters and
Brothers who have PTSD? The rest of your life, you will
be challenged by scores, if not hundreds, of little pinheads with huge
egos, who claim to like and care for Veterans, but they will shit on
you, disrespect you, and all you've been subjected to, in a Combat
Zone.
They don't give a damn about your Service,
your background, your devotion to other Veterans, your lifetime
commitment to anti-war, and Peace activities... nothing... All
they care about is exercising power, inflating their egos, and crushing
YOU.
Be advised, be apprised, and be
aware. This petty behavior by power mongers is why you
find so many of our 100 per centers languishing in prisons.
In solidarity,
bill perry
