General Petraeus on the military today

By Terry Orr

(Sharing an interesting and insightful email)

Some may agree and some may disagree with the General’s comments but there is a lot of truth in this article.

General Petraeus on the military today.

 Thanks to my fellow veterans:

 I remember the day I found out I got into West Point. My mom actually showed up in the hallway of my high school and waited for me to get out of class.

She was bawling her eyes out and apologizing that she had opened up my admission letter. She wasn't crying because it had been her dream for me to go there. She was crying because she knew how hard I'd worked to get in, how much I wanted to attend, and how much I wanted to be an infantry officer.

I was going to get that opportunity. That same day two of my teachers took me aside and essentially told me the following:

"David, you're a smart guy. You don't have to join the military. You should go to college, instead."

I could easily write a theme defending West Point and the military as I did that day, explaining that USMA is an elite institution, that separate from that it is actually statistically much harder to enlist in the military than it is to get admitted to college, that serving the nation is a challenge that all able-bodied men should at least consider for a host of reasons, but I won't.

What I will say is that when a 16 year-old kid is being told that attending West Point is going to be bad for his future then there is a dangerous disconnect in America, and entirely too many Americans have no idea what kind of burdens our military is bearing.

 In World War II, 11.2% of the nation served in four (4) years.

 During the Vietnam era, 4.3% served in twelve (12) years.

 Since 2001, only 0.45% of our population has served in the Global War on Terror.

 These are unbelievable statistics. Over time, fewer and fewer people have shouldered more and more of the burden and it is only getting worse.

Our troops were sent to war in Iraq by a Congress consisting of 10% veterans with only one person having a child in the military. Taxes did not increase to pay for the war. War bonds were not sold. Gas was not regulated. In fact, the average citizen was asked to sacrifice nothing, and has sacrificed nothing unless they have chosen to out of the goodness of their hearts.

 The only people who have sacrificed are the veterans and their families. The volunteers. The people who swore an oath to defend this nation. You stand there, deployment after deployment and fight on.

You've lost relationships, spent years of your lives in extreme conditions, years apart from kids you'll never get back, and beaten your body in a way that even professional athletes don't understand.

Then you come home to a nation that doesn't understand. They don't understand suffering. They don't understand sacrifice.

They don't understand why we fight for them. They don't understand that bad people exist. They look at you like you're a machine - like something is wrong with you. You are the misguided one - not them.

When you get out, you sit in the college classrooms with political science teachers that discount your opinions on Iraq and Afghanistan because YOU WERE THERE and can't understand the macro issues they gathered from books, because of your bias.

You watch TV shows where every vet has PTSD and the violent strain at that.

Your Congress is debating your benefits, your retirement, and your pay, while they ask you to do more.  But the amazing thing about you is that you all know this. You know your country will never pay back what you've given up. You know that the populace at large will never truly understand or appreciate what you have done for them.

Hell, you know that in some circles, you will be thought as less than normal for having worn the uniform.  But you do it anyway.

 You do what the greatest men and women of this country have done since 1775.

YOU SERVED.  Just that decision alone makes you part of an elite group.

"Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few." -Winston Churchill-

Thank you to the 11.2% and 4.3% who have served and thanks to the 0.45% who continue to serve our Nation.

General David Petraeus

West Point Class 1974

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world.  But the U.S. ARMED FORCES don't have that problem."

Steve M. Kurtz, retired

A Time for Reflection ...

By Terry Orr 

His message still applies!  We are all accountable for our actions and inaction.

With love, a guiding hand, and good role models to follow - anything is possible...

PC pendulum had swung too far out of control - this is America - We believe in God - Santa - Christmas - and the American way of life ...

 It seems our government and many of its citizens find it convenient to ignore our service members who have given so much for our way of life.

 It what we humans do best - helping others to help themselves

Mental Illness Awareness Week

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By Nurse Diane

I saw a tee shirt that said one in four people are crazy.  Check three of your friends, if they are ok, then it’s you.  While it may be true that one in four suffer from some kind of mental illness, it may not be obvious to the untrained person.

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There are many types of Mental Illness.  Katie Couric, a famous news reporter has recently started her own television show.  One of her recent confessions included the fact that she had an eating disorder.  Another topic she discussed was Depression.  Following the death of her husband she experienced many sleepless nights, the inability to concentrate, and the need to isolate herself from others.  These are normal coping mechanisms when experiencing a huge loss.  To look at Katie, one would never imagine that she experiences the same problems as others in her situation; she appears to be on top of things, so that shows you that you can't always recognize a mental illness. There have been 19 million who have been diagnosed with Depression alone, and 56% are receiving treatment.  To see her story, click here: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/katies-take-abc-news/am-depressed-102624278.html

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There are other forms of Mental illness such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  This is a condition normally seen with military personnel returning from deployment, or those involved in a traumatic experience such as the theater shooting in Colorado. 

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There is also OCD, Obsessive Compulsive disorder, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia to name a few.  I spent a month living on the grounds of a mental institution while doing my psychology rotation.  I was able to view first-hand the expressions and actions of the patients there.  That is why when I was standing in line at the post office one day and a woman beside me starting just talking out of the blue, I was concerned for her well-being.  I was not aware at the time that she had one of those new blue tooth devices for her cell phone that attached to her ear, and she was simply having a conversation with someone on the other end. 

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This is Mental Illness Awareness Week.  Mental illness no longer carries the stigma it did years ago.  The primary goal is to recognize there is a problem and seek help.  If you, or someone close to you is suffering from any type of mental illness, encourage them to seek help from their physician and begin treatment as soon as possible.  Several types can be controlled with medication. 

For more information and ways you can help become more aware about mental illness, click on this site: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/may

Child Abuse – 2012 Follow-up

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By Terry Orr

Last year we focused on Signs of Physical, Emotional and Sexual Abuse (http://kisbyto.blogspot.com/2011/08/child-abuse-facts-for-parents.html) and this year our focus in about what is child abuse and breaking the terrible cycle.

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What is child abuse?

Child abuse is definitely more than bruises, burns or black eyes. While physical abuse can be easily noticed or observed, other types of abuse such as child neglection or emotional abuse are hard to notice, and needless to say, it leaves a long and deep lasting scars that can never be forgotten.

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There are also other types of child abuse such as substance abuse, medical abuse, sexual abuse and verbal abuse. All these abuse can cause the child to suffer from long term psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), clinical depression and anxiety.

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"Child abuse is a problem no one really talks about. Abuse and neglect is the number 1 cause of injury to children in the country. More children die of abuse or neglect than of natural causes" ~ Donna Miller

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Did You Know:

• Almost five children die every day because of child abuse. And more than three out of four children are under the age of 4.
• Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy.
• 1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys will be sexually abused before they reach eighteen.
• Most of the child abuse parents have a history of child abuse themselves.
• 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.
• About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.

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The Cycle MUST be broken!

Break the cycle of abuse with the following steps:

• Deal with past abuse. Without intervention, abuse continues to affect you. Talking and acknowledging what happened helps you heal, which breaks the cycle of abuse.
• Recognize that pushing memories of abuse away often backfires. People find themselves repeating patterns on an unconscious level because they haven't dealt with the cycle of abuse in a healthy manner.
• Realize that some victims of child abuse don't abuse their children, but turn that anger inward and suffer from depression. Children of the abused are at risk of neglect or of being abused by someone else unless you break the cycle.
• Consider making an appointment for therapy. Talking with a trained therapist can help you work through your memories in order to recognize and break from abusive situations. Or attend a support group. Sometimes being with others who have suffered similar experiences helps people open up.
• Understand that abusers are at fault, not the person who was abused. Grieve for what you lost and find constructive ways to deal with feelings of anger. Learn appropriate communication skills in order to improve communication with others in a healthy manner.
• Take note of problems with relationships. Consider that relationship problems often relate to a history of abuse. Reliving abuse is common and problems to victims who can't have a trusting, intimate relationship.
• Seek assistance from a victim's aid group or domestic violence agency. Many organizations exist to provide a safe place to stay or provide legal information and emotional support.

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(Read more: How to Break the Cycle of Abuse | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2157545_break-cycle-abuse.html#ixzz24UrTQizA)

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Mental Health Month 2011

By Diane Forrest

 
Today, Monday, May 23 - we are highlighting Mental Health.   I was a bit overwhelmed when asked to write this, I was thinking about Mental Illness... and all the pages of stuff I could write about. However Mental Illness and Mental Health are not the same. Mental health is how people think, act and cope with life and the stressors and challenges that are part of the human experience. The state of one's mental health can influence the ways in which they look at themselves, their life and others around them. It also strongly influences an individual's potential for achieving their goals and is an important tool in obtaining and maintaining a feeling of wellbeing.

Did you know that 1 in 4 adults struggle with a treatable mental health condition each year?  They could be family members, friends, veterans, or colleagues quietly struggling with depression, ADHD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, or some other mental health issue.

If not dealt with properly, the stresses of everyday life can build up to a point that drains your ability to rest, have energy, be productive, concentrate, have relationships, and enjoy life.

Some ways to promote good mental health include:

• Address coping skills such as:
  
• Stress management techniques (i.e. yoga, breathing exercises, and progressive muscle relaxation)
  
• Mindfulness, (i.e. "living in the moment")
  
• Lifestyle behaviors (i.e. physical activity, writing, having a support network)
  
• Setting realistic goals, evaluating different lifestyle choices and techniques that help both body and mind to improve mental health wellness
  
• Help individuals find support groups and wellness events in their local communities
  

There are many stressors in the world today. Things like the economy, wars, the cost of gas, the problems with employment, kids. It's hard to relax with all we have to worry about. It is important to take time out for yourself. Soak in a tub, take a walk, pet your dog or cat, stop and smell the flowers. Watch a funny movie.





Take slow deep breaths and just relax.....After all, tomorrow IS another day!


 
Top 10 Tools

1. Connect with others
   
2. Stay positive
   
3. Get physically active
   
4. Help others
   
5. Get enough sleep
   
6. Create joy and satisfaction
   
7. Eat Well
   
8. Take care of your spirit
   
9. Deal better with hard times
   
10. Get professional help if you need it
    

 
Mental Health Month: 3 Ways to Advocate for Mental Health

1. Get Social – spread the word about mental health.
   
2. Be Supportive – Look for mental health support groups in your area.
   
3. Raise Money – Donating to local or national mental health in your area.