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This week, social media proved its utility because of a viral Veterans Affairs memo printed on the positioning X by a well-liked account identified for exposing woke ideology in authorities. The memo known as for the elimination of the long-lasting World Struggle II picture of a sailor celebrating V-Day by kissing a nurse in Instances Sq..
The memo demanded VA amenities take away the picture and exchange it with one thing extra according to the group’s values. Why? As a result of the picture was allegedly towards the VA’s zero tolerance coverage for sexual assault and harassment. Sadly, the memo was allegedly by no means cleared by VA Secretary Denis McDonough, who apparently first heard in regards to the memo through viral social media posts.
Secretary McDonough made clear that he didn’t approve the memo, nor would the picture be taken down from any facility. Nonetheless, questions nonetheless linger as to why anybody thought the memo was a good suggestion within the first place and whether or not those that facilitated its creation will probably be held accountable.
Trauma-inducing iconic WWII picture?
In a memo signed by Assistant Undersecretary for Well being and Operations, RimaAnn Nelson, VA amenities have been instructed to take away the well-known picture that reveals a sailor kissing a nurse in celebration. In response to the memo, the picture displays “inappropriate habits” and depicts a “non-consensual act.”
Ms. Nelson wrote that displaying the picture in VA amenities:
“…could possibly be construed as a tacit endorsement of the inappropriate habits it depicts.”
The memo goes on to declare that:
“Staff have expressed discomfort with the show of this {photograph}.”
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Ms. Nelson continues to instruct the amenities to take away the picture to be able to:
“…foster a extra trauma-informed surroundings.”
Nothing to see right here
As soon as the memo went viral on X, VA Secretary Denis McDonough reversed the ban on the {photograph}, stating that the picture would stay in VA amenities. He wrote in no unsure phrases:
“Let me be clear: This picture will not be banned from VA amenities, and we’ll maintain it in VA amenities.”
In response to calls to fireside Ms. Nelson, Secretary McDonough wrote:
“Rima has devoted her profession to serving veterans. We’re lucky to have her at VA, and she is going to stay at VA.”
Ms. Nelson does certainly have a protracted employment historical past with the VA. And this isn’t the primary time her talents to carry out her duties have been questioned. In 2016, Congresswoman Krysten Sinema and Congressman Matt Salmon requested then-President Barack Obama to dam Ms. Nelson’s appointment on the then-beleaguered Phoenix, Arizona, VA hospital.
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Their reasoning was on account of her observe document at her prior location in St. Louis. They wrote to President Obama:
“Underneath Ms. Nelson’s tenure, the St. Louis hospital closed twice for unsafe and unsanitary situations and was ranked final within the nation for affected person satisfaction out of 126 VA medical facilities.”
Nonetheless, their request was not granted, and right here Ms. Nelson is having climbed the VA ladder, having her talents questioned, and nonetheless shielded from any accountability.
The fallacious focus
This isn’t the primary time the VA has decided based mostly on woke ideology to attempt to erase historical past. Final yr, the VA up to date its motto to make it extra gender-neutral after already updating it to incorporate girls.
The unique VA motto was from President Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural handle. He declared it was this nation’s solemn duty to:
“take care of him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.”
The VA up to date that motto to incorporate girls veterans like myself, altering it to:
“fulfill President Lincoln’s promise ‘to take care of him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan’ by serving and honoring the women and men who’re America’s veterans.”
As if including the second caveat that girls like myself now additionally serve our nation wasn’t sufficient, the VA went one other step by altering the motto to:
“fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for individuals who have served in our nation’s army and for his or her households, caregivers, and survivors.”
Eradicating the quote doesn’t make me really feel extra included as a category of veterans. It insults my intelligence that I can’t make the psychological leap that in President Lincoln’s time, solely males served in battle. Now the nation has developed to permit girls like myself to serve in battle.
VA failures
Moreover, because of the precise quote and perception that President Lincoln had that the nation has an obligation to care for individuals who have “borne the battle,” veterans like myself have healthcare choices and different entitlements. I’ll go away you with a number of present statistics:
- In 2023, veteran homelessness elevated by 7.4%
- On a single night time in January of 2023, there have been 35,574 homeless veterans
- 17 veterans commit suicide day-after-day
- An digital well being data challenge may trigger 250,000 veterans to obtain the fallacious treatment from VA hospitals
I don’t get my medical care from a VA hospital. Not due to a WWII picture however as a result of I don’t belief that they are going to adhere to their solemn promise to take care of me, and will probably make me worse. Maybe it’s time to give attention to take care of veterans versus imagined trauma inducing pictures.
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