It's primarily because I spent over three decades "dancing in depravity" as my friend Michael Harris once opined.
Spending time emerged in miserable situations with depressed people doesn't leave you quickly ... if it leaves you at all.
Many Veterans confess how they were traumatized by the war ... injustice, insane politics, incompetent military leadership and killing people for a living ... changed them because they lost something of themselves in the process.
There's nothing different about being immersed in the war on poverty.
Soldiers make peace by conquering often ... as Malcom X put it ... by any means necessary ... and when they're finished ... they're Heroes.
If you're successful in the war on poverty ... like a Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, or Gandhi ... you win a battle or two though nothing much changes ... but you're suddenly a Saint.
War's war the way I see it and there's not a damn thing good about it!
Of course I've known ... and know ... lot's of Heroes who ended their military service living in poverty which is one of the worst things about America, a culture that believes we love you so long as you're useful.
So I'm not into all this Hero Worship we give to Veterans because we're too damn cheap to give them things they really want like free health care, counseling, job training and decent housing.
Just like I'm not into paying homage to the Saints who set examples but really didn't accomplish much more.
"The poor will be with you always," Jesus said, "SO THAT YOU CAN HELP THEM ANY TIME YOU WANT" (Mark 14:7).
It's F-ing sad when Heroes become homeless ... sadder still when the few who give a shit become Saints ... and most don't give a damn.
You can take your Heroes and Saints and throw them away because ... in spite of everything they've done ... nothing much has changed.
