| At one time or another, we have all been solicited by | | | | our veterans would fold up like cowards in the middle |
| an organization or charity for veterans either in person | | | | of the desert with bullets whizzing past their heads, but |
| or over the phone. Most people do not donate | | | | they have the nerve to get tough on the phone and |
| because they get solicited on a regular basis by many | | | | use profanity towards a telemarketer! |
| different charities. Many of us will treat the person | | | | Telemarketers have to make a living too and if I was |
| soliciting us as if they were less than human. Even | | | | a telemarketer who had to call hundreds of people |
| though solicitations and requests for financial support | | | | every day or starve, you'd better be prepared to hear |
| have gotten out of hand over the years, the need for | | | | the phone ringing! I do understand that it's just not |
| financial backing for our disabled veterans is very real. | | | | feasible to give to every veterans charity we receive |
| It's the telemarketing companies who give charities a | | | | a call from, but we should show common courtesy to |
| bad rap because they raise money for several | | | | solicitors for veterans charities because they are |
| different charities and as soon as we donate to one | | | | human beings just like the rest of us. Our government |
| charity they call us repeatedly with solicitations for their | | | | is not doing everything they can to help wounded |
| other charities. This tactic will eventually irritate even | | | | veterans, regardless of what they claim to do. There |
| the most charitable people. Before we hang up | | | | are numerous complaints of injured veterans going to |
| immediately we should take a second to recognize the | | | | their VA Hospital for help, and being turned away for |
| facts. The government is constantly pulling funds away | | | | whatever reason. No man or woman who has been |
| from VA Hospitals that were meant to help those | | | | injured fighting for this country should be without proper |
| who have made huge sacrifices for our country. | | | | medical help, period! How can the government |
| There are several reasons the government does this, | | | | authorize a trillion dollars to fight a stupid war, but say |
| with the major reason being the current war in Iraq. It | | | | no to someone who has gotten an arm or leg blown |
| doesn't make sense to penalize veterans who have | | | | off while fighting a war for the same country that is |
| been injured fighting for our country and shovel more | | | | run by that government? |
| money into an endless, meaningless war. These | | | | These are the reasons we are solicited for donations |
| decisions by our government ultimately lead to more | | | | by veterans charities and when we finally realize the |
| soldiers being killed, and more injured soldiers for whom | | | | reasons, we will become more sympathetic to their |
| there will be no medical care when they finally do | | | | cause. |
| come home. Most of us do not think about this fact | | | | Even though we should be more charitable towards |
| when we are being solicited for a donation. | | | | our disabled veterans, we still should ask what |
| We immediately think the organization is trying to scam | | | | percentage of our donation will actually reach the ones |
| us, but in many cases this is not true. The real scam is | | | | it was meant to help, and who is cashing our check. A |
| being run by our government, not by charities for | | | | reputable charity based in Michigan, Disabled Veterans |
| disabled veterans. The scam is also being run by | | | | of America Inc., provides funding for disabled veterans |
| telemarketing companies, but we shouldn't penalize the | | | | in and outside of VA Hospitals across the U.S. Their |
| men and women who put their lives on the line for our | | | | activities include wheelchair drives, artificial limb drives, |
| well being and freedom. Some veterans charities have | | | | and care package drives for active soldiers overseas. |
| care package drives that show our soldiers that we | | | | The Michigan attorney general records indicate that at |
| as Americans care and appreciate their efforts, and | | | | least 85% of donations collected are used for |
| soldiers do appreciate receiving these reminders from | | | | programs to benefit disabled veterans, homeless |
| us. Some of us will ask what a care package will do | | | | veterans, and current soldiers. The other 15% is for |
| for a soldier at war, does a care package really help? | | | | administrative expenses necessary to run the charity. |
| The answer is a resounding yes! Do you know how | | | | If you are considering making a donation to any charity |
| hard it is to get a bag of potato chips in the middle of | | | | please ask for the breakdown of their expenses, and |
| the desert? How about a tube of toothpaste or a bar | | | | the information can also be found at the state attorney |
| of soap? How about a good book to read or even a | | | | general for that organization. In summary, let's be a little |
| letter from a concerned family member? | | | | more sympathetic and understanding when we are |
| We take these little things for granted because we | | | | approached by a veterans organization, as they are |
| are accustomed to them being readily available for us | | | | among the few that are making an effort to help our |
| at any time. However, this is not the case for our | | | | American soldiers, and if we can't donate at the time |
| soldiers. It isn't too much to ask of us to take a minute | | | | at least keep their cause in mind just in case we can |
| out of our day to pay some type of homage to the | | | | afford to donate in the future. If nothing else, we can at |
| people who would lay their own lives down for us. | | | | least pray for the ones who have been injured, and |
| Most people who don't think it's important to support | | | | the ones we hope will come home soon. |