Lewis Black | The Rant Is Due best of Veterans
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- Lewis is an ardent supporter of veterans and active military personnel. The politicians who send them into battle, not so much. In this collection of rants, Lewis hears from veterans of many foreign wars about their experiences after they have returned to the homefront and what it truly means to support the troops.
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I'm a veteran and I'd like to thank Lewis Black for his service. Much love and respect to ya!
Ditto. And to the veterans that send these in. I am in complete agreement with damn near everything and the rant from Lewis Black brings it out more clearly to a bigger audience than any of us have.
@Jim Johns That's fine. I hate bullshit gratitude.
@Jim Johns 🤣 Well met, Sir!
He means well but I've been listening to various "truthtelling" comedians etc. since the 60s and the overall situation keeps getting worse as per Eisenhower's "guns vs. butter" speech which along with his "unwarrented power (falling into) the hands of the military/industrial complex" warning has become a "dead-on" accurate prophecy! Any "heroism" performed on behalf of and in furtherence of this wicked combination is self-defeating!
@@markrogers6702 The early days of Reagan's " new day in Americia " I thought thank a vet thing was the worst imaginable cringe . Since those brainless hop and a skip daze in Americia we had the hypocrisy in the attacks on the character and patriotism of MAX Cleland by the likes of Carl Rove and BOY bush no less. Trump tried but failed to match that sorry hypocrisy.
Thanks Lewis I'm a 73 year old combat veteran I'll be at the cemetery this Thursday showing my respect.
⁴
Former Navy here. Thanks Lew, we love you too.
Thank you Lewis. The amount of money that is allocated to the military is enormous. It should be crime that the troops lack ANYFUCKINGTHING.
Oh, our budget requests HAVE everything that our soldiers, sailors, and airmen NEED and is even structured to help them with their WANTS. Yet, every year, the republican members of the House and Senate chop every goddamned penny we JUSTIFY out of that budget and vote themselves pay increases and give multi-billionaires even bigger tax breaks. I served 32 years in the USAF (O-8, ret.) and my fellow flag officers, across ALL the US Armed Forces, went to the mat every year! Our civilian 'leadership' would usually reply with threats. Threats to take away items from our budgets that we actually need to, well, do our fucking jobs! They also pull stunts like 'senator' tuberville! They love to praise our men and women in uniform in front of the camera and do everything they can to screw them over when nobody is looking!
Here is some background information coupled with a proposed fix. Just one little example: A single servicemember (meaning unmarried) lives in barracks or dormitories (no rent), they have access to base transportation (no car payments, insurance, vehicle maintenance, etc.), and they are issued a meal card (they eat for free on base (side note: If you're Air Force, you have NO idea how good the food is. Navy isn't bad either!)). Now if you're young and married and have or are starting a family? Oh, you're given a number of allowances to pay (hahaha) to support your family. It's not enough by a long shot! Too many of our servicemembers have to apply for SNAP benefits to eat! They aren't given enough to buy food even on base. We have base housing, but nowhere near enough to go around, so they are on a waiting list forever!
We have continually proposed the following: 1) Housing: Lease or outright purchase apartment complexes in close proximity to military bases with the member being responsible for payment of utilities and upkeep of the apartment. 2) Transportation: Extending shuttle services five miles from said base perimeter. 3) Allowing the issuance of dependent meal cards. Common sense solutions, right? Estimated savings to the US Government per year? $433 million dollars. $433 million out of a budget of BILLIONS? It's literally not even a drop in the bucket and would only help those who volunteered to serve. $433 million dollars is what we spend annually to keep TWO squadrons (call it a total of 48 aircraft) of F-15's in operation. We're not talking about SPENDING that much, but rather, SAVING the taxpayers that much!
These are the common sense, economical, and frankly, humanitarian solutions we have put in our budgets year after year after year, after year. These elected shit stains will put attachments(!?) on these budgetary items that cause them to be eliminated! A simple 12% tax on people like Bezos, Musk, Gates, Zuckerberg, etc. and on corporations like Walmart, Amazon, etc. for ONE year could fund these little solutions for a decade and it wouldn't even be missed!
I apologize for my rather long and year-long late comment, but I've simply had enough of this horseshit!
A Co 2/508 (PIR) 82nd Airborne. Thank you for being an American worth fighting for.
FURY FROM THE SKY
Man, I really have a lot of respect for that last rant. I come from a family of veterans and I'd wager they'd be saluting at this one.
I can think of no better cause for the taxes that I pay to go to than to take better care of our veterans. Anyone willing to put that much on the line to support this country should get top notch care! Screw corporate subsidies, take care of our vets!
The reality of not taking care of our veterans is criminal these men women have put themselves in harms way for our country and should be treated like golden heroes!! THANK YOU...
My entire family has served in the military. The VA has really reamed our vets in the ass.
You allowed it
@@dverygrateful1 you're maladjusted
Last year I had a heart attack. First I went to the VA emergency room, but I was basically accused of faking it to get drugs..So...I got up off the gurney and went to a real hospital where they didn't fuck around and accuse me of anything except for still smoking. The VA had the gall to call me up after my heart attack to ask how I enjoyed my visit..Yeah right..
That's government health care for you. It took the VA 5 months to even look at the torn meniscus in my knee.
Without lubricant!
Thank you.
We veterans appreciate you.
I miss 45!! He did so much for us.
Joe biden sucks
I love your name. Make racists afraid again.
last election proved that
Lewis, my husband, who is a Vietnam Veteran, is a huge fan of yours as am I. We want to thank you so very much for this rant. I don't know if "God" exists, but, bless you.
I *hate* "Thank you for your service." It's perfunctory and meaningless, but the NFL has convinced everyone that's what we need to do to "show our support". Like how they put some NCO on display at the start of every game to receive the adulation of the crowd. How about instead they give prime seats to a group of wounded vets AND SAY NOTHING ABOUT IT.
You want to thank me for my service? Be a decent human being and a good American. Exercise your rights and freedoms, but don't deny others theirs. Do what you can to make up for the injustices of the past and work toward a better future. You know, "promote the general welfare, secure the blessings of liberty" - I'm sure I read that somewhere before. I wish more of us had - especially our political "leaders".
Jeez, Lewis. Just commenting on this compilation started bringing out my own rants and raves.
P.S. Yes, I'm a veteran. I finished my active duty 35 years ago. I was lucky that the closest I came to combat was being on alert for Khadaffi the first time around. (Yeah, that's how we spelled it back then. I think.)
The Navy broke me and their solution to the anxiety they gave me is to keep changing their mind on what to do with me. Meanwhile, everyone I talk to says to "just stick it out" until I finally wound up in the nut house. Completely preventable but they jumped at every opportunity to make it worse.
The NAVY did that to you?
I'm so sorry
Same for me Navy and my favorite rant about Republican is true. When i got home from Afghan i was told by some Republicans i should not have been there because i was a female. Then they tell me a man wouldnt get P.T.S.D from watching children die. Really?
The military is shameful now. Homeless veterans, denying medical service to victims of burn pits, to taking away opioids as a pain relief, causing patients who were in less pain for 20 years grief and taking their own lives. If you ever want to talk, give me your Twitter handle!
They do it to people on purpose as a means of testing.
That last rant is what we all need to hear... all the time.
As I work on yet another Veterans day I suddenly recall that I am a veteran.
I had four uncles on my dad's side, one on my mom's side, who all served in the military. Three on dad's side were in the Pacific during WW2; one Army, one Navy, one Seabees. The uncle on mom's side was also in the Pacific in the Marines. They all came home in one piece. The uncle on dad's side who didn't serve in WW2 (too young) however, did serve in Korea in the Navy as a frogman (frogmen eventually became the Navy Seals). The uncle on mom's side also served in Korea as well, and then went on to serve again in Vietnam in '68 to '69. Everyone came home in one piece from their service. They all passed on quite a number of years ago. My dad was either too young (WW2 and Korea) or too old (Vietnam) for the draft, which followed suit for my being too young for Vietnam or too old for any military action after that which still had the draft in place. I simply wish to say to all the veterans past and current "Thank you and your families for your sacrifice and service to our country. Because of you, we ARE the greatest nation on Earth.
Thank you for loving those brave family members enough to know their history. Ask some of these kids these days and they don't even know the branch their grandfather served. Kudos.😎🥀
“If voting mattered, they wouldn’t let us do it” - Mark Twain
@ M Z Actually they don't want us to vote, and they certainly don't "let us vote" and if they had their way we would have a dictator like Vladdymeer Pootin who doesn't care about a real vote. I vote because I love my country, I vote because I know without it our Veterans will be even worse off, I vote because I love and trust the constitution of our United States of America, I vote because our Veterans throughout our history fought for our right to VOTE!
@@velikovskysghost I appreciate the sentiment and used to feel very similar. However, I have seen evidence that makes me no longer believe this way. My point is that the elections are all a big illusion. There are powerful entities that choose who they want to win, and appoint them to “elected” positions. There are many ways they can do this, but to you because this person was “elected” that means “we the people” put them there. But in reality, the vote was never real.
Also, even if there is no tampering with elections, the wealthy corporations can buy elected politicians (Lobbying) , so what’s the point of us voting them in. It doesn’t matter who we vote in, they will just buy them out. Every man has a price, and if a real revolutionary gets in ;they kill them. JFK,RFK,MLK, Malcom X, John Lennon, the list goes on and on. If celebrities or politicians don’t follow the Hidden leaders, they just get disposed of. It’s kind of easy to see once you take a few steps back.
I respect you brother, but consider that things are not as they appear. God bless!
Mark Twain was a seer. He understood politicians and the games they played. The greatest fear they have is democracy which allows people to vote so they came up with poll taxes, denying minorities the right to vote, gerrymandering, purging people from voters rolls, taking the right to vote against felons, having federal elections on a work day in November. If they wanted us to vote elections would be deemed a national holiday as it is in other democracies.
Those big military budgets goes for equipment. Not paychecks for active duty personnel. In 1970, I was making less than minimum wage to defend this nation. I was an E-4 over 5 years of service.
Didn't improve for me from '73-77. Without the Px and mess halls, I'd have starved. As it is I am always alone. Even with people I love. It doesn't leave.
Those in always make less.
A choice you made no whining.
@@dverygrateful1 Oh ? Sub-standard wages are unacceptable. Period.
I've seen some units that were extremely broke and some that were crazy funded. There are even units in corporate offices I've seen in Virginia, blew my mind, it was a non descript building made of all.reflective glass from the outside but when we walked in there were Marines and Sailors in and out of uniform in the nice corporate offices, it was bizzare
I am no veteran, I have never worked in or with the VA, I am not a part of any veteran support group...but I know and have worked with plenty of veterans, not just in employment but also in schools. During college, I tutored quite a few of them - I would not say I was the best at it, but we got along and I seemed to help them understand things that I explained, even though I was an undergrad at the time. I have explained why antibiotics and anti-parasitics do not work on viruses, and I used comparisons to military operations to get my points across, and I was able to use those comparisons because while I am not a veteran, I have many friends and relatives who are. They come from a wide range of roles, from fighter pilots and a sniper to submarine hunters to air nurses - one of them was a submarine cook (she made the best barbecue I ever tasted, and her bread could almost be described as ambrosia).
And sadly, I have had to suffer the tremendous tragedy of learning of two veterans that I had only just become good friends with while in college... committing suicide. Every time I think about them, I end up disgusted and enraged at the system and the people who left them in such a state that they concluded that suicide was the best option at that moment. And that is just one of the countless disgusting things that happens to veterans. I have borne witness to veterans being scammed and left homeless - I even took one in for a while until he got back on his feet, and sadly, I know that he is one of the very few examples of a veteran who was able to claw his way back.
While I have never committed a violent act for anything other than self-defense (which, thankfully, has only occurred once in my 33+ years of living, and that was one time too many) and will never condone or encourage anyone to ever commit violence of any form or capacity, I have to admit that whenever I hear a Republican or any right-winger claiming that they support the troops, I imagine a targeting laser focusing on their f^^^ing lying heads (whether I imagine them being shot or bombed depends on how f^^^ing pissed off their words made me). I hate how every year, the "defense" budget gets bigger and bigger while f^^^ing *NOTHING* changes for the troops, and it has been that way ever since I first learned of that parking lot in the Mojave, where they keep hundreds - no, *THOUSANDS* - of pieces of fully functional equipment, from Humvees to tanks to helicopters, all of it never having been touched since they rolled off their assembly lines and transported to that lot. As long as that lot continues to exist, as long as that equipment never gets used, I know that NONE of that extra money ever goes to the troops or veterans, that instead, it only goes to the contractors and manufacturers of that equipment so their f^^^ing CEOs can announce yet more record-breaking profits and line their pockets even more than they already do. Until that sh^t ends this is what we, and especially veterans, are stuck with.
So it is always pleasing to hear these veterans vent. It may be little more than emotional catharsis, both for them and for me, but sometimes, it has to be done. Of course, words alone mean nothing without action. Sadly for me, I am not in an ideal position to support them. The most I can do is give money either directly to veterans or to groups with proven track records at helping them, which are much fewer than there should be with this f^^^ed-up system. Yes, I agree that they should not be needed in the first place, and my efforts are little more than putting a band-aid on a stab wound, but with my current personal circumstances, it is the best I can do. Hopefully, I will be able to do more in the near-future, and even though this is little more than a pipe dream, I look forward to a time when my efforts, whatever they may be, are no longer needed.
Thanks for caring. Generally Americans don't really give a real shit about what happens to us with the underfunded VA. Words of thanks are cheap.
You are drunk on self pity. Lucky most vets don't pass you condescending way. Thanks for your support. If you actually leave your sofa, the warmth and safety of home, step into that awful world and actually be with those in need. Not pretend you bring results, just some little help and the word that you think of us.This helps the mind when anxious hours are all the company one gets.
@@morganlewis2667 I try to do what I can, which will never be as much as even an underfunded VA, but I know better than to expect much out of my lone @$$. Still, I know every bit helps, even if all I can give it is a little money or time with them (though not so much the latter, what with my current circumstances), so I will continue to do what I can. I might never truly know what some of them go through, but that is not supposed to be a barrier between me and them.
@@brucemarmy8500 I have worked in charity before. I may have been uncomfortable with it, mostly due to my own social anxiety issues, but I am not going to not contribute just because of that. Still, it is kind of tough to be out with veterans who are struggling... what with me having left the US and crossed the international date line because I finally scraped enough together to GTFO and try to build a better life for myself.
You think I am trying to be condescending here? I have willing subjected myself to just a fraction of what quite a few veterans have gone through, and the first thing I learned was that I would not make it in the military, and the next thing was that I would likely end up like those left behind if I ever enlisted. I have no doubt that if that prediction played out, I would at least seriously consider suicide, just like those two veterans I knew (hard not to do that when you already have a history of depression). That is my one regret about those two, that I did not pay enough attention to them. Sure, I gave plenty, what with me being their tutor for a time (that I did for free, by the way - I was studying the same material as them), and I cannot give or do everything for them, but I know that every bit goes a long way. Could I have prevented their suicide with more attention? Maybe, maybe not, it is impossible to know - especially now, what with them being, you know, *dead.*
So even though I can certainly imagine and imagine pretty damn close to reality, I know I can never truly know for myself, I know no amount of money or time can ever fix the system that abandoned them. I know that one veteran I housed until he got back onto his feet and decided to move out may very well be the full extent of the tangible results of my efforts.
But that is the thing, @$$hole, I do not actually need to personally know that awful world in order to help people in it. I do not have to be or have been homeless myself at any point in order to work on actual solutions to homelessness - it might help and make better solutions more apparent, but that is "experience preferred," not "experience required." You are the one here trying to throw up an artificial barrier here between and pass that off as me self-pitying myself.
I am not going to pretend whether or not you yourself are a veteran, let alone one with some kind of post-service issue or problem, but even if you are such, all I can reasonably say to your presumption is "F^^^ you." I am doing and will continue to do what little I can... and *you* have a problem with that? Here is a little something for you: if a person or system is actually getting you what you need, or at the very least trying to do that, then who the f^^^ cares what the motivation behind it is? Do you believe I expect some sort of thanks for that? Charity, like military service, is a mostly thankless job - it is nice to hear and receive thanks, but it hardly does, let alone solves, anything.
So like how so many veterans, even the ones Lewis read off, said, you can keep your words of thanks. Try telling my right-wing parents what you tried to with your reply, especially my father, who would not be alive today without the VA handling his medical expenses and the disability support he gets (he was a nuclear technician and absorbed more radiation than what would be allowed in a full career)... and yet he wants to cut the VA even further than it already is.
So whether or not you are a veteran, you can thank or blame my father for teaching me that there will always be @$$holes, no matter where you are or who you help.
Bravo, Lewis!!
This should be enough for anyone to reconsider joining the military.
I realize, to many, it's a "duty to your country", but to later be treated less than horseshit by your own government, it's not a career choice I would make.
My late father would likely disagree as he voiced many times of being over-compensated. I was over compensated as a military kid. I got to live in Spain under Franco. I got to see El Cordobes bullfight. I was at a bullfight in Spain when Kennedy was announced as being assassinated. I grew up in the Air Force and I served in the Navy. I have no complaint with the VA except for wasting procedures for simple need. I am VA disabled due to an acccident while in service. I don't like going to the VA because I see those whom have truly sacrificed.
NO HOLDS BARED!!! Great vid! I work with a lotta vets! Amazing stories and comments they have on what's happening...
Excellent. And heartbreaking to think that these things need to be said. Glad you shared, Lewis.
I am very proud of my military family that have served. I am a military brat and love the men and women who served/serve now
Given that I'm most likely the most senior officer present, I would like to say Thank You, Lewis, on behalf of all of the men and women who have proudly volunteered and served the United States of America!
As a veteran i agree with most of this. I was talking to my wife and I told her, I spent 12 years on active duty. And been on several deployments. My buddies and myself were for the most part Apolitical. I could not tell you anyones political alignment nearly the entire time I was in. Now i find it odd that so many people are so obsessed with politics.
I was in Iraq in 2003-2004 when haveing mortars deopped on us and getting shot at on convoy. Never made me think, "i am doing this for my county, flag, or the constitution." In combat and from that point on. We only fight for eachother. Then we come home to listen to warhawks and polititions in non-combat jobs in the national guard or reserves, talk about "soldiers dieing for the constitution/flag" when we fight like hell for eachother. We died to make sure our battle buddy will make it home to theit families. We fight for eachother. Fuck the country, fuck the flag. Just vote for a politition that you have spent at least 3 hours researching their history. And make smart decisions and dont read facebook. Tha k you Lewis.
why'd you join up in the 1st place?
@@rd264 i don't see what this has to fo with my point, but i grew up in a small town. I mean smalllike 300 people. There was not of lot of opertunity. Also, i wanted to go to collage. And i wanted to challange myself. So i thought of becoming a pilot. But 2001 had other ideas. And i ended up in Iraq
I feel that way about "thank you for your service", where were they 50 years ago. We got spit on back then and to have a bunch of people think that they are just so special when they weren't even born yet and have no idea what it was like. I never wear a Vietnam hat and never will. I am not ashamed of my service, I am just angry and it won't go away.
No joke there, elder brother. I am currently serving and did my time in combat. Let me thank you in a different way. Your generation of service members wrote down your hard earned lessons of how-not-to-get-killed dealing with a gorilla force... so those of us that are willing to read can learn from you. So thank you, and your generation for writing those hard earned lessons down.
I had a veteran contractor work on my house. He had gone through some bad crap in Central America. He found Jesus and he went back to those battlefields to find closure and forgive as he was forgiven. Jesus heals. I've seen it from vets to drug addicts. Totally transformed.
I grew up with the Viet Nam War on TV. And I used to ask my dad why people were spitting on our own soldiers? He just said some people are idiots. It used to make me mad even then.
@@fazole
Any vehicle is the one vehicle. Ultimately you choose the vehicle.
@@kevinmunger1842 Thank you-tired of Jesus is the only answer for everything people!
I served during Iraq and Afghanistan. Thanks for what you do Lewis, I'm an aussie veteran and we love you too mate.
Mr Black, I had the pleasure to meet you during your 2007 USO tour, thank you and keep doing your work.
What a wonderful homage to our service people. All that has been said in these rants is true. My father served in the Marines. When he became ill, at, he used the doctors at the VA hospital in St. Petersburg. I’m sure he got the best care they could offer. He eventually died, but he was not a young man, he was 83. We don’t do enough for our service people. The red tape they go through, at any age, is insane. These people, that have given us their times, and served for our protection should be treated as gods. These are the people that should be our idols. NOT the athletes and movie stars. We should be in awe of all of them. Sometimes I don’t think “thank you for your service “ is enough. What a disgrace we all are to these men and women. They should have the best care. Let Congress and all those other politicians find their own doctors. Walter Reed and should be dedicated to the real super stars of our country...Our Veterans. thanks for letting me rant, Lewis.
Deepest respect to Mr Lewis Black, always on point and truthful.
Great show, 13:00 is the flat ugly truth staring us all in face with a hairy eyeball. Thank you to all the vets. I hope one day we are able to get them the support they so richly deserve.
Last time I voted was against Bush in his 2nd election when I was in the Marines but it didn't matter because they lost more than 250,000 military absentee ballots and failed to inform us until six months after the election so it essentially never counted at all. 😳
That election was a doozy, huh? I think they said new century, new rules. Hanging chads???? WTF. Thank you for doing what most don't want to.
I just turned 21 in Vietnam (2/502 Inf, 101st Airborne, "Strike Force Team") TOP sent out mail voting forms to all of us 21 or over. I was so happy to finally be able to vote... I filled mine out with all the other Screaming Eagles and put it in a sandwich bag, rolled up (no zip lock bags back then) and then placed that bag in a seconded bag I rolled up to keep the voting form dry in the jungle and carried it for a couple weeks. We got socked in as we were in the mountain tops around the "A Shaw Valley", so the birds twice had to do kick outs of food and ammo over 8 days (once every 4 days)... but no mail (something they won't kick out or pick up if they can't land) so we didn't get to vote...
We were devastated, we were fighting for America and we can't vote? My team spent almost 330 days in the jungle out of our 365 day tour, with no base camp... I'm 74 years old now, all my friends from my 101st team have mostly died, the majority had cancer, 3 took their lives....My outlook changes when I listen to men like Lewis Black ... because I know he really cares. Thank you sir.
Isnt it funny, that in both elections with Bush Jr. there were "problems" with the voting system in Florida, that wierdly at the same time had another Bush running that state.
The voting system in the US is wrong. In a democracy, it should be the one with the most votes who wins the election. Gore got most votes, so did Hillary. The system that is used in the US, waste votes.
Jeb?
Hey Lewis! Greetings from Germany! Really love your work! Old yeller was my Favorite!! Youre the Guy i would love to be my Grandpa...! Thanks!
I was in weisebaden in the late 70s.danka.
@@augustdarrow1602 Do you mean Wiesbaden?
Thanks, again, Louis. Thank you.
Lewis Lewis Lewis u smart and funny schmeckle u! Honestly I think u are the Carlin of this generation, u r a gust of fresh air and tell it how it is no fucks Givin! I have been fascinated by u and your style since I discovered u in my teens and what a great accident that was! Boy we really need people like u especially now a days when everything has to be wrapped up neatly like it came from the Macy's gift wrapping dept or someone gets offended, u keep the candy coating off of the truth. Keep it up n keep on keeping on!
Marine here, love your stuff, Lewis. Thank you!
I served 8 years,, including Vietnam, But quit after realizing that people hated me for doing what they as a nation told me to do. I believe it was General Po
LOVE HIM. A REAL GOOD TRUE JEW..
Thanks so much. I was in Germany during the cold war.feels like a hundred years ago
Me 2...West Berlin...42nd Eng Co. Andrew's Barracks on Frankenstein Allee
I am a Navy veteran with 8yrs of honorable service. I am a patient at a Veterans Administration Medical Center in Chicago on Damen Ave. My only complaint is that, if you are not 100 percent service connected, we get absolutely no dental care. The VAs claim they follow a whole health approach. Isn't dental a part of whole health? Sure you can surgery only as a life saving measure, while your teeth rot inside of your mouth. Completely absurd
As a veteran of the USNavy, I am so grateful for your appreciation for the sacrifice of my fellow friends. You are my favorite (adopted) uncle. Wether you like it or not, I owe you and your work a big thanks!!! You have a great ability to tell it like it is, like it or not. 😊
I'm an 80 year old vet. I didn't utilize the VA services until my wife made me go to the VA to get hearing aids. It was then I discovered that I had cancer. They took care of me. The cancer treatment worked, and it cost me ZERO. I have been treated very well by the VA, and I have no complaints. But, on occasions of things like Memorial Day and Veteran's Day, these non-serving loons come up to thank me for serving. They are pests. If they really want to thank me and other vets for serving, then VOTE!!! Then wear an I Voted pin. That is more thanks than they can imagine. And I can smile, and know I did something really worthwhile.
I made $0.23 an hour when I was in… I know that’s a lot to some politicians. And don’t even get into trying to get disability for a veteran. You have a better chance of going across the border and re-crossing it and making more benefits and money than veterans will trying to get disability pay.
My dad is going through the stupid same shit with the VA. He is disabled and in his 70's. It is all service connected. They continue this denial bullshit
Thanks. Did my time in the cold-war. It was, and muddy, and loud- really, really loud (sometimes the cicada shriek in my head takes on the sound of my CVC), and dusty (everytime I see video of the folk moving through it now I wonder why they aren't in repirators) and toxic.
I volunteered cause a working-class boy can do alright and thought us a light to shine for humanity. The orange bloat has demonstrated how easily it is to muster sufficient braindeads to hold progress hostage to profit as the echo-chamber of oligarchs that ronny raygun unleashed on us 40 years ago harvest the fruits of their labors.
Thank you to all our veterans past and present for all they have done so we are safe and can go about our lives in relative safety.
I was Navy and Marine Corps… enlisted Corpsman to Warrant officer… thought we were fighting Fascism but turns out we were supporting the corporations. Biggest mistake of my life. Not being in the military but for supporting this country. Peace
I agree the all of the lip service means nothing, "Thank you for your service" just pisses me off by now. Hey, when you meet a vet in a bar, maybe do not give a meaningless phrase, buy them a drink instead. That actually matters to them the words do not. When I used to go out prior to the new smoking regulations , basically meaning only go to bars that had outdoor areas afterwards of them being a general rule in most states and many nations. Presently I live in Wisconsin, so means I don't go out to places much when it gets colder. Anytime vets meet in a bar we talk shit about each others branch they were in, but we all buy a beer or shot for each other. So we buy for our brothers and sisters at least once in the meeting which is cool for us. Civilians only say meaningless that are now stock statements, but won't buy you a drink. Seems to me that phrase is the begining and end of their 'support'. Most vets would be happier in general getting a drink rather than words. It's not like most vets even those putting in 20-30 years are not having money problems, officers do have it better than enlisted this way. Yet, none of us make/made a lot of money, while in service we make far less than a minimum wage, we are technically always on the clock 24/7. The first paycheck I got outside of schools, when I was in you got your first check at when you were in an MOS school. That one was big, as it was for months of service., but when it went to the bi-monthly check, depending on my rank, it was around 700-900$ per 2 weeks. I got a medical discharge,about the time I was gonna become a corporal.So I know the money would be low going in, but had no idea how low it was. Getting 1400 to 1800 hundred a month wouldn't allow someone to survive without living on base and using the chow hall for food. So unless we used the free stuff we can get we would possibly all be homeless and starving while still are serving. Many bases are in high cost of living areas,and unless you were at least a Sergeant, we could not live offbase even if we had the money. For instance you cannot get an on base house to put your family into to help mitigate housing costs. I also think about the fact that many of us had chosen to join, because many were supporting their family that they were born into. There were shittons of time we decide not to do things because our cash went to our families once we got it, note that is are parents and siblings for this example. Those that did not have to do that, would often pay for things for those that were broke, like a night out or a trip home. Really sad that it seems only those that are on the bottom, for the most part, are those that actually serve. Wish we had national service laws, not talking about the draft. S.Korea has a good system about that, don't have to be in the military there but you have to give two years in some way, like as an EMS/paramedic as one example. We all in this country might get along much better,a shared sacrifice would also expose us more points of view and get rid of the bubbles so many of us live in. I also think a truly bad thing that happened under BushII was removing citizenship as a benefit for immigrants who served for 4 years or more. Now, an immigrant that serves can be deported for sometimes breaking a law, yet since the civil war prior to Bush II it was normal, it's why so many Irish were in the Civil War soon after getting off the boats. In SOI(school of infantry) , in USMC I met alot of folks who joined to get citizenship, they did it because it was quicker or prove loyalty to their new country and doesn't cost money, you actually get some money instead of paying out money. Might not be the worst thing Bush II did the the services, but it's a huge one, considering prior to 9/11 we had problems getting people to actually serve. I could say quite abit about what else got changed after 2000, but think I have ranted enough for now.
I don't always have the money to buy someone a drink but I do give out awesome hugs when I thank someone for their service. And why would anyone say welcome home when they may have come home long ago. Some people just don't think. All that being said, I have bought meals and drinks for vets when I can. If I see a homeless vet, I will go out of my way to make something happen, because that's just not right.
Hey @WarburtonMcKinnon my husband served in the British Army, my Dad in WWII & was at the Battle of the Bulge, got the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
We always try to buy drinks for people in uniform & if we're really flush we buy the whole meal & drinks. My husband works to save suicidal PTSD vets on Facebook. He belongs to alot of vet groups in England & he'll alert buddies there if he sees anything suspicious from a post. He's saved 7 lives so far. I hope you are doing well, it looks like it from your profile. I hope we all keep praying for & acknowledging our troops in meaningful ways & FIGHT for their ongoing care! 🙏✌️
Thanks brother, next round's on me if you ever care to visit Jackson. Wanna go skiing? Ride bikes? Row boats? Dance your ass off, or just take a nap in my hammock in the shade? I got you covered. I'll do my best to put your excellent suggestions to use.
Woodburton, I can hear some of the real jerks screaming “but that sounds like socialism”! People just don’t get it
HA!! I too am a dysfunctional vet because Sylus (spelling) spoke the truth on that one. This whole thing was outstanding. Great job Lewis, as always.
Much respect for all our veterans .my father was a chaplain in korea..he was a good man..died long ago but still..he later became a Lutheran church pastor in the 1970s into 80s.an old employer of mine as well ,his father was wounded in Korea,he was in a foxhole and the Korean soldiers attacked him ,but he killed them..so God bless all our soldiers.theyve gone through litteral hell and back..thank them when u see one for their service to our country even if theyve not seen combat.theyre still here for our country and actually during times of need such as bad storms and floods they're out there to help..
My uncle survived 2 tours in Vietnam only to die 40 years later in a horrible fuking way because of agent orange. My uncle lived every day with a smile and handing smiles out to everyone. I never heard him complain about anything ever. Even in his last few days he had only positive advice for me. I hope when i die im at least 1/2 of the man he was. So sincerely, thank you. i have only love and respect to all who have served are serving or will some day serve we are forever in debt to you.
I served my country for six years, didn't do anything heroic but I did my assigned duty and I did it well and to the best of my ability. I'm always surprised when someone thanks me for my service. I don't need to be thanked for that as I did what I grew up thinking I should do, serve my country. For those who didn't serve for what ever reason do your duty now and do what you can to help those who did serve and now could use your help. It is disgraceful how our government treats those heroic veterans. Our government is populated with people who didn't serve our country and aren't serving it now.
thank you for your mercenary rampage
Timely my friend, keep fighting the good fight
A GREAT Veterans Day !!! (USN '73-'77)
Now THAT’S a good rant! Thank you to all the veterans that have, are and will protect us!
♥️🤍💙🇺🇸💙🤍♥️!
God bless you Mr Black
What do we owe veterans? Absolutely everything, I’m sorry the last several years we have not respected this country as you did while you served. I hope we can all get together and pull together and do better
I support the wounded warriors project proudly
Lew, Thank you for mentioning the USO performances with my son Jonathan. You and Jon are the men I love so much!!!, Deb Harriot. USN😢 Retired.
God bless you.
The first time someone thanked me for my service (I was at the VA in 2011, I got out in 1978), I was shocked and didn't reply. The more I thought about it, the madder I got.
Iam a veteran and I also thank Mr.Black.
i'm a camp lejeune toxic water marine that has been sick, disabled, and unemployed since before discharge & subsisting on an unemployment pension from the va that is below-the-poverty level awarded to me at age 20, i'm now 65 without a history of employment with social security that only takes 3 years to establish. i have lived my entire adult life below-the-poverty level and still have not seen one penny from all the camp lejeune legislation passed through congress... i have lived below-the-poverty level since i was discharged at 19!
I love you Lewis
I started calling Congress critters on their DC office phones a couple of months ago telling them what I think of their failure to address the needs of WE The People, including our military personnel. Also, giving compliments to those who are trying to DO THE RIGHT THING. It feels good and might just help.
I'll shake a veterans hand and say "Thank you for "serving" and country that does not take care of you, when you need it the most. You are extremely brave"
Amen Lewis! Hope your Mom is well!!
Dysfunctional Veterans is FANTASTIC! I love that group. (Or it was last I heard about them)
Gratitude
Thank you, Sir!
Im a retired 70 year old Marine.
And ,myself,Id rather be left alone and NOT have people come up offering the typical "Thank you for your service.". Im an adult,and dont need that pat on the back.I found it a privilege to serve my country.And that is thanks enough. Not every vet wants that offer of thanks.Many of us just want to be left alone.Its embarrassing to some of us.Dont ask why.I dont know.It just is.
Brilliant!!!! Moving!!!! Wonderful!!!!! Necessary……
Thank you Lewis Black
My Dad Was in world war 1. He was shot and they did not remove it because it would have kill him. My Dad was a true Veteran. He was big in helping other Veterans. He was Big in the VFW. He died on veterans day. That was his Favorite Holiday. I miss him so much.
Thanks Lewis❤
Gotta love Lewis Black who is not afraid to be patriotic, not a pretend patriot, but a real American patriot, one who knows, respects, and cares for our Veterans who have served. We need to get after our congressmen/women and let them know that we want to get more help to our Veterans now! We need to visit our local veteran hospital and see for ourselves what kind of conditions they are in, and if the conditions are bad we need to speak up and say so. Thank goodness for people like Lewis Black, Jon Stewart, Gary Sinese, and so many others who have shown they care by actually doing something to show it. VOTE!
TY
As a Veteran thank you Lewis Black
At the urging of my family and friends, pre covid, I went to the VA to ask about PTSD. I have been struggling for years since leaving the service and serving during conflict among other things. I requested help and was told I’d get a phone call to arrange some help. Well, what I got was a 5 minute call and about 8-10 yes or no questions fired off rapidly I can barely remember. After about a week or month I got a letter to inform me I didn’t have PTSD. That’s how the VA does it. Still looking for help… I am not the same person and have never adjusted to people or life after service properly but thanks for your service.
There is money to be made making us ready and giving us the tools to fight but sadly never the resources or funds to fix the damaged pieces when we come home.
lewis.. i love all your routiens..this one stired up so so many feelings in me. a vietnam era wet who got WRITTEN orders from nixon to NOT weare the military uniform while HOME ON LEAVE,i was a baby killer who now today am HONERED by people with no reason to salute THAT fact,only 2 falll in line with popular POLITICAL opinions... where is THE UNDERSTANDING of TRUE real appreciation & GIVEING????
USMC veteran. Thank you Loius.
Mr. Black, thank you for your rant. MMC(SS) USN Ret.
I’ve been fighting for 11yrs for mine. Hired an attorney in March 2021. I’m unemployable due to 70% PTSD, 30% migraines, six items rated at 10% each (90% total). I can barely stand or deal with stupid civilians and I’m hoping for my last 5% so I’ll receive my 100% rating. If I do, I can get dental care then.
I served from 1980 to 1990, then again from 2006 to 2017! I served for most of my life!
As a Marine let me say we love you Lewis and we’ll miss you when you stop touring. Oh, the VA sucks!
Amen to the first rant, right on point!!
I’m a British Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. Our public have started with the whole “thank you for your service” shtick.
When I get a half assed “thank you for your service” I usually reply “fuck off, we’re not Americans”
If you want to thank me, buy a poppy, donate to a veterans charity, _DO_ something for veterans.
Save your empty platitudes.
This USMC JARHEAD SALUTES MR.. Black,Oorah Semper Fidelis Oorah,Carry On !!!
Thank you!
Thank you mr. black. 2nd inf div
My brother served in Iraq and came back a different person. My dad once complained about the people protesting to my brother. My brother simply said, “dad, I don’t agree with their views but me and other veterans fought or died for their right to protest.”
Sorry, I am old now and shake like a chihuahua passing a peach pit. It made me hit the comment button unintentionally. Colin Powell once was being argued with by some English diplomats when he stopped a man's tirade by asking him if he spoke German. When the fellow said "no" in a rather haughty tone, Powell simply said "you're welcome" and turned around and left, to thunderous silence. Not my war, but it didn't seem to matter to the people who were shooting at me.
What do (did) you do for a living? That was a very nicely executed accidental comment button push.
My friend worked from 7am to 10pm two jobs. Polls were open 8am-8pm. Is he a jerk for not stopping during his 30 minutes between jobs. We don't want the poor to vote.
Employers are required to give time off to vote.
@@fazole yes they are. Official policy an real life internal policy are not the same thing. If the people who control your schedule, your families income, don't want you to leave to vote, voting becomes something risky. NJ created PTO for all employees who work 30hrs a week. Great. Management fires several non management employees for using their PTO. None of us peasant employees felt safe using it after that. NJ is a BS right to work state so they can be fired at will.
@@davidgodchilla4413 Should be a voting day with no working.
Another Veterans Day November 11, tomorrow..
Year and a half ago, if you came out to the smoking area, you can sit anywhere you want! But people showed respect and moved out of Wayne‘s chair, when I asked, I was told Mr. West is a veteran. Fought in Vietnam and Korea!
My dad was in the Navy I know! Only the army was in it, not just giving people rides.
People don’t understand things like sacrifice, like family, honor! Not like I mean it this time. But More like, yeah I’m willing to die for it!
Like emigrants? I don’t know what Americans think. But with coastal erosion, biblical fires, biblical storms we’re going to have migrants that are Americans, No if & or buts, I’ve been here 22 years…
War is just a thing people have been running from in the past. Last few decades However, climate caused diseases, famine and floods?
Things really are life and death sometimes. Anyhow few months ago my harassers we’re trying to be a little mean! Belittling me for always giving up my seat to Sergeant West!
It’s probably back in my dialectic notes, but I gave a speech I was rather proud of!
Happy Veterans Day! Is not a day to buy mattresses or cars. Or big screen TVs.
You’re supposed to go to the cemetery and change the flowers on their headstone.. Bring a six pack. Pack of filterless cigarettes. Have a long conversation, thank them for their sacrifice! The ones that made it home? Most likely have survivors remorse. PTSD!
Thank them, they will appreciate that. But they don’t want to reminisce. They’re trying to forget! Respect, their honor and their sacrifice.
To Lewis Black: I have a weird feeling about this, Lewis. Yes, support the troops. They risk their lives to ... eh? Well protect the USA, and or, oops, protect its corporate interests, protect oil and other natural resources (in foreign nations), make a mess of other countries. A 'victory in Iraq' (yes, use it as a saying) now starts to mean winning in a way that makes a bigger mess of everything, like you win the argument in a relationship, but it results in a messy divorce. Meanwhile these military often come back wounded, real or PTSD. And they chose to serve out of patriotism or, lets be real, poverty, to come back and return to poverty too often incapable to make money because of those wounds. Who get rich are the corporate giants. Who get rich are the industrial military complex. By robbing veterans of money, dignity, health and hardly giving back they show what most people should wonder, harder, deeper about: is the US military being used by corporate robbers? Honor the troops, but question: who uses them for what? Because being used by the kind of people you ought to defend your country against is weird. They may wear ties, talk sophisticated, have huge mansions, get photographed in glossy magazines, open a hospital wing with their name on it (to avoid paying taxes), but the truth is, they rob the people and the people give them their taxes and their soldiers. So yes, support the troops, but question more for whom to get what?
Graft and corruption will never end but do you think it could be pared back to acceptable levels if it were required that all people seeking public office were veterans?
At the very least it would result in better care for those who have been wounded, both physically and mentally.
@@donmiller2908 Good question. I think veterans like all people come in all sorts. Some glorify war, or keep playing military even at home. Others criticize the war machine. And others just want to forget or leave it behind. So, I think that would not be a good idea, except for the part that veterans should run veteran programs and get decent pay and healthcare.
You make an old sailor cry my friend, I live in Portland, and its a daily tragedy, I ride the beat mass transit system around but it also inables me to see the tents and piles of refuse, I saw them out there shivering when it was 20 degrees here...it breaks the heart....
All Vietnam 🇻🇳 Veterans should be rated 100% for Agent Orange exposure and serving over 200 days in combat. Period. But they all got spat on and ignored for decades.
It would be most impactful if veterans walked in all parades carrying an upside down American flag: just to remind everyone that all is not well in America...
Right on.
I worked to get our Veterans a Community Center. A Community Center to help our veterans resolve their issues with the Veterans Administration. When I turned to our Veterans for help? They told me to read the Federalist Papers.
This is the mentality of vets without needs. They have no qualms about turning their backs on other veterans, all because of these "Federalist Papers". Thanks, Republicans, you own this.
As a Navy Beirut Vet, BZ Mr. Black