Opinion
This week, social media proved its utility because of a viral Veterans Affairs memo printed on the location X by a preferred account identified for exposing woke ideology in authorities. The memo referred to as for the removing of the enduring World Struggle II picture of a sailor celebrating V-Day by kissing a nurse in Instances Sq..
The memo demanded VA services take away the picture and substitute it with one thing extra according to the group’s values. Why? As a result of the picture was allegedly in opposition to 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 can be held accountable.
Trauma-inducing iconic WWII picture?
In a memo signed by Assistant Undersecretary for Well being and Operations, RimaAnn Nelson, VA services had been instructed to take away the well-known picture that exhibits a sailor kissing a nurse in celebration. In response to the memo, the picture displays “inappropriate conduct” and depicts a “non-consensual act.”
Ms. Nelson wrote that displaying the picture in VA services:
“…might be construed as a tacit endorsement of the inappropriate conduct it depicts.”
The memo goes on to claim that:
“Workers have expressed discomfort with the show of this {photograph}.”
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Ms. Nelson continues to instruct the services to take away the picture as a way to:
“…foster a extra trauma-informed setting.”
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 services. He wrote in no unsure phrases:
“Let me be clear: This picture just isn’t banned from VA services, and we are going to preserve it in VA services.”
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 an extended employment historical past with the VA. And this isn’t the primary time her skills 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 resulting from her monitor 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 skills questioned, and nonetheless protected against any accountability.
The improper focus
This isn’t the primary time the VA has decided based mostly on woke ideology to attempt to erase historical past. Final 12 months, the VA updated 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 tackle. He declared it was this nation’s solemn accountability to:
“look after 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 look after 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 ladies 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 many who have served in our nation’s navy 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 many who have “borne the battle,” veterans like myself have healthcare choices and different entitlements. I’ll go away you with a couple of present statistics:
- In 2023, veteran homelessness elevated by 7.4%
- On a single evening in January of 2023, there have been 35,574 homeless veterans
- 17 veterans commit suicide daily
- An digital well being data difficulty may trigger 250,000 veterans to obtain the wrong 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 may adhere to their solemn promise to look after me, and will probably make me worse. Maybe it’s time to concentrate on look after veterans versus imagined trauma inducing photographs.
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