I am a civilian. We have wonderful ladies who have served in our nation’s armed forces blogging here, but I am not one of them. I come from a family with a very long military history, but I am the first generation to have not served. No matter how much support I give them, I will never completely understand what it is to be a veteran. That cannot be changed.

I woke yesterday to the most disturbing news I have borne witness to for as long as I can remember: the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice this past weekend would not be receiving death benefits from our pathetic excuse for a representative body.

I hate them. I hate them all and hope they burn in the fires of a thousand hells.

Not only will the families of those who sacrificed all be forced to find ways to finance travel, expenditures, burial, and a host of other semantics, they will face uncertainty regarding the probability of even being there when their loved one meets U.S. soil for the final time.

We as a nation damn sure owe them more than that.

But why, when our politicians are choosing which corners to cut, is THIS on the chopping block in lieu of congressional gyms, golf courses, or personal air taxis? There’s money for extra security at our veterans’ memorials, but not to pay respect to our fallen?

I have to wonder, then, has it anything to do with the fact that fewer and fewer people are donning uniforms, so the importance placed upon honor is diminished? When less than one in five sitting members of those elected to represent us have even worn a uniform, I am pretty sure that may have something to do with it.

Now, that isn’t to say that civilians can’t or don’t know of honor and respect in regards to our nation’s servicemembers, not at all. It’s more the fact that their benefits have become less important than penguin depression studies and the like because the military isn’t being represented in politics. Personally, I would like to see greater numbers of those who have actually fought for their country decide how it should be run.

Would that have prevented this most egregious of actions our bastard government has taken up against its fallen sons and daughters? Yeah, I think it would have, and I believe it’s time to put more veterans in charge.