Military Families and Stress

Soldiers face a huge amount of stress and emotional upheaval in active war. The constant fear of losing their lives, fighting for their country and the trauma of having to take another’s life can be emotionally damaging. Another set of people who undergo a huge amount of such emotional distress is the families of such soldiers.

Having a member of one’s family leave home for battle is the equivalent of having a family member go out into the great unknown. Going about daily life knowing that someday there may be a knock on the door bringing in bad news is difficult. With children and elders at home, handling such delicate situations can be extremely difficult. Children ask questions on the whereabouts of a parent, the elders jump at the sound of the phone or the doorbell. Through it all, the strong one in the family has to maintain a façade of calm that can be nerve-wracking at times. In most cases, it has to be understood that such mental angst comes from supporting the soldiers and not necessarily the war they are fighting.

Families also undergo stress when their loved ones come back home. Whether they come home with an injury or not, there is mental trauma. Many soldiers come back with post-traumatic stress disorder. Dealing with such soldiers and maintaining the peace in the family can be quite difficult. If a soldier comes home with an injury, permanent or otherwise, it takes a massive toll on the family that is trying to look after him the best they can. They have to deal with tempers, emotions and pain while all time maintaining a calm face in front of family and friends.

Filed Under: Protests, Society Tagged With: , ,

Banks Help fund Veteran Housing

Veterans have contributed to the strength and well-being of our country in a way that many American citizens may take for granted. Veterans have given of their time, effort, and energy as well as their very lives to sacrifice for the safety and prosperity of the United States.

As they return home from service, many find the transition extremely difficult. Whereas they have been surrounded by battle and weapons, constantly living in survival mode, they must learn to deal with daily life in everyday America.

With all the factors involved, such as health issues, injuries, lack of job training or opportunities, many veterans get stuck in limbo or worse find themselves living on the streets.

Many feel this is an injustice and that there needs to be more done to to help our Veterans comfortably transition to daily life.

In 2011, administration groups as well as financial providers recognize the need for providing affordable, quality housing for Veterans. An example of this is the Huntington Bank along with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs are working together to financially provide rental housing for Veterans in five Ohio and Michigan cities(Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, and Northern Michigan). The Huntington Bank is grateful to have received a 3 million dollar grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati to help fund the construction project. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs will also be contributing a large sum of money to make up the majority of the difference for the 11 million dollar project.

This effort is not only well meant, but will greatly help the Veterans who need that extra boost in the transition process. As Veterans take advantage of this rental housing, they will have to worry less about finding shelter and can focus more on employment, family, and continuing to contribute meaningfully to society.

Filed Under: Protests, Volunteering Tagged With: , ,

Peaceful Protest in Baghdad

Often times the news reported out of Iraq and Afghanistan is littered with violence, assassinations and other clear signs of war. However there are those, though they may not receive the spotlight, which seek peace and hope for change in non-violent ways.

On Monday, February 14, 2011, about 200 such peaceful protesters gathered in Tahrir Square in Baghdad Iraq to demonstrate their hope for change in a Valentine’s Day protest. This square is a small plaza located next to a traffic circle. Soldiers and policemen were present in case violence broke out. But there was no need. In the place of guns and homemade bombs, the protesters peacefully waved red balloons and silk roses in the air. Their cries were of love for Iraq and the necessity of economical change.

It is reported that the demonstrators’ goal was not violence or to overthrow the government administration. Instead, they admitted they could live with the current government, but they want employment, more consistent electricity, cleaner streets and better security.

It is reported that one out of every five Iraqis is unemployed. They only get electricity a few hours a day. There call is for the government to truly mean the necessities of the people.

At the same time some speculate trouble since the majority of the unemployment is among the youth. With the current news of violence in surrounding countries, many wonder if the youth of Iraq may follow suit. They often vent their feelings on Facebook and have organized Facebook groups with names such as “Blue Revolution” and “Streets of Baghdad for Change.” As the newly established government takes full reigns and listens to these chants for better jobs and electricity, change can be peacefully brought about.

These protesters stance is a symbol that people can express their feelings in non-violent ways and still gain the attention of the press. While some may feel that the only means of turning a tide is through weapons or damaging actions, there are many that do believe that peaceful organization can help change the world and overcome the need for war.

Filed Under: Protests, War Tagged With: , ,

Peace is The Answer

In a perfect world, everyone would love everyone, and there would be no conflict. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world, and war does exist. We are fighting for peace and to protect our freedom. In the United States we have very dedicated men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line to do just that, protect us. Military families know all too well the effects of fighting for our freedom. They kiss their loved ones goodbye, and send them off to that unknown place, the war zone. They do not know when, or even if, they will see them again. There are many volunteer organizations to help these families cope. There are support groups to help them through the difficult times, when their loved ones are not with them, and they do not have any contact with them. There are organizations that allow these families to get together and at least, be with others who are experiencing the same sense of fear and uncertainty.

Hopefully, the soldiers will return, veterans of a war. This can be a very difficult time for both the soldier and his family. There are many organizations to help with this difficult time. There are Veterans’ hospitals all across the country to deal with physical injuries, which can range from not so serious, to loss of limbs, which require many surgeries and possibly prosthetic limbs. Another casualty of war can be the PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder. Many of our brave have to relive the horror of seeing innocent people killed or the feeling of being threatened on a daily basis, in their minds. This disability requires ongoing psychiatric care and, wtih time and patience, hopefully a way back to their “life before war.”

Obviously peace is the answer, but until then at least we have organizations and efforts to help our soldiers cope with their experience.

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Filed Under: Protests, Training, Volunteering Tagged With: , ,

Get Involved- Make Peace Not War!

Get Involved- Make Peace Not War!When it comes to the peace that we experience in today’s world, many times it simply feels artificial. With war still fresh in our minds, constant fighting in our government entities and a consistent upheaval for our very basic rights it is no wonder that so many people tend to throw their arms up in frustration, giving up the thought that we will ever live in a truly peaceful environment. The truth is that if we all give up we can be certain that things will never change, so it’s extremely important to stay on the path of trying to make this world a better place.

There are numerous different ways that you can get involved in order to see progression in this world, all it takes is just a little bit of commitment and a little spare time. There are even plenty of things you can do from the comfort of your own home that can help us get one step closer to the peace most of us crave. For example, consider signing online petitions that you stand for! This is a very easy way to get involved without having to commit to much time or energy when you simply don’t have it.

On the other hand, if you are looking for more ways to get involved then you have many different options. Fundraising, passing out flyers, meeting with other like-minded individuals, wearing homemade shirts that spread your message, and teaching your children the importance of peace in the world are all basic yet effective ways to really make a difference. Joining clubs or groups that are dedicated to efforts on peace can yield you numerous other ideas as well. As long as you remember that every little effort you make adds up to something that is spectacular and powerful.

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Filed Under: Protests, Training Tagged With: , ,