Abalinx 10 December 2017 Peter Adamis
PREAMBLE. These are my opinions only and although these are two separate issues, politicians saw fit to place a higher priority on SSM than the suicide rate amongst veterans. A copy of the article may be downloaded by clicking on: SSM TAKES PRIORITY OVER VETERANS SUICIDE
I don’t expect all readers to agree with me but what else can I do under the circumstances but highlight the errors of judgement by those politicians in parliament who have lost the plot. I prefer constructive rather than destructive criticism.
Friends and acquaintances who have never worn the uniform of Australia often ask me why the high ratio of deaths by suicide rather than on the battlefield.
At times I am at a loss for words because no matter what I respond with I can never really reconcile the mind of a troubled veteran with the training they have received.
Most if not all are males who have taken their lives and although I don’t have the statistics for females I can see those figures skyrocketing if women are allowed to share the hardships and rigors of their male counterparts.
While on the other hand no one discusses the families left behind. What effect it has had on the spouses, the children, the parents, friends and relatives. These are the hidden costs in human lives that are not considered.
Surely this topic is far greater in value than the LGTBQI issues. I question the validity of that fraudulent and deceptive SSM survey
I am no stranger to suicide after a few cobber and soldiers I have known personally took their own lives. Yes I confess, it is true that I have also planned and considered taking that final step but was helped through the crisis by sharing my thoughts with the “mind benders”
But this is not about me, it is about our political representatives whose main job is to polish the soft “velvet” chairs at parliament house in Canberra.
Over the past few weeks they RUSHED through a law legalizing SSM and then hugging each other and being so emotional about it as if they had just won a major victory against an invisible enemy.
While they were jubilant we lost more veterans to suicide. Do we hear the media making a song and dance about it?
A big NO. We did not. They, the media and our political representatives failed the veteran community miserably. Except for the very few, the remainder all lack courage and intestinal fortitude. The gutless weak kneed bastards.
We in the veteran community live our lives out as best as we can wondering from one day to the next whose name will prop up on the suicide register and wonder how many fall between the cracks and we don’t know of it.
If a fraudulent and deceptive survey can influence and sway politicians to vote with their feet rather with good judgement; our nation would be in a far better shape.
Every time a veteran takes their own life, the nation loses one of its defenders of freedom and the security of our institutions.
We as a nation CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE our silent guardians nor can we afford to see families lose a father, a son, mother or daughter.
What about the cost in human lives? I am referring to the spouses, partners, children, siblings, parents, relatives and friends left behind.
I don’t have the answer other than to ask our politicians to think what is in the best interest of the nation and make right the wrongs facing families, mentally challenged, pensioners, homeless, the Aussie battler and yes our veterans who would rather go quietly and without a fuss as if their lives did not matter.
Our politicians have fallen so far from their ivory towers that they have lost that human quality of compassion and replaced it with the negative word. “Desire” to appease and please a community based on a fraudulent and deceptive survey.
SHAME, DISGRACEFUL and OPPORTUNISTIC are the only words I can think of to describe those politicians. Mind you in their defence there are the few that have the courage to stand up and fight the good fight for the Aussie battler.
I challenge readers to spread the word. Don’t just read my comments and brush them off while more veterans take their lives and leave us alone in the dark. They like the LGTBQI community deserve better treatment.
I would like to see this post shared across all social media outlets and not simply pressing the Like button. Veteran’s lives matter too.
Talk to your mates and ask their opinion why are veterans taming their lives. Make it a priority and let your local politician become aware of veterans plight.
What we lack now is leadership, a vision, who we are as a nation, what is our role in the world, what defines us and separates us from the rest of the world. We need heroes that will always stand up for the little fellow, the Aussie battler, the Mums and Dads and those struggling to put food on the table, to educate and clothe their family. Where are they today? They are certainly not in Parliament.
2017 was laced with sadness with the passing of family friends and acquaintances and yet despite their passing, I have become the recipient of their memories and will not forget their contribution to making me who I am. May their memory live on in the hearts and minds of those left behind! Life as we know it can only be sustained by vigilance and with that vigilance comes responsibility. Apologies for the poor grammar and savagery of the English language.
Peter Adamis is a Journalist/Social Media Commentator and writer. He is a retired Australian military serviceman and an Industry organisational & Occupational (OHS) & Training Consultant whose interests are within the parameters of domestic and international political spectrum. He is an avid blogger and contributes to domestic and international community news media outlets as well as to local and Ethnic News. He holds a Bachelor of Adult Learning & Development (Monash), Grad Dip Occupational Health & Safety, (Monash), Dip. Training & Assessment, Dip Public Administration, and Dip Frontline Management. Website: abalinx.com Contact via Email: [email protected] or via Mobile: 0481 342 791