Veterans to Defense Department: HELP!
Veterans need help. The Defense Department needs to pay attention. I'm not talking about whether or not the Veterans Administration needs more funding, or whether returning soldiers are treated well by the armed forces and the public. That all may be true. But I'm talking about something much more basic and simple. And it's got to do with how the DOD uses words.
A retired general wants "disorder" changed to "injury." The Armed Forces Journal reports that the change would encourage veterans to seek medical assistance.
The reasoning is that PTSD - post-traumatic stress disorder - implies some sort of purely psychological condition and many veterans think that if they go for treatment they'll look weak. PTSI - post-traumatic stress injury - on the other hand sounds more "physical" and so they'll be less likely to think they appear weak and will seek treatment.
If it helps get people to seek treatment, then go for it, right?
This shows how important words are. They really do matter. It also shows that this general is using his reason and common sense for the benefit of U.S. veterans suffering from PTSD.
It's important for us to understand this because so many people mumble or use vague terms when they're trying to state something. We're losing the ability to communicate verbally and in writing. The cause is probably - just my educated guess - our attachment to electronic devices that reduce our attention span to zero. E-mail, more-so texting, promotes writing in clipped, mostly unconnected phrases...oh, and let's not forget our educational establishment.
Not only do people make little sense when they speak, but most people no longer know how to write complete sentences, never mind whole paragraphs of related sentences.
We've become incapable of thinking or communicating ideas that are meaningful or substantive.
Now, how do you suppose we'll collectively be able to lift ourselves up out the economic and political mess we're mired in if we can't effectively communicate meaningful ideas?
Getting back to veterans who suffer the effects of active combat, three cheers for retired general Peter Chiarelli for understanding the impact of changing "disorder" to "injury." Here's a guy who does indeed know how to think clearly and who can express those thoughts effectively in writing.
And this won't cost a dime! So all those Americans who feel that the DOD spends too much don't have to worry about this idea. Ah, the power of a clear thinking mind - it's worth it's weight in gold, wouldn't you agree?
Let's see if the DOD takes action on this for the benefit of those who put themselves in harm's way.
A retired general wants "disorder" changed to "injury." The Armed Forces Journal reports that the change would encourage veterans to seek medical assistance.
The reasoning is that PTSD - post-traumatic stress disorder - implies some sort of purely psychological condition and many veterans think that if they go for treatment they'll look weak. PTSI - post-traumatic stress injury - on the other hand sounds more "physical" and so they'll be less likely to think they appear weak and will seek treatment.
If it helps get people to seek treatment, then go for it, right?
This shows how important words are. They really do matter. It also shows that this general is using his reason and common sense for the benefit of U.S. veterans suffering from PTSD.
It's important for us to understand this because so many people mumble or use vague terms when they're trying to state something. We're losing the ability to communicate verbally and in writing. The cause is probably - just my educated guess - our attachment to electronic devices that reduce our attention span to zero. E-mail, more-so texting, promotes writing in clipped, mostly unconnected phrases...oh, and let's not forget our educational establishment.
Not only do people make little sense when they speak, but most people no longer know how to write complete sentences, never mind whole paragraphs of related sentences.
We've become incapable of thinking or communicating ideas that are meaningful or substantive.
Now, how do you suppose we'll collectively be able to lift ourselves up out the economic and political mess we're mired in if we can't effectively communicate meaningful ideas?
Getting back to veterans who suffer the effects of active combat, three cheers for retired general Peter Chiarelli for understanding the impact of changing "disorder" to "injury." Here's a guy who does indeed know how to think clearly and who can express those thoughts effectively in writing.
And this won't cost a dime! So all those Americans who feel that the DOD spends too much don't have to worry about this idea. Ah, the power of a clear thinking mind - it's worth it's weight in gold, wouldn't you agree?
Let's see if the DOD takes action on this for the benefit of those who put themselves in harm's way.
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