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EDITOR'S CHOICE |
Attorney at Law, Leavitt, Kerson & Duane, New York, NY
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Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.—Founding principle of the Vietnam Veterans of America
Last year, I had the opportunity to attend the 25th anniversary reception for the Queens County, New York Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. In 1983, when I was a member of the New York State Assembly, the Queens chapter came to me because it was pursuing a legislative agenda that included educational benefits as one of its main components. The Vietnam veterans simply wanted benefits that had been provided to veterans of previous wars.
Working with Vietnam veterans across New York State and my colleagues in the legislature, I became the prime sponsor of the Vietnam Veterans Tuition Assistance Bill to enable Vietnam-era veterans who were not dishonorably discharged to obtain financing to further their education. Some legislators did not want to spend taxpayer money to finance the education of those returning from an "unsuccessful war." Opponents went so far as to refuse to let the bill out of committee based upon my draft status as a conscientious objector. However, as a result of the relentless efforts of Vietnam veterans across the political spectrum, the Vietnam Veterans Tuition Assistance Bill was signed into law in 1984 by then New York State Governor Mario Cuomo.
The holiday season is a particularly apropos time for us to support the reentry into society and rehabilitation of those returning from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Those who have sacrificed so much for our country deserve physical and mental health care, educational opportunities, and a real chance to live fulfilling lives.
Meeting the challenge of caring for our veterans provides a compelling public health model for our society as a whole. We must rethink who serves in our society, in what capacities they serve, how to give them opportunities to advance the public interest, and how to care for them afterwards. Farmers, factory workers, teachers, service workers, cab drivers, and so many other workers and professionals provide necessary goods and services. We as a society must redouble our efforts to support and promote public health so as to maximize their contributions to our country and humanity.
Not only must we broaden our definitions of who serves in our society and how they do so, but we must envision public health in a much broader context than providing health care. An honest commitment to public heath mandates sweeping reform of our nation’s policies and priorities. Social inequalities among us must be eliminated. Clean air and water are vital. All workers must be paid a living wage. It is imperative that we furnish educational opportunities to everyone. Safe, affordable housing is essential. Older people must be able to live their lives in comfort.
An integral component of this public health vision is that we establish an affordable and effective structure for caring for the health of all of us. This public health model requires us to create a society that both enables and encourages us to lead healthy lives. When we need health care, we must no longer countenance disjointed efforts to provide services to segments of our society while leaving so many without any access whatsoever.
In our democracy, we have the power to implement policies that promote genuine public health. True patriotism demands that we do so.
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