Congressman Green: Deeds Not Words

[I write this article based upon my own life experiences as a young adult. My first wife, Nadine Mershon, was paraplegic due to an inoperable spinal cord tumor that caused her untimely death at the age of 29. She lived her all too brief life vibrantly and bore our healthy son, Andrew, just two years before her death. I write this having witnessed the reality of paraplegia for more than 9 years as closely as an individual can who is not paraplegic.]
Approximately two months ago (August 11, 2005) Congressman Mark Green (R, WI) wrote an Op-Ed piece entitled " All in a Day's Work" that was featured in the Door County Advocate. He described his single day adventure in a wheelchair in the halls of Congress. His day of "confinement" in a wheelchair according to his own words "helped me learn valuable lessons that I would not have otherwise understood or fully appreciated."
He also wrote: "My experience wasn't meant to fool anyone or to suggest that I was disabled. It was meant to hopefully open my eyes to the challanges of living life in a wheelchair--to have a little slice of what they face day in and day out." These words are certainly worthy, but his deeds belie his words.
Congressman Green has consistently voted with the Bush Administration to cut Veteran's medical benefits until the heat started to roast the Republican dominated Congress and they relented by restoring $ 1.5 billion that had been slashed. Now, since Katrina and Rita cuts are again being advocated by Republicans in Congress even though more funding is urgently needed. The horrible injuries sustained by thousands of our brave soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq will flood the already strained capacity of VA facilities to provide the necessary medical treatments for the severely wounded and disabled veterans.The pain and suffering that these men and women endure may last for a lifetime, and for those who are paralyzed or otherwise severely disabled their very lives will be dependent upon VA medical assistance for their lifetimes. Yet Mr. Green claims that his one day wheeling " helped open his eyes".
Many of the veterans who are returning from battle are paraplegic or quadraplegic and ,nonetheless, Mr. Green and the Bush Administration do not support "full-care legislation" to provide suitably outfitted homes that are equipped with the latest technology providing maximum self sufficiency. We owe our disabled veterans at least that Mr. Green. Mr Green, you should volunteer to assist a paraplegic or quadraplegic for at least a month if you really want to have your eyes opened. Special medical care is regularly needed to treat bladder and kidney malfunctions and infections, persistent skin infections, bed sores , blood infections, unbearable pain, and sexual impotency. Add these to the inability to move either your legs or arms or both and the absence of tactile sensation and you may begin to grasp the reality.
Simply wheeling around the halls of Congress and then writing an Op-Ed article does not hack it. Support the required VA care and while at it how about supporting health care for all Americans who cannot afford even basic care. Stop the publicity stunts and photo ops and do something to help provide all the veterans with needed medical care and living assistance. Let us see you do it now!