andrewwadenunn:

I avoided reblogging this image all day, as part of me felt that it was too “rough”.

I just now had an epiphany: last week I was interviewed on how I felt about this path of thinking, specifically how the Austin Symphony Orchestra felt that cutting Veteran speakers from their 4th of July performance.  I admitted to being upset, and honestly I am.  I can’t believe that their reasoning was out of a fear that people might have felt put-off or disgusted, or terrified by hearing the stories.

So here is my reblog and this will be the only thing that I leave on my page for the day.  This happens every day.  Then guys that went through shit like this come home just to fight battles of bureaucracy that make an “L” shaped ambush look like a game of hop-scotch, homelessness, unemployment, loneliness, depression, PTSD, TBI, drug and alcohol dependence, detachment from society, and a general feeling of being unappreciated.

So here it is, America.  The yellow ribbon you purchased at the local quicky mart, which was made in China, helped this Warrior in no way.  

Look.

Take a good, long look.

Think about it.

I hope it fucks your weekend up.

I hope it makes you cry.

Image by Jerome Starkey - *side note - People who reblog these images need to credit the creators of the image.  It’s impolite and disrespectful to do so otherwise.  This isn’t just a photograph, it’s a validation of a point in time.  Some one left the comfort of their home, and risked their life to go capture this image.  Pay a little respect.