Don't Dream It's Over

I want you
I want you so bad
--I Want You, The Beatles

There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're travelling with me
--Don't Dream It's Over, Crowded House

Well, you feelin' alright?
I'm not feelin' too good myself
--Feelin' Alright, Dave Mason
________

Director Taymor melds the above Beatles lyrics with the Uncle Sam imagery in her new film, Across the Universe. These days, it seems like Uncle Sam wants to hold on to the shards he has pretty badly, so as not to jar a lulled America by actually requiring shared sacrifice.

"War veterans who have lost a limb will relearn tasks like shooting a weapon, driving a car or rappelling down a cliff at a new rehabilitation center opening at Walter Reed Army Medical Center" (Army Opens New Rehab Center for Amputees; Goal is to return soldiers to service.)

Of course vets who've had limbs blasted off should relearn shooting and rappelling. How fine, to give these vets a realistic, goal-oriented training program that will return them to a productive life.

Does this give you the heebie jeebies?

Peruse your local classifieds -- slap full of job offers for cliff-climbing, one-legged rifle shooters. Another fine military assessment, on par with the U.S. war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This is all part of taking care of our soldier, recognizing that our soldiers have the skills and experience to still serve in the Army," said Lt. Col. Kevin Arata, a spokesman for the Army's Human Resources Command. "It is also part of our warrior ethos - never leave a fallen comrade."

Of course, if the Army were taking care of the soldiers, then why are they in need of rehab? And of course, never leave a fallen comrade when you can fob them off on the Veterans Administration. As the article states, only a small percentage, 47 to be precise, have chosen to remain on active duty.

Further, the article does not discuss what happens to reserve force personnel when they are seriously injured.

The focus of in-service rehab should be the good of the individual, and not service need for trained personnel. Once soldiers are so severely injured, they should be medically retired and the emphasis should be on life-coping skills.

As for warrior ethos, these soldiers have already done their warrior stint. Where are you, Labrys? We need a dose of your righteous indignation right about now.