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History and You, April 16, 2013

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Veteran Benefits: A Practical Primer
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with Jorge Rodriguez-Walling

Someone in the neighborhood has just come back from protecting you in a fight, and after having him take a couple of hard knocks for you, you then decide to ignore him and put him aside for a while, but only until you need him again to protect you, but by that time he’ll be too old to fight as hard as he use to, when he was young.  This is what veterans do.  And just as they looked out for you as soldiers, now you must look out for them as veterans.

We may think they don’t matter because they’ve already done their military service, and are now ready to draw on their pensions to drink, remain jobless, and feel victimized by the government.  If our vets have taken this turn for the worse, it’s only because we’ve decided long ago to shape and provide a civil environment upon their return, designed to offer them nothing to come back to, like useless parts that have no function or practical purpose in society any longer.  

And don’t talk to me about scarcity or short-supply for our vets: opportunities are made for veterans, because they bring a lot of skill and experience to the workplace, because they provide new insights for others to gain from, and because they add to our ledger of leverage to out-compete those vying for our foreign interests as well: it’s democracy, it’s our legacy, it’s our responsibility, and it’s about our civility that separates us as Americans from the rest of the world.

So the next time you think that veterans don’t matter, think again about your own personal inadequacy, for it is only your dysfunctional distortion of reality and opportunity that drives you, that even rivets you, to subscribe to the notion that veterans, in all that they bring and represent, are not worth their keep.  Think again, and lookout, for in the most unexpected of moments in this life of ours, where the unexplainable can suddenly turn on its head and become the new-normal platform for rationality, a veteran may one day save your life, heaven forbid, from another Boston bombing.

History and You

Capturing the importance of the individual and how the past can put you in a position to make a difference in the present. History, as we have come to know it, is a collage of choices made, created, and driven by all of us. Our understanding of it only helps to measure how far and with what level of sophistication we can see the world and our individual place in it.

The individual, the everyday hero, who wakes up to work his day and returns home at the end of that work, is the focus of this show. People today live in an environment they seldom know because so little is known about history. Therefore, the variety of topics and history surrounding everyday people will be made current and relevant through insightful discussions. Topics for the show will include, but are not limited to, an informed and considered view of:

• Politics
• Sports
• Art and Culture
• Philosophy and Religion
• Ethnicity and National Identity
• Science and Technology
• Psychology
• Education
• Social and Cultural Issues

In short, the show will delve into the issues of human nature and how history can assist us to better understand and cope with these issues in our modern day world. With visits from professional guest speakers, as well as "call-ins" and emails from folks contributing their insights to the discussion, the show aims to provide the public with thought-provoking moments about the quality of life we are currently living and how to contend with it. The supporters of "History and You" feel that the volume of listeners will steadily grow given the variety and interconnectedness of topics presented in a way that appeal to a wide range of age groups, income levels, and demographics.

"History and You" will provide audiences with a reason and a forum from which to reflect, revisit, and renew thoughtfulness about their lives. This informed and discussion-oriented format tends to build loyal and passionate listeners. This is a show that creates a positive difference for every individual through its passionate and introspective look at people and their lives.

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