I'm disappointed with passive, weak VFW support of racial justice and equality in America

Dear Veterans of Foreign Wars,

I am a life member, son of a life member and grandson of a life member.

My concern is with our VFW national approach to unjust racism.

A couple months back the new VFW national commander tried to quiet the storms caused during his installation when he said, "Black Lives DO Matter." Note his "DO" in all-caps. Emphatic! That led to an all-members letter to back-paddle his words. In this, VFW has chosen a coward's position regarding today's racial turmoil. https://drive.google.com/.../1qqASXd4Pc4.../view...

Dear Mr. Roesch,

I am alarmed and disappointed with the inadequate VFW response to our country's racial unrest.

VFW continues our passive approach, surrendering any moral claims to truly care or advance meaningful solutions. Our position remains a tepid non-solution "against racism" claim while doing nothing more positive. Empty words, little moral authority, we comfort nobody.

In 2016 VFW National Commander Keith Harman wrote, “We have no tolerance for racism. Our nation is great because of the diversity of its people, and there is no place within this organization for a differing opinion.” 

But five years later, we've done nothing useful. Of course we're against racism. Even bigots insist in their hatred and ignorance that they are not racists. 

Together with these bigots, we merely whisper we're against racism but do too little to matter. Why don't post or department reports cover minority issues and recruiting? When was the last article in our magazine or newsletters focused on overcoming the racial divide?

These last seven months I have been demonstrating, along with my church and other community folks - not protesting, just quietly trying to support of what I consider racial justice and equality. And peace.

After the first few days there were phone calls from VFW members to the post commander here in

Fort Collins, complaining about my sitting at a street corner in my wheelchair with a sign reading "VFW Against Racism." The post was concerned it would offend members even more than merely verbally stating we're against racism. 

Imagine: VFW members complaining about an important value officially proclaimed all around the county, but complaining about thisVFW value publicly proclaimed by my little poster.

This situation has parallels in combat, but this time we VFW troops hear the sound of the guns and quietly march away rather than towards our duty. As a 30-year life member, I'm ashamed. This is a battle we needed to win long ago but is instead a conflict being gifted to our children and grandchildren.

Of course, we're busy falsely assuring ourselves VFW and other veterans organizations are somehow not contributing in any way to these troubles! None of the lingering problem of racial turmoil is our responsibility and we are no part of any solution. WRONG!

This head-in-the sand, deliberate self-deception is not the solution we as warriors ...even if as old warriors...are responsible for delivering to our children and grandchildren.

Respectfully and in brotherhood,

Wesley T. Carter, USAF Ret.
Life Member, St Cloud Post 428

Colorado's abandoned 100% disabled veterans – those rated "Total Disability for Individual Unemployability (TDIU)"

Voters approved Referendum E in 2006. We were asked whether a partial property tax exemption should be offered totally and permanently disabled veterans. We approved. But we didn't get what we voted for, not by half.

VA has two kinds of total disability awards – "TDIU" for total disability for individual unemployability, and 100% service connected permanent and total.

VA may increase certain veterans' disability compensation to the 100 percent level, even though VA has not rated their service-connected disabilities at that level. To receive the supplement, termed an Individual Unemployability (IU) payment, disabled veterans must apply for the benefit and meet two criteria. First, veterans generally must be rated between 60 percent and 90 percent disabled. Second, VA must determine that veterans' disabilities prevent them from maintaining substantially gainful employment—for instance, if their employment earnings would keep them below the poverty threshold for one person. 

Unhappily, our legislators really tightened up qualifications and locked out every single TDIU veteran. TDIU vets are carefully evaluated by VA, have at least one 60% permanent disability and a combination of factors making it physically impossible for them to work. Ever. Both vets are referred to as 100% VA disabled, but TDIU veterans have been refused the Colorado disabled veteran property tax exemption.

Consider the leeway given the legislature in the tax code. Clearly, the legislators had/have the power to follow Referendum E "in a manner that gives its words their natural and obvious significance." Must we suppose that totally and permanently disabled aren't "natural and obvious" enough words for TDIU?

Colorado Revised Statutes 2016, Title 39-3-202

TITLE 39(c) In enacting legislation to implement section 3.5 of article X of the state constitution the general assembly has attempted to interpret the provisions of section 3.5 of article X of the state constitution in a manner that gives its words their natural and obvious significance;

VA OIG 19-00227-226, Page ii, September 10, 2020

"Veterans are considered to have total disability when they have a 100 percent disability rating due to service-connected disabilities or if their service-connected disabilities make them unemployable. For the total disability to be permanent, the law requires the disability to be “based upon an impairment reasonably certain to continue throughout life."

"The Veterans Benefits Administration Inadequately Supported Permanent and Total Disability Decisions",