reply to post by Novise
Let me share my story for some perspective.
I Served 14 years in the Marine Corps. While there I travelled all over the world and have seen all imaginable cultures. I loved interacting with the
people, the natives, of the various places I went. The most eye opening place I visited was Djibouti, Africa. A small nation just south of Somalia, on
the Horn of Africa. It was formerly French occupied, but has had its own independence for a number of years. There is now a military outpost there,
which the local government loves because it pumps vast amounts of US dollars into there economy. As far as world status goes, it is deffinately a
third world nation.
*SNIP*
Anyway, I returned from that deployment and made my way out of the Marine Corps. I had arthritis in my feet, knees, hips, and hands, and just couldn't
perform the way I expected myself. On leaving, I applied for disability. I was denied for the arthritis, which was well documented, but was approved
for a 10 percent disability for "ringing in the ears". I was not going to beg the government for a hand out after 14 years of service, so I let it go.
I soon started work as a real estate agent. After seeing what a mess that field was at the time (2006), I could not bear to be a part of it. I started
work with an IT company on the Marine Corps base. Things were going well there except for the fact that my arthritis was unbearable. I started
drinking myself into a comma each night just to fall asleep. This was soon my down fall. The company changed my hours and I could not get my drunken
butt up in time to make it to work. I was fired and went straight to an AA meeting. There I saw what a real alcoholic looked like, and decided I would
do something else for the pain.
*SNIP
It was during this time that my ex-girl friend picked a homeless man and his 11 year old boy of the street. I let him move into my home if he would
work or look for work. He agreed. The first day he went out and found a lawn mower someone was throwing away. He brought it home and fixed it. The
next day, he went out and found some lawns to mow. Within three weeks he was spotted by a lawn care company and was offered a full time job. He took
it. Eventually, he realised many mistakes he had made inlife. He contacted his ex-wife and made amends.
My ex-girl friend was bi-polar. She had an episode one night which I could not deal with. I decided to take a walk and calm down. While I was gone,
she called her sister, crying because I had walked out on her. When I ot home, I was calmed down, and I calmed her down. Her sister shows up and goes
nuts herself. She was under the impression I had hit her sister, which I had not. I did not need her getting her sister upset again, so I threw her
out.
*SNIP*
She continued having episodes which I could not handle, so I eventually called off the relationship and told her she had to go. She left on a Thursday
and I assumed all was good. On Tuesday, she arrives again, with the police. She told them I had beat her. Despite her having no bruises they took me
in. At court I found that they had ran my record and found another with a similar name, and that was why they took me in. Once I cleared my name they
let me go. When I got home, I found she had cleaned me out. I filed a police report, but was told there was nothing they could do for this state
assisted theft.
So, me and my roommate, the homeless man, did our best to survive. By this point my vehicle was broken down with no money to fix it, my liscense was
revoked because I had no money to pay for it, my plates were revoked because I had no money to get them renewed, my home was being foreclosed on, and
everything I had of any worth was stolen. I had lost everything.
It was here that I realised something, I did not need it. I was not going to let them have my dignity too! I filed an insurance claim. Fixed my
vehicle situation, gave most away to random strangers who needed it, and gave the rest to my roommate so he could get a house ready for his own
family, which he reunited. I moved into my fathers house and sleep on the basement.
In one last shot to give the system a chance, I got a job at the local food store. I was making $7.60 an hour working 16 hours a week. I figured it
was something. A week after having that job, I get a letter from the child support office demanding 65% of that be taken out by my employer for my one
child that I haven't been able to see since Spetember 11, 2001, because her mother took off with her. So, I would have to make it on $16.00 a week!
I chuckled and said, no uncle, you cannot have any more. I quit that job. Now, I do what I can "under the table", but it is tough.
But, my dignity is still intact.
If you are doing well in the system, good on you. Others are being beat down in ways you could never imagine. Look at this forum. People come on to
complain, rant, rave, and "rage against the machine". Yet, what are they willing to do about it? What are they willing to sacrifice for something
better?
I gave up everything, and have gained more than most will ever know. I am completely and utterly at peace. I see each day as another blessing, another
opportunity to help someone. I try to offer solutions to lifes problems. And, I even try to tackle the worlds. I don't do it by complaining. I do it
be loving everyone I meet. Even those who would call me the "Devil" because I offer a different interpretation to scripture.
People, wake up and look what you have become. Your drowning in your own misery. Your becoming too weak to even make a stand. Your divided,
marginalised, compartmentalised, and controlled. You do not care so long as you still have a tin roof over your one bedroom shack. Or worse, you have
a five bedroom single family home, with only you and the wife, and your content that your Brother sleeps on the street instead of you.
Where is your humanity? Find it and wake up!
And once you wake up, STAND!!!!
Lastly, I never did become an informant. I now face jail time, if they want to come get me....
Your Brother
edit on 8-9-2010 by IAMIAM because: (no reason given)
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edit on 12/28/2011 by Mirthful Me because: Drug use.
edit on 12/28/2011 by Mirthful Me because: More drug use