Senate OKs benefits for Filipino veterans

God forbid we do the right thing and keep our word if it means an 80 year old Filipino vet will be living 1400% over the poverty line in the PI.

Wait a minute! The nerve of those handful of Filipino vets still alive. I bet they plotted this whole thing while they were fighting in the jungles!

I bet they knew back in the 40's that it would take 60 years to get paid and that by then inflation would have made those payments equal to winning the lottery. No shame.

Shame shame.

Begging for handouts for defending one's own country.

Never saw this with a European country. Its always the non-western countries begging for handouts from the west and then attacking the west as evil imperialists.

You won the independence of your Filipino country for once in its long existence. Isn't that enough.

Amazing how the welfare state of America travels around the entire world.

Well, go to work Americans and pay a little more in taxes so these guys can suckkkk of the tete of Americas nipple.

To the FIRST two previous posts:

And are the both of you going to use the same "silly" logic to deny the thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan US veterans the aid they need for being maimed or for post traumatic stress?

Are you going to too also say that it is too "expensive" to help those US vets who served with valor and dedication the help they need for suffering injures both physical and mental (or you "have these injuries....suck it up?"). There is a high suicide rate of returning vets and in some rural areas, there are NO VA support systems. A large percentage of the homeless are former vets (maybe a lot of these never saw the enemy up front and personal but they did serve honorably).

And yes, I wore this country's uniform with "pride and dedication" during the post Vietnam era when that was widly unpopular and when we were "told to take it off" if you go off base and not tell anyone you was a GI.

There is a defacto distinction in benefits for the regular military vs. the reservists and National Guard called to active duty. Some recruits were asked back for their signing bonuses after they got injured before their term was up. Many were tricked by our own VA into giving up their long term care benefits to "save money".

Our "word" must mean something or we are becoming an "America I don't recognize anymore".

You wanna "blame someone", look at the gang of neocons who invaded Iraq in the first place. The same folks that promised WMD, the war pays for itself, lower gas prices and a secured supply, bringing democracy to the Middle East, and now "this is only an economic slow down this is not a recession".

They opened up a 2 front war just as the "guy running Germany did in WWII". You finish off one enemy first then take on the next.

We succeeded in a two front war in WWII because we had a totally dedicated industry that dwarfed the combined allied and axis economies and population behind the effort and it almost broke up financially in 1945.

These few Filipino vets deserved what benefits that were promised. Maybe the "pension" is based on battlefield injuries that maimed or crippled them?

We give benefits to our vets maimed in combat, you both gonna deny them too decades from now?

Too little too late but it's about time we kept our promise - the few surviving Filipino vets deserve everything they get.

And these are only those who lived through 4 years of desperate fighting against the Japanese military.

In 1941 we were devastated - it would have been easier for the Philippine Army and people to turn their backs on the US and embrace the Japanese. They chose to remain loyal to the US - which governed the Philippines - and they suffered terribly for their loyalty.

I knew Filipino WWII vets who were the sole survivors of their platoons.

I apologize to those Filipino vets who died without ever receiving the promised benefits.

darthdes wrote:

To the FIRST two previous posts:
And are the both of you going to use the same "silly" logic to deny the thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan US veterans the aid they need for being maimed or for post traumatic stress?
Are you going to too also say that it is too "expensive" to help those US vets who served with valor and dedication the help they need for suffering injures both physical and mental (or you "have these injuries....suck it up?"). There is a high suicide rate of returning vets and in some rural areas, there are NO VA support systems. A large percentage of the homeless are former vets (maybe a lot of these never saw the enemy up front and personal but they did serve honorably).
And yes, I wore this country's uniform with "pride and dedication" during the post Vietnam era when that was widly unpopular and when we were "told to take it off" if you go off base and not tell anyone you was a GI.
There is a defacto distinction in benefits for the regular military vs. the reservists and National Guard called to active duty. Some recruits were asked back for their signing bonuses after they got injured before their term was up. Many were tricked by our own VA into giving up their long term care benefits to "save money".
Our "word" must mean something or we are becoming an "America I don't recognize anymore".
You wanna "blame someone", look at the gang of neocons who invaded Iraq in the first place. The same folks that promised WMD, the war pays for itself, lower gas prices and a secured supply, bringing democracy to the Middle East, and now "this is only an economic slow down this is not a recession".
They opened up a 2 front war just as the "guy running Germany did in WWII". You finish off one enemy first then take on the next.
We succeeded in a two front war in WWII because we had a totally dedicated industry that dwarfed the combined allied and axis economies and population behind the effort and it almost broke up financially in 1945.
These few Filipino vets deserved what benefits that were promised. Maybe the "pension" is based on battlefield injuries that maimed or crippled them?
We give benefits to our vets maimed in combat, you both gonna deny them too decades from now?

Dear Mr. Wonder,

You can do many things but please do not place my post (or opinion) in the same light as Manny Silva's. You obviously DID NOT SEE that I was using something called sarcasm. Yikes (Aaysoos)!!!

darthdes wrote:

To the FIRST two previous posts:
And are the both of you going to use the same "silly" logic to deny the thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan US veterans the aid they need for being maimed or for post traumatic stress?
Are you going to too also say that it is too "expensive" to help those US vets who served with valor and dedication the help they need for suffering injures both physical and mental (or you "have these injuries....suck it up?"). There is a high suicide rate of returning vets and in some rural areas, there are NO VA support systems. A large percentage of the homeless are former vets (maybe a lot of these never saw the enemy up front and personal but they did serve honorably).
And yes, I wore this country's uniform with "pride and dedication" during the post Vietnam era when that was widly unpopular and when we were "told to take it off" if you go off base and not tell anyone you was a GI.
There is a defacto distinction in benefits for the regular military vs. the reservists and National Guard called to active duty. Some recruits were asked back for their signing bonuses after they got injured before their term was up. Many were tricked by our own VA into giving up their long term care benefits to "save money".
Our "word" must mean something or we are becoming an "America I don't recognize anymore".
You wanna "blame someone", look at the gang of neocons who invaded Iraq in the first place. The same folks that promised WMD, the war pays for itself, lower gas prices and a secured supply, bringing democracy to the Middle East, and now "this is only an economic slow down this is not a recession".
They opened up a 2 front war just as the "guy running Germany did in WWII". You finish off one enemy first then take on the next.
We succeeded in a two front war in WWII because we had a totally dedicated industry that dwarfed the combined allied and axis economies and population behind the effort and it almost broke up financially in 1945.
These few Filipino vets deserved what benefits that were promised. Maybe the "pension" is based on battlefield injuries that maimed or crippled them?
We give benefits to our vets maimed in combat, you both gonna deny them too decades from now?

BTW, since you live next door to Manny maybe you two should meet up for dinner at the Filipino restaurant on the corner of Hesperian and A Street. Very good food and maybe you can show Manny the error of his ways.

Thank you Filipino vets!!! I am nobody but I apologize to you as an American citizen because you have had to wait so long for what is rightfully yours. God Bless you and your families.

Manny, right now you might be speaking Japanese and working in a forced labor camp if it weren't for the help of the Filipino vets. It's not about their freedoms, it's about your freedoms you enjoy today as a result of their sacrifice. Actually you might be working for the Japanese, speaking German and have an Italian boss.

These men -- and their families -- sacrificed much to protect our way of life. It is only approprite that we thank them with more than just words. It's sad that this gratitute comes too late for many of them.

Great that the Filipino Veterans fianally got this. WHAT ABOUT THE HAWAIIAN VETERANS AS THE HOST PEOPLE WHICH MUCH LAND WAS TAKEN AWAY FOR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND HOST CULTURE?

However you feel about the fairness of providing pensions to the Filipino veterans who served with the U.S. Army... a commitment was made.

What was there to debate? These men were promised a pension and a pension they should receive.

We must live up to our obligations.

This bill(s 1315) will provide all of OUR veterans who lost a limb/amputee with 22k+ to purchase and equip a vehicle,long time coming!

Hel Pali...there is sarcasm and there is sarcasm....could have fooled me...with your "all too brilliant wit" or was it "guilt" on your part.

Not too funny..Chuckles....it was guys and gals in uniform in every the wars that allows you to show "your brilliant wit".

I am so "underwhelmed".

Finally. Thank you fellow Filipinos.
And thank you Sen . Akaka

Thank you Senate!!

A world survey was done of people's opinion of the U.S. a few years back. Only the Philippines and Poland ranked the U.S. in a positive light. Clearly you haven't been in the Philippines. It is very much pro-American and highly influence by American Culture and politics.

darthdes wrote:

To the FIRST two previous posts:
And are the both of you going to use the same "silly" logic to deny the thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan US veterans the aid they need for being maimed or for post traumatic stress?
Are you going to too also say that it is too "expensive" to help those US vets who served with valor and dedication the help they need for suffering injures both physical and mental (or you "have these injuries....suck it up?"). There is a high suicide rate of returning vets and in some rural areas, there are NO VA support systems. A large percentage of the homeless are former vets (maybe a lot of these never saw the enemy up front and personal but they did serve honorably).
And yes, I wore this country's uniform with "pride and dedication" during the post Vietnam era when that was widly unpopular and when we were "told to take it off" if you go off base and not tell anyone you was a GI.
There is a defacto distinction in benefits for the regular military vs. the reservists and National Guard called to active duty. Some recruits were asked back for their signing bonuses after they got injured before their term was up. Many were tricked by our own VA into giving up their long term care benefits to "save money".
Our "word" must mean something or we are becoming an "America I don't recognize anymore".
You wanna "blame someone", look at the gang of neocons who invaded Iraq in the first place. The same folks that promised WMD, the war pays for itself, lower gas prices and a secured supply, bringing democracy to the Middle East, and now "this is only an economic slow down this is not a recession".
They opened up a 2 front war just as the "guy running Germany did in WWII". You finish off one enemy first then take on the next.
We succeeded in a two front war in WWII because we had a totally dedicated industry that dwarfed the combined allied and axis economies and population behind the effort and it almost broke up financially in 1945.
These few Filipino vets deserved what benefits that were promised. Maybe the "pension" is based on battlefield injuries that maimed or crippled them?
We give benefits to our vets maimed in combat, you both gonna deny them too decades from now?

ooops... The above post was meant for this comment.

Manny Silva wrote:

Shame shame.
Begging for handouts for defending one's own country.
Never saw this with a European country. Its always the non-western countries begging for handouts from the west and then attacking the west as evil imperialists.
You won the independence of your Filipino country for once in its long existence. Isn't that enough.
Amazing how the welfare state of America travels around the entire world.
Well, go to work Americans and pay a little more in taxes so these guys can suckkkk of the tete of Americas nipple.

Zizzag wrote:

<quoted text>
Your comments are ignorant, to the fact that you’ve calculated their age and how long they waited. Then let me ask you this? If you were supposes to collect money for your services, how long would you wait to collect? Not very long I bet. In fact you wouldn’t wait 60 years would you?

For your sake and for the sake of the guy in San Leandro (and Manny)...sorry if I was going to fast for all of you. Funny thing is how many people understood what I was saying and knew that it was clearly sarcasm in my post.

But for the record. Both my parents and I have actively supported the benefits promised to the Filipino vets and the Akaka bill. In fact, my parents were recently invited to the Filipino Cultural Center as dinner guests due to their involvement in this cause. They are also among a handful of non-Filipino members.

I get the feeling both of you either did not want or care to see what I really wrote or perhaps simply are the type with a need for confrontation. Either way you were both wrong in your interpretation.

darthdes wrote:

Hel Pali...there is sarcasm and there is sarcasm....could have fooled me...with your "all too brilliant wit" or was it "guilt" on your part.
Not too funny..Chuckles....it was guys and gals in uniform in every the wars that allows you to show "your brilliant wit".
I am so "underwhelmed".

I wasn't trying to fool you but maybe not a good sign for you that I did (without trying).

I have nothing to feel guilty about. I have actively supported the benefits and the bill.

Four of my uncles and my dad wore that uniform.

What I do everyday allows and protects your right (and Manny's and that other guy that got fooled) to tell the world how underwhelmed you are (and how easily fooled).

Conclusion is that these Filipinos care more about money than their own country.

Sad and pathetic.