Kim Yaman at Yearly Kos 2007

Kim Yaman describes how she has become full-time caretaker for her granddaughter, Leyla. Leyla's father has been deployed ever since her birth, only seeing her five times. Leyla's mother was deployed for 3 1/2 years before returning with a disabling brain injury.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• iraq
• family
• values

[msspentyouth]

I totally agree with you on this. Sometimes I think the powers in charge want us to be at each other's throats. That keeps us from working together and voting them out!

[badsysop]

True. I laugh, but it is sad, at certain things.

The most extreme liberals and the most extreme conservatives both agree 100% that getting off dependence on foreign oil is very, very important. But because they are so opposed at exactly HOW to accomplish this, absolutely NOTHING gets done. Sometimes I think that's how the powers in charge like it (both Republican and democrat). So then we all suffer together. That's America, I suppose.

[msspentyouth]

You're jumping to conclusions about our family's situation. I appreciate your input, your experience, and the experiences of people you know. I'm sure you know people for whom taking a hardship discharge wouldn't be the best option available.

[msspentyouth]

Yep, I'm a Democrat, and happy with my beliefs. Sometimes, you know, it's not a matter of WHAT we say but HOW we say it. I have a lot of friends who don't share my political beliefs or my religion or my perspective on music or films or whatever, but because we know how to talk about our differences in ways that put more importance on our commonalities, we get along just fine.

There are a quabillion kajillion sites. We don't all fit in with everyone, but we all fit in somewhere.

[badsysop]

I do agree with having the right to say what we want. But from a personal standpoint, I think it is more effective in getting what you want by not shooting at the moon.

99% of the public would agree that not providing our wounded the benefits they need is "not supporting the troops" as well as giving them equipment to keep them as safe as possible.

Jump into the political fray, and you'll lose 50% of support in a snap.

[badsysop]

The fact is, this woman's son-in-law is putting his career ahead of his daughter. Probably because he can use the kindness of the grandmother raising the child as a needed crutch.

HE can get out of combat with a hardship discharge but HE chooses not to. I know someone personally that got out of the military simply because his wife had a miscarriage and she had severe mental issues. With a child, it is even easier to get out when a hardship occurs.

[msspentyouth]

I'm just doing what I need to do, and you're doing what you need to do. But, you know, sometimes in situations like this, there's only so much an individual human being can do. We all do what we need to do. And we have the right to talk about it. I wouldn't want to live in a place that denied me the right to have my say.

[badsysop]

Well, maybe you just posted this video. The fact you are on dailykos says it all though: leftist/democrat.

I can't even have an account there because I'll get slammed/erased for having a different opinion just as I'd get slammed/called a troll/deleted for having a different opinion at a site like LGF.

Either way, this woman should not be having trouble with the VA.

[badsysop]

And being in the military myself, I know situations such as your own exist (grandparents with custody of children of soldiers). This isn't easy and I know that. Since you done this, it says something of your character that is above and beyond excellent.

Your daughter is certainly entitled to all VA benefits for her sacrifice and that certainly is unacceptable and "not supporting the troops" as you say.

[msspentyouth]

We've made our decisions, but thanks for your input. I wish you luck in your decisions, too.