An Open Letter to Sarah Palin January 21, 2016
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Bristol, charity, Palin, PTSD, Recon, Sarah, sniper, Track, USMC, VA
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Dear Mrs. Palin,
I am a former US Marine and US Navy Officer with a Combat Action Ribbon as well as service connected disabilities. I am also a Republican. I have also served with, and am friends with, dozens of combat veterans who suffer daily from various injuries and wounds to include PTSD. I recently read your comments related to PTSD in which you attempted to excuse your son’s arrest on domestic abuse charges and firearm charges by referencing his supposed PTSD. Based upon your previous comments I am not surprised that you would choose to use this very serious condition as a political football and, once again, attempt to divert blame from your own family’s abhorrent, violent behavior.
In 2014 your entire family was involved in a late night ‘drunken brawl’ at a party in which Track Palin (the accused domestic abuser) was involved in a bloody fight. While you publicly stated how proud you were at your children’s violent actions, maybe this should have been a sign that Track has a problem. It is certainly curious that you did not feel the need to reference his supposed PTSD in this situation and instead stated: “…my kids’ defense of family makes my heart soar!” Maybe, instead of encouraging Track’s violence, you should have taken the opportunity to get him help. Maybe, instead of being the result of PTSD, your son was simply trying to uphold the stated Palin family values and “…make your heart soar” by abusing a woman.
PTSD is stigmatized in the media and not well understood by the general public. An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide every day in the United States. This is nearly 8,000 veterans who take their lives every year. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) stated: “Every day in the United States, 22 veterans succumb to suicide — losing their personal battle to invisible wounds of war.” Veterans who have willingly given so much in service to their country should not have to bear the burden of being further stigmatized by your ignorant and foolish statements.
While I do not propose to speak for all veterans, I am clearly not alone in my views regarding your unfortunate statements. They were unfortunate for the many veterans who face further disdain and discrimination based upon your inaccurate and ignorant portrayal of those who suffer with PTSD as well as the causes of the condition.
While I would personally prefer that you simply avoid public life and simply fade away, if you insist on trying to use your “celebrity status” for a cause, please educate yourself on the facts of PTSD and try to help veterans by using your significant influence in a more productive, and less political manner. There are a number of veteran’s organizations to which you can donate time, money and energy to make a difference. Two organizations you may want to consider is the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation and the Recon & Sniper Foundation.
Regards,
Chris Mark
Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management 
Dear Chris Mark: as a US Army veteran (Viet Nam) and long time Alaskan I want to thank you for your thoughtful letter to Sarah Palin. The only criticism I have is that your letter showed greater degree of restraint than I would be capable of in consideration of her endorsement of the disgraceful DonaldTrump.
And thank you for standing up for President Obama, too. While he is not a perfect President or Commander-in-Chief, I have no doubt whatsoever that his concerns for America’s veterans is heartfelt. I believe that his cautious approach to the use of military force in the Middle East for which he is often criticized by the likes of Palin reflects a sense of grave responsibility to our soldiers, sailors, and airmen whose lives would be put in harm’s way on his orders.
Mr.Mark …. You stated that you have a Combat Action Ribbon, but failed to state in which combat operation/theater you participated. You also stated that you had service related disabilities, but not that they were combat related. You did not state that you suffered from PTSD, yet you felt compelled to judge someone else as to whether they suffered from PTSD. How can you possibly think that you have the knowledge to judge whether or not someone else suffers from PTSD. What is your expertise in PTSD? Are you a Psychiatrist? A Doctor? Not according to your website, In fact your website does not even state your credentials in relation to your own business. A study done by the National Center For PTSD states ” Though considerable research has examined the relation between combat or war trauma and suicide, the relationship is not entirely clear. Some studies have shown a relationship while others have not.” It also goes on to state that “There is strong evidence, though, that among Veterans who experienced combat trauma, the highest relative suicide risk is observed in those who were wounded multiple times and/or hospitalized for a wound, This suggests that the intensity of the combat trauma, and the number of times it occurred, may influence suicide risk in Veterans. This study assessed only combat trauma, not a diagnosis of PTSD, as a factor in the suicidal behavior.”
I think I do know what you suffer from. I think you suffer from a large overdose of Liberalism. I feel competent in making this statement because of statements you made yourself, in your letter to Mrs.Palin, and your replies to the responses posted by others to your letter. In your letter to Mrs. Palin, you quoted statistics about PTSD related suicides, but gave no references to studies where these statistics were complied. Oh wait, you did use statistics provided by a Democratic Senator Blumenthal. Did you consider researching these statistics yourself before using them, you know, just to ensure that they were accurate? Probably not. You stated that you were a Liberal Republican. Personally, I think your a Democrat. You stated that you did not think President Obama was a bad President, and that he cared about our military personnel. Yet many of our military leaders have risked their careers to criticize him. No, I think perhaps you are playing your own little political football game to gain favor with the current government to advance the aspirations of you and your SDVOSB. I will say I was a little surprised by how many former veterans responded positively to you letter. Of course there is always the possibility that those individuals may be pretenders, you know, people who pretend to be someone their not.
John Henderson
USMC 1974 -1984
Concerned American
OK..wow…long post. Again…google me. you can read my DD214. I am not ‘judging’ someone with PTSD. I am (please read closely because you seem to get lost) responding to Sarah Palin’s own comments related to her son’s actions. Pretty hard, right? I did give a reference. I tell you what…I am tired of reading your inane and lengthy comments. I will offer that I will publicly debate you on this issue. Let me know if you are up for the challenge champ. BTW…again…do a basic Google search on me…get my DD214 you will see that my CAR is from Somalia as a Sniper in Somalia. Thank you for posting the dates or your own service. 74-84…pretty much nothing? Do you have a CAR? No..thought not..
Chris your wasting your time. I totally understood what you were trying to point out. Anyone who reads any deeper into your statement and not get your point is more ignorant than that idiot in Alaska.
Thank you for your letter. Very well written and stated.
Great response to a major asshole. I’m a Vietnam vet with a 70% combat related disability. I know all about assholes like Henderson who never saw any kind of action but are quick to bring up this kind of crap. He clearly thinks you’re way too tough on poor Sarah, as well. The woman is a wart on the ass of the world; racist, hypocritical, and worst of all, ignorant. I wish you all the best.
Jim Breidster
I can’t remember if I responded to this. Dude..it is 1 am…you are an ignorant ass. That is all. Go away.
Thank You Sir!
Maybe you should ask what combat operation/theater Track Palin served in too then. Records have it that he saw no combat.
If you had a pair, you would stand up for the valid points Chris is making, or if you disagree, dispute them on their merits instead of some brain dead polemic argument.
Your puerile namecalling, with terms like “liberalism” is perhaps the result of your own political football game.
John Henderson, get a life. What I read that Chris Mark wrote, was the concern of the stigma that so many young soldiers are dealing with visible wounds and that her son may have benefited if back during the fight at the bar that she showed her concern and got her son help back then instead of reinforcing his violence. So again get a life and don’t go looking for a fight with someone who is trying to do good.
Cindy
1979-1999
https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xla1/v/t1.0-9/1914917_10154542876533327_3600370960808304372_n.jpg?oh=e17f628d2e995b569e3563bb776fa29c&oe=56FB6AA1
It really does not take any political party affiliation to realize that Mrs. Palin takes no responsibility for her actions or her children’s action. It take no scientist to realize Mrs Palin blames everyone else…I raised my sons with the belief they are responsible for their action and the consequences of their actions…..When you point a finger at someone, their are three pointing back at you…
Are you sure you even read the same letter I did? Your response is nothing but presuppositions and interjection of a completely separate agenda…Earth to John!? Lose the monstrous ego & work on your reading comprehension, and work hard.
Henderson is a lying right wing ignorant schmuck. And I’m a non-liberal republican. Too bad you weren’t killed by friendly fire. Doubt you even served.
Mr Henderson,
Liberalism? You really are quite humorous. How many Vets of ALL Political persuasions have served in the US Armed Forces? No one Party has a foot hold on Patriotism. You really ARE quite offensive. Besides, what makes you the expert? This isn’t about Party but since you brought it up, how many times did the Republicans vote down legislation for Vets??
Getting back to Palin. She reminds me of a drunken hillbilly with a microphone. Basically, she is nothing but a media whore, seeking attention when she should be at home taking care of the family that so desperately needs care.
Arthur Watkins
US Army 1969-1973
Quang Tri, Viet Nam
Hey Chris, what is your BUD/S Class number?
I think (since 1999) 217? Could be 207? Since you are clearly trying to “out” me..please read my DD214. You can get it on my blog. BTW…what is your BUDS class number?
Don’t know if this was sent…”What is your BUD/S” class?” Please see my DD214..I have NEVER said I graduated BUD/S…I get where you are trying to go champ…do your homework first….if you need some help, let me konw
BUDS BASIC UNDERWATER DEMOLITION ( something )
Mark you talk like the real deal…Thank you for serving.
Thank you for speaking up. You are very eloquent and I hope your sincere and powerful words might give some pause to consider just how disrespectful Palin’s words are to all who suffer from PTSD, It is treatable and there is hope if those suffering seek help. Thank you for your service to this country.
Haters gonna hate! This is the internet where anyone can claim to be anything. Do not believe what you read on the internet especially when the person saying it has a political agenda. How to tell if they have a political agenda: If they mention any persons name, organization, race, religion or gender. enough said.
The most interesting part of this whole thing is, this all happened at Todd and Sarah Palins residence. They were there, alcohol was involved, and can we be assured that both parents were aware that Track has a problem with being aggressive when drinking? I have three sons, all grown and on there own. If I were to have a social function at my residence and alcohol was a part of it you can rest assured that I would keep it monitored and if this sort of thing started showing up would defuse it before it became a brawl as it seems to have. I have a son that is over half a century old, however I am still his parent and will do all in my power to control his actions and reason with him. Once you accept the responsibility to be a parent it is for life. Pull up your big girl pants and accept your responsibility.
They were in Iowa!
Grizzly Grifter is not the least bit interested in donating her time or helping veterans in any way. She could take as her motto the one stated by Rick Blaine in Casablanca, “I’m the only cause I’m interested in.”
Chris Mark— Very well written. My only question to you is, after all of the well known news over the past year, plus what you wrote, why are you still voting Republican?
I could ask the same question of anyone still voting Democrat…or independent, for that matter.
The article was well written and insightful. No Political Party was endorsed and was not a part of the issue. Simply facts.
Thank you for your effort and service.
What the hell are you saying?
As an Alaskan I wish her and her whole family would fade away they make Alaskan’s look bad and ignorant. We are far from the example that her and her family have displayed as Alaskans. She should be ashamed of the behavior that their who family have shown the rest of the country over the years and I wish the media wouldn’t keep influencing this family to continue on they way they have and stop adding fuel to the fire. 😒
You blame “the media.” The media put out things that people choose to watch so they can get ratings and sell ads. The media are certainly critical of the Palins, which is why Sarah blames them for all her problems, but in the end, the public is directly responsible for what they see in “the media.” Including that Sarah gets to lie without being called on it right to her face then and there.
The media are owned by entertainment corporations. Do you think we can do better? Other countries do, but that’s “tyranny” and “socialism.”
Chris,
Thank you for your military service, and for your continued service to this country in the form of this open letter to Sarah Palin. Acknowledging your veteran status, your related disabilities, and your Republican affiliation will surely help some to hear this message. While we are superficially quite different, you spoke my frustration brilliantly — without the swear words I have been struggling to suppress.
PTSD is grossly misunderstood, which leads to shame, denial, and delays in our veterans and their loved ones getting the personal and professional help and support they deserve. For this conversation to be part of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign adds salt to these wounds.
For a host of reasons I hate listening to Sarah Palin: Her constant dodging of any personal responsibility for her family, WHILE actively blaming the President, war, PTSD, and anything else she can throw in a sentence, all while presenting it for claps and laughs is far beneath any standard we should have as a nation.
My hope is that all people — NO MATTER THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATION — if they truly support veterans, will speak up and challenge Palin and others to stop spreading this wrong and harmful misinformation.
Thank you again.
She’s a clown! Everytime she opens her mouth it’s just her own lame consequence!
I am appalled that Ms Palin is using PTSD to excuse her son’s behavior. I have no intention of getting into petty political or personal food fights here: It belittles the importance of the problem
I was there until April 6, 1975. My husband died of a cancer directly attributed to Agent Orange.
PTSD is not funny, and it’s not trivial. Behavior like hers makes it very difficult for people to believe in the seriousness of this condition.
I am surprised by people who feel Palin is a supporter of the military. The man she has endorsed has been highly disrespectful to her former running mate, specifically in reference to the fact he was a Prisoner of War. Trump’s offhand comment about people who “got caught” was pretty disgusting.
I have seen the effects of PTSD in someone I care about. He has finally gotten the help he spent years looking for. I thank you for addressing this issue.
That is an excellent point. Mr. Trump’s comments toward Senator McCain were deplorable. Thanks for the insight.
Mr. Mark, i had written a long message about this incident and how deplorable it was. But I came to the conclusion that you had responded to this infinitely better than I could ever do. So, I would just like to thank you for your service, wish the best for you, and promise to continue to support veterans organizations.
PS. Ms Palin is lucky that my mom, a WWII army nurse is not able to hear those awful comments.
Thank you!
Thank you for your courage and bravery and protector my rights. And honest words to Sarah Palin. May you and your family be blessed
Well said! Only hope she reads it – wait, IF it’s what she considers part of her “current reading material”! Thank you for writing this because thousands of others will read it!!
Track Palin was never in a combat position overseas. For the one year that he was in Iraq, in 2008, he was a driver for dignitaries and high ranking officers.
His troubles started as a juvenile, when he and friends cut the brake lines of a school bus among other things. As this post points out, trouble isn’t new for the Palin family.
Chris, Well stated letter. Also, I commend you for your patience with your detractors.
Sarah Palin – divorcee caught cheating on camera
One point that is being missed is Track served one year in Iraq, not in combat, and under Bush. If nothing else, Mrs. Palin deserves to tell ALL THE FACTS when she speaks, not pick and choose what suits her agenda.
Obviously he doesn’t like Sarah Palin to start with, and having watched her speech when she spoke of her son, I don’t think she was making an excuse for her son at all. Theres a fine line between a reason and an excuse. She is her son’s mother, and I challenge anyone to take a stand against their own flesh and blood Knowing he has a problem, and how does this marine know that she hasn’t tried to help her son, so he’s speaking out of ignorance of their efforts.
She has every right to endorse a candidate, regardless of whether this marine, or anyone else likes it or not.
He’s entitled to his opinion, and just because he’s a vet, doesn’t make him right.
Maybe he just needed to get that off his chest, maybe he feels better now.
I did not speak to her endorsement of Mr. Trump. My comments were directed at her own public comments regarding her son’s abusive behavior and her attempt to justify those actions by claiming he has PTSD. My goal, as stated in the post, was to make a statement about PTSD and the fact that she is doing a disservice to those who suffer from PTSD.
Right on Chris. Point well taken and don’t take any crap from people like Sean. They haven’t walked in your shoes. And for being a Republican I can’t fathom how anyone can support GOP national candidates when they have cut so much funding for our active military people as well as our veterans. It’s dishonorable what they have done to all who are or have served in any arm of the military of the United States. God bless you Chris.
Sean, I am a mother of a son who got into trouble with the law when he was a teen. He is bi-polar. I made no excuses for him and in fact I was the very first person to tell him that if he had not wanted to go jail he should not have done something stupid. I always wanted him to know that regardless of his problems he is ultimately responsible for his actions. And I certainly didn’t blame the president at the time for the dearth of mental health treatment options.
A very well written letter. Unfortunately, the less then intelligent Palin, I am sure was not able to read all of it, yet alone understand any of it. Thank you all, men and women of the armed forces, for your service and sacrifice.
Excellent letter Chris. This is what I’ve come to expect from fellow Americans who are worried about saving their country. You have stated your opposition with facts, not emotions, eloquently. Trump and a lot of his supporters are behaving like the petulant left, 2 year olds with new found emotions and zero experience on controlling them. We can and do,forgive 2 year olds for their behavior because, well, THEY’RE 2! Sarah has done a great disservice to those vets she claims to support by putting herself above our men who sacrificed all for our country and fellow countrymen. I am not angry about her poor decision, just saddened. I will not jump on the “bash Sarah” bandwagon, but will support our vets over her, as she should have.I will share your letter because you state how I think and feel much better than I ever could.
She did great as a gov, but then quit to go for the bigger paycheck. Shes been nothing but a loose cannon every since. I voted for her as gov but never again.
Thank you Chris for your comments- thank you to your service and your family for supporting you. I have been privileged to work at the VA with our Veterans (as a therapist)- her comments were offensive as they often are- Thank you for speaking up!
Thank you for your service!. Unlike many people, my own experiences at the VA have been very positive. I cannot speak to other regions but the SLC VA system is very good and the people are very caring.
Amen. God bless all our veterans
Very well said, Mr. Mark. I fear Ms. Palin will not understand your letter, however. Too many big words.
Disagree, what I saw was her referencing that are boys come back “different”, “hardened”. Having been born in AK and grown up in MT I don’t expect the general populace to understand us woodsman but we don’t prescribe to violence against women and neither do the Palins. You lost all credibility with me when you referenced Dick Blumenthal. I now live in CT and he is nothing more than an ambulance chaser. All he did as AG was sue and all he does as Senator is show up in TV spots when a tragedy happens. All this after he lied for years about serving in Vietnam. Everyone but Liberals in Ct hate him. I served for 21 years and have many friends in the military and LE who live with PTSD. None of us really know how it affects the next guy as Docs are just figuring it out. We should all withold judgement.
I disagree with Mr. Blumenthal on just about all issues. Just because I disagree with someone does not mean that I cannot respect them or believe they have a relevant point. I agree people should withhold judgment. Sarah Palin chose to make this a public point and clearly her son does not abide by the same virtues that you espouse. To suggest he “…doesn’t prescribe to violence..” is contradicted by at least two events in the past year where he acted violently.
I do agree. She always blames it on to something else other than having problems in her family. She and her family need help and leave the real service people out of it. She’s great at shifting her family problems.
Excellent letter, mr. Mark. Needed to be said.
I am wondering however, what “action” or ” trauma” young Tack Palin supposedly experienced and where, which caused his supposed ptsd….
Maybe running for cover from a plane over the tarmac ” under sniper fire and bullets whizzing past”, like Hillary…?
Keep well and thank you for your service.
Thank you!…
Hi Chris, Love your story. However, the first thing you said about being a former Marine and Navy officer doesn’t do you justice. You are a Marine and Navy veteran officer. Once a Marine, always a Marine. I’ve never been in the military myself but many of my family and friends have, and I have the utmost respect for you all. For years I’ve wished joining the military was an option presented to me. It was just assumed that would go to college. I don’t think they’d take a 47yr. old woman now. Best of luck to you. Semper Fi (spelling ?)
Thank you!
I was very supportive of Sarah Palin when she first entered the national political scene, but the more I am exposed to her, by media from both sides of the political spectrum, the less enthused I have become towards her. Maybe she is the ultimate “Trump” card in sabotaging Mr. Trump’s run for President, but for that to be a fact, I would have to give credit to the Republican establishment for being smarter than what it has showed its voters over the last few years.
I feel sad for mrs. Palin. She is being a mother, she is giving her son unconditional love. He in return has been very disrespectful has caused her embarrassment and pain. It is wrong for her to make up excuses for him, but people who live in abusive situations use those behavioral escapes for their own calming. it is natural human behavior.
Chris,
Thank you for your astute letter to Palin! I hope all note your essential observation, the fact it was a sign a loved one NEEDED HELP. I spent decades addressing & directing 5 human service programs dealing with Societal (incl Family) Violence as well as later personally my own TBI & PTSD (still w/o any treatment covered; natural has worked best tho an MRI needed immediately was never done, too often same for troops i hear). The 22 a day suicides I understand is only active duty, there are far more. Especially as many if not most are caused but the less understood, undiagnosed #1 injury come home, TBI, bleeding into & trauma to the brain, most often receiving no benefits, understanding, or healthcare. A main reason I am for Bernie Sanders who supports the much needed Medicare for ALL (& Jill Stein). To have a veteran of Desert Storm, Iraq, & Afghanistan whose TBI case was denied say while I was doing Life Coaching, “I’d love to do that but I have no healthcare” is so wrong!
Every Marine & Navy person I know, including my dad Fred Edwards – Omaha Beach, Navy, WWII who also went undiagnosed, untreated*, & still at almost 90 denied needed benefits! (he’d love veteran support visits or calls), all want troops home. And they each agree with me that troops are being used as security detail for private business interests of a sinister greedy handful, paid for by American taxpayer dollars & our loved ones lives (not to mention the millions of destroyed lives we went “to save”: I do know that those who went touched lives & had an impact that was not wasted, a moment of love or courage never is). btw, that same sinister group owns most media, ( why the ads are mostly of their other companies – oil/gas, greedy insurance, big pharma, & super banks).
The last First Lady who did enormous good was Rosalyn Carter, tirelessly spearheading Community Mental Health Center grants. Made services client friendly (& saved money on needless duplicated intake sessions for every needed service), & creating services to fill in any service gaps, like the Family Counseling Unit I co-founded. First Ladies since have been too often self-serving. Too bad Nancy didn’t “just say no” to their running drugs in on military planes to sell on our streets, for Iran-Contra $, devastating whole communities.
btw Chris, Barack was HER intern.
Wishing you along with all veterans & those who give a darn about others, the happiest of new years. FILLED with joy & everday miracles.
* Tho some wonderful doctors, nurses & social workers at the LaJolla V.A. have recently been helping Fred against the staggering odds.
My roommate has combat PTSD and I have rape related PTSD, so we were both appalled when we heard her statements.
The worst thing my roommate does because of his is hide in his room and blast his headphones when people set off fireworks. He is never violent, and warns us when he is having a rough day. He never imbibes alcohol when he knows there is even a chance of him having an episode.
Track is an irresponsible asshole at best and a deliberately drunk violent asshole at worst.
If SPalin wants to help people with PTSD instead of using them as a smokescreen for her moron son, she should just donate.
So I finally took the time to read all of John’s comments. Since you clearly want to ‘pull it out and measure’ Here is a synopsis of my own military experience. MOS? 0311 (Infantry); 8541 (Scout/Sniper); 8654 (Recon Marine Airborne and Scuba Qualified). Combat Action Ribbon for actions in Somalia where I operated as a Scout/Sniper. Graduate from numerous military schools including Scout/Sniper. Urban Sniper, Amphibious Reconnaissance, Airborne, Pathfinder, Navy Scuba, R&S, HRST Master etc. Selected as a SEAL Officer Candidate in 1999…injured in training. Spent 1.5 years as the training officer for the Marine Basic Reconnaissance Course (you know…where we train Recon Marines). So John…why don’t you tell me about your Marine Corps experience? Let me guess…POG? If you are so interested you can read some of my articles in The National Review (wait..isn’t that a conservative magazine?), The Counter Terrorist, or SC Magazine (among others). Or, you can see me interviewed on NewsMax (hey..another conservative group)…do your homework before you try to call someone out online.
dang Chris, you had me until you said “NewsMax.”:). But seriously, I have no idea where John was coming from in his response, but you are spot on. My reaction when she said that was that maybe his actions were the result of PTSD, but that instead of blaming POTUS, she should be seeking out help for Track. But then she has to deal with the broken VA system, and there are decades of blame to spread on that.
Very well stated. Thank you for your service and for your voice of reason.
PTSD is not only a diagnosis of veteran origin. Did you know Farmers have a higher incidence of suicide than do Veterans each year?
Now before you go assuming my background, I am a nurse for the VA. I love my Veterans and will do whatever it takes to care for them.
Your freedom of speech to impale Palin with her own words is yours. But please, understand that PTSD comes in many forms, many faces, and many families.
Thank you for your comments. This has been reiterated in the comments by numerous people (including me) but is an important point. Irrespective of where a person acquired PTSD it is a serious issue and should not be used by Mrs. Palin as a political move.
I thank you sir, for your comments and for your service.
Thank you for your service to your country and for being the sort of Republican the U.S. needs. I am a “libtard” who would dearly love to see a good, thoughtful, responsible Republican Party re-emerge from the current unholy mess. People like you call it like it is.
This is a great letter, and, Mr. Mark, God bless you for your service. There is no way civilians can ever express our gratitude.
Palin family challenges aside (and all families have challenges – let he who has none cast the first stone), I think the bigger issue is mental health. PTSD is one aspect of the bigger picture of mental health in general – the whole topic is a crisis in our country and the rest of the world too. It deserves attention. I might add that PTSD is not a new thing – it is just a relatively newly recognized diagnosis. Many of our other war veterans, including WWI and WWII and especially Vietnam vets, suffer and have suffered from this as well, but it was never recognized, acknowledged, researched, nor treated. At least our current vets have some social and medical support. We are moving in the right direction.
There are dozens of mental health diagnoses. There is lots of just plain “bad behavior” out there, too – where parents cannot admit that their kids need discipline and redirection. Who knows what Track Palin’s issues are. Perhaps he is an alcoholic; maybe he has anger issues; maybe he has a disability: it doesn’t matter. What is important is that problems are acknowledged and not swept under the rug in hopes that no one will notice, or that it will go away, and that nothing bad will happen. This is why bad things happen and then people say “oh, maybe I should have said or done something about that because I saw the signs.” But our society has become too afraid to “call out” problems for fear of hurting someone’s feelings or being “not politically correct.” I don’t follow Sarah Palin, but I do think she speaks out and does address “elephants in the room” where many people are too cowardly to do that. Hopefully she isn’t enabling a family member’s problems, which inhibits the likelihood of the person getting help. That is the bottom line – no matter what the etiology of the behavior is, SEEK HELP. Seek help before something worse happens.I have seen people hide issues that needed some form of action (and families are particularly good at this because they love their own, as well they should love them – but please don’t enable them – this speaks to your point about Mrs. Palin’s protection of her son), and ultimately someone gets hurt, or worse yet, dies.
In summary, I am not disagreeing with your point, but I am using it as a springboard to encourage people to face a problem and work toward a solution, versus pointing blame or putting one’s head in the sand. This goes for mere “bad manners and behavior” and ranges up to serious mental health concerns. Thank you for your post.
Canadian neighbours also thank you for your service, and your common sense. The world needs to understand the plight of soldiers and others who suffer with the effects of mental health. Moreover, regardless the political affiliation, I too believe our leaders (and their families) need to be held accountable for their actions, just like the rest of us!
I found her comments offending. Palin’s son didn’t see any actual combat and was deployed for a mere 6 months.
And blaming Obama is just ridiculous. He was deployed in 2008 under Bush!
Thanks for calling her out and it is time for her to fade.
Thank you for this thoughtful letter, as well as for your service to our country. I listened to Sarah Palin’s remarks regarding her son and PTSD and was appalled at how she once again mingled fact and fiction. I too am a Republican but am finding the front runners for our party’s presidential nomination this time around far from my values. To my recall this departure from respectful, reasoned and intelligent political debate began when John McCain chose Palin as his running mate. Other than the fact that she is a reasonably attractive female, I don’t understand why. Up to that point, McCain always had my respect.
As citizens, more of us need to use social media technologies to have respectful and reasonable discussions of the issues before us, as most people here have done. We will never all agree on everything, but I believe if we begin ourselves, at the grassroots, to discuss things in more depth than simple sound bites, as has happened here for the most part, a trickle up effect will occur.
To the Vet. Who commented . Democrat ‘s respect there Vets due to the fact 3/4 of vets are poor . They let her get away with the way she is because most Republicans are ignorant and full of hate and she feeds it to them absolutely no compassion . I’m 58 yrs and been voting a long time and this is the most stupid I have seen America or white people . Abe L. Said no country will be able to take over this country militarily it will come from within damned if he is not right . How can this ignorant bitch get away with this .
Chris thank you so much for your post. My husband was wounded in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart. He came home to the hatred of people who never had to fight for the United States. He was diagnosed with PTSD and still goes to group to talk to other Veterans who also suffer. So as of Sarah Palin who doesn’t know her ass from a hole in the ground I say thank you again. ❤
God Bless Chris Mark
thank you Chris for the great letter to Palin…and thank you for your service too