A Military Trans-Formation

Since Trump’s election, some six months ago, I’ve tried desperately to disconnect from the news. These attempts have failed mainly because I'm a man bereft of aspirations and goals, thus I work for Uber. This monotonous debacle of a job inevitably leads me to turn on the interminable FM radio (and A.M. too for that matter), where I am attacked by the daily onslaught of fake news. FAKE NEWS! Get it while its hot! You're supposed to read that like it's 1967 in New York City and your off to get today’s pressing of the New York Times before you hop in a shinny yellow cab. "FAKE NEWS, GET IT WHILE ITS HOT!" Sorry, I got sidetrack thanks to the Art Blakey vinyl spinning on the turntable [1]. Takes you back to a time you never even knew, yet it feels so warm, familiar, and oddly reassuring. Maybe it's anything to get away from living in the moment? 

Let’s be clear, I don’t mean the kind of fake news that Trump laments on about. Or do I? Jesus christ, enough with the fake news already! Moreover, if you were to scientifically dissect all the news down to its core, and uncover the way each segment is crafted, written and delivered, I imagine all news has elements of connivery, trickery and blatant deceit. Fake news permeates like any invasive species, taking over your house and swimming through your brain until you've rendered useless, bereft any original thinking. The reason Trump’s fake news rhetoric falls apart is because he insists its rooted firmly in left-wing politics. To an extent this is undoubtedly true, but again, as the aforementioned reference alludes to, the lies are spewing relentlessly from both sides of the politic wasteland. Now that I’ve unleashed something you already know, I can move on to a more pressing matter at hand. Transgenders. 

Dictator Trump has just banned transgenders from the military. It’s unclear how this will be implemented as it’s likely there are thousands of transgenders actively serving in the military. The ban is a direct act denying any future transgender applicants. Trump’s tweets regarding the policy are as follow: “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow ... Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming ... victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.”

His message is delivered much more poignantly because its divided between tweets. Every time I see the “…” dictating the end of a tweet, I like to imagine Trump losing his train of thought. Something like this: 

On to those medical costs and what seem to be simply more unsubstantiated claims from Trump Mountain. They’ll really be over budget if they factor in the extensive cost of keeping our troops hopped up Viagra, to make sure they can pull the trigger at a moments notice. As many of you may have heard the Washington Post report indicating the military spends five times as much on Viagra as some theoretical transgender medical care [2].

The future for active transgenders military troops is unknown, as the data suggest we have no idea exactly how many are actually in the United States military. Data that documents the number of active transgenders is widely inconsistent. A 2014 study from UCLA sighted some 21% of all transgenders have served in the military. Other reports have data ranging from 1,000-15,000 actively serving [3]. The majority of these statistics are mostly acquired through surveys, hence the plethora of reasons why all of these reports could be extensively inaccurate. Surveys, especially self-report surveys can be widely inconsistent for a number of reasons, of which I won’t get into here. Refer back to the bit on fake news, and be assured this even applies within the world of surveys. Most people lie, sometimes against their will, sometimes purposely, sometimes necessarily, but mostly, people lie indefinitely [4].

As important as it is to find and accurate assessment of the number of transgenders currently serving in the military, it’s more important to let them know that people actually care about them [5] [6]. Albeit contrary to our recent news unveilings, there are people that are concerned about the well being of our transgender troops. It’s important that I say this. Especially considering what I’m about to say. 

I WISH I WAS BANNED FROM THE MILITARY!!!

Why are we so content to drown in a sea of lusty discrimination? Instead of being shocked and appalled by Trump’s most recent ban, let’s ask a bigger question. Why are we still supporting our military? Moreover, why do we still want to sign up to fight and defend a country that doesn’t serve our interests in the slightest way? This is not to shed an ounce of disrespect on any military troops, past or present. So many have dedicated more than I could ever comprehend, some even against their will. We should absolutely support our troops. When it comes to supporting a military that treats humans like pawn pieces, shouldn’t we stand up and say enough is enough? Is it really cause for celebration once we hypothetically allow transgenders to serve in the military? And who is the one truly benefiting from such an order? 

Currently, the United States has roughly 50,000 veterans bereft of homes. This is after a monumental overhauling by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), due to bad publicity over the last few years. Their changes to fix their public image have resulted in reducing veteran homelessness by upwards of 30% [7]. Still more awareness is necessary as it’s estimated some 8% of the homeless population are veterans [8]. Considering the way the government takes care of their veterans, it’s not likely I’ll be signing up for the military any time soon. 

Taking a gander at a recent study done by the VA in 2010, they estimated 22 veterans committed suicide each day [9]. If you were one of the lucky ones whom circumvented suicide, hopefully you’d be just as lucky to bypass the likelihood of contracting a substance abuse problem. Recent data in this realm lists a staggering 1/15 veterans winds up with a substance abuse problem [10]. Doesn’t sound like the ride in the military is quite the high time it’s cracked up to be. 

So, you circumnavigated the drug problems, and fought off the inevitable urge to commit suicide, but you still have to live with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Especially if you’re a Vietnam Veteran where nearly 1/3 of all Vietnam Veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD [11].  Well, good news is that we’ve developed a plethora of drugs to help combat PTSD, depression, anxiety and a host of other problems all stemming from a joyous stent in the military. The pharmaceutical industry is determined to take care of these veterans! It’s too bad that a few of these pills tested just as effective as a placebo (Prozac, Paxil and other SSRI’s) [12]. Now what?

Let us not be duped by this chess move, in that we somehow feel victorious when the tides turn and this ruling is reversed to allow transgenders into the military. This is no victory. 

We have freedom, and it is NOT in jeopardy! Terrorism kills 1 in every 45,000 Americans. Meanwhile heart disease kills 1 in every 7 and we have a McDonald’s on every fucking corner. Legal poison with a drive thru delivery service. You’re more likely to have a mishap cutting a watermelon and slitting your wrist (1 in 30,000) than you are to die by an act of terrorism [13]. 

The real question is how much will it take before we wake up and realize we are being manipulated? Not to diminish human rights issues, but aren’t we paying attention to the wrong issues? We are bombarded with news every minute from the septic tanks on the left and right, and we end up caught up over issues that keep us from seeing the pervasive obstacles that truly plague the planet. Wealth inequality. Global Warming. Obesity epidemic. The pharmaceutical poison industry. I could list many more, but just these four things are actually destroying lives and we go on ignoring them, meanwhile celebrating the shutdown of some dark-web drug scape [14]. 

I’m not claiming to have the answers, but how can a country develop some sense of awareness if its something we’ve never been taught. Something we’ve never been told was important. How can we make a change if we don’t know what is causing us harm? We must begin to strap ourselves with the truth. The truth about what’s healthy and not what the Food and Drug Administration is telling us  [15]. The truth about the only thing the pharmaceutical industry cares about: Your Money. The truth about wealth inequality, and that the rich only profit by keeping the disadvantaged from achieving anything but utter destitute [16]. The truth about global warming and all the animals we are already losing [17]. But don't get me started...

References

[1] Art Blakey!!!!! Jazz Messengers!!!!! (2017, July 23). Retrieved July 28, 2017, from 

Art Blakey!!!! Jazz Messengers

[2] Ingraham, C. (2017, July 26). Analysis | The military spends five times as much on Viagra as it would on transgender troops’ medical care. Retrieved July 28, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/07/26/the-military-spends-five-times-as-much-on-viagra-as-it-would-on-transgender-troops-medical-care/?utm_term=.b1e76f060500

[3] Gates, G. J. (2014). Transgender Military Service in the United States. Retrieved from http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Transgender-Military-Service-May-2014.pdf

[4] Benjamin, K. (2012, May 07). 60% of People Can't Go 10 Minutes Without Lying. Retrieved July 28, 2017, from http://mentalfloss.com/article/30609/60-people-cant-go-10-minutes-without-lying

[5] S. (2017, July 27). How Many Transgender People Currently Serve in the U.S. Military? Retrieved July 28, 2017, from http://www.snopes.com/2017/07/27/how-many-transgender-people-currently-serve-in-the-u-s-military/

[6] Yangabc, Y. C., Boenab, C., Gerkenab, K., Lid, T., & And, K. S. (2014, July & aug.). Social Relationships and Physiological Determinants of Longevity Across the Human Life Span. Retrieved July 29, 2017, from http://www.pnas.org/content/113/3/578.abstract

[7] Shaw, J. (2015, June 17). 10 Statistics You Didn't Know About Veteran Homelessness. Retrieved July 28, 2017, from http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/homeless-veterans-statistics/2017/02/03/id/651049/

[8] 2016’s Shocking Homelessness Statistics. (2017, January 09). Retrieved July 28, 2017, from http://www.socialsolutions.com/blog/2016-homelessness-statistics/

[9] Kemp, J. (n.d.). Suicide Data Report 2012 Department of Veteran Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/opa/docs/suicide-data-report-2012-final.pdf

[10] Report, C. (n.d.). 1 IN 15 VETERANS HAD A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IN THE PAST YEAR. Retrieved July 28, 2017, from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_1969/Spotlight-1969.html

[11] Veterans statistics: PTSD, Depression, TBI, Suicide. (n.d.). Retrieved July 28, 2017, from http://www.veteransandptsd.com/PTSD-statistics.html

[12] González, P. H. (2010, January 01). Depression Care in the United States. Retrieved July 28, 2017, from http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/210536

[13] Gould, D. M. (2017, January 31). How likely are foreign terrorists to kill Americans? The odds may surprise you. Retrieved July 28, 2017, from http://www.businessinsider.com/death-risk-statistics-terrorism-disease-accidents-2017-1

[14] Popper, N., & Ruiz, R. R. (2017, July 20). 2 Leading Online Black Markets Are Shut Down by Authorities. Retrieved July 29, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/20/business/dealbook/alphabay-dark-web-opioids.html

[15] Domingo, J. L., & Nadal, M. (2017). Carcinogenicity of consumption of red meat and processed meat: A review of scientific news since the IARC decision. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 105, 256-261.doi:10.1016/j.fct.2017.04.028
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28450127

[16] Norton, M. I., & Ariely, D. (2011). Building a Better America—One Wealth Quintile at a Time. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6(1), 9-12. doi: 10.1177/1745691610393524
http://www.people.hbs.edu/mnorton/norton%20ariely.pdf

[17] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Global Surface Warming Scenarios. (2017). Multimedia Atlas of Global Warming and Climatology. doi: 10.4135/9781483351384.n48
https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_FINAL_full.pdf