boston progress radio

Did you all realize that the economic stimulus contained a $198 million compensation package for Filipino veterans from WWII? Maybe it’s because I don’t live in DC anymore and am not close to the places where these conversations happen, but I was pretty stunned to find that out. Stunned and actually…happy.

For those who don’t know the story, more than 250,000 Filipinos fought under American command in WWII – and had been promised the same veterans’ benefits as their American counterparts. They bled and died under the American flag, and after all was said and done, they were denied their rightful benefits. For no reason other than that Congress said so.

That was more than 60 years ago. And was the perfect example of the lies all our communities have been told about the promise of America. Rather, The Promise of America – broken and rebroken throughout the decades.

Of course, this doesn’t right all the wrongs. Not even close; but it’s more than silence – which, on some days is enough. I gotta give credit to the President – you did your thing the right way this time man.

It is, of course, bittersweet because of the tens of thousands of men who have died since the war who should have received benefits. But let’s allow ourselves to be encouraged that so many families can now take one more step toward closure. And also remind ourselves that any fight can still be won, even if it takes decades.

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Tags: News.