Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for July 31, 2009

Sure you do…

My dad was in a very serious industrial accident in ‘65. He was a Navy veteran and they rushed him to the VA hospital in Chelsea, MA, which was the closest hospital to the site anyway. They saved his life.

Ok, yesterday she had dagger-eyes for BD. Today she’s all sweet and thankful.

She’s going to shoot someone before the day is done.

–Ed

I have been using the VA for some time. I really believe people who badmouth the VA system either have never used it, or else the services in Wisconsin are exceptional. The one time I had to wait for service, I went to the VA emergency room at 7PM on a Sunday with an ice-related shattered elbow. I was triaged and when my turn came, I was treated quickly and courteously. The ensuing surgery, follow-up and therapy were similarly excellent.

I love Doonesbury. It’s ingenious.

But, this automatic hyphenation is a problem.

“About” and “Never” are too short to be hyphenated.

Fellow cartoonists, wouldn’t you simply rearrange the text to make it read more clearly?

Well, Ink, thanks for bringing it up. NOW I see it. NOW I can’t ignore it.

Nuts.

@humormehere, don’t you mean “n-uts”?

i’m a vet and i work at a VA hospital–this whole story line has rung totally true and i’ve often posted the strips in our office. the VA system has its flaws (as does any large government agency) but i think that despite the budget constraints, red tape, and other problems, we try to do our best for the returning heros. i only wish there had been this kind of help for the Viet Nam era vets

I have been using VA to replace non-existent insurance for about 9 years now, and service depends on place, and people with a real mix sometimes. Currently I drive 2 hrs to a facility that has done more for me in 2 years than a larger one about 13 miles away did in 7. The large facility is pleasant and tries to be helpful, but they did miss several things that were interrelated.

A quick post about yesterday’s comments, I think BD has always felt very bad for Melissa’s treatment in the Army, an organization he has always been very proud of. He gave her the purple heart candy to let her know that he recognizes her heroism in a bad situation and that not all men in the higher ranks are bad and that there are really good guys out there. And that there is a man she can trust again. I think his concern for her has been both a paternal and comrade concern. I don’t think there has ever been a sexual issue there, that would be contradictory to his chivalrous side. I think he is surprised that she is willing to go back so soon and is maybe embarrassed that he misjudged how strong a woman she really is.

I have always really enjoyed Melissa’s character and really hope that we see more of her. A strong female character not willing to be the victim forever and rescuing herself instead of waiting for others to do it for her is rare in this world. I hope we see her successes when she gets back into the “sandbox.” As Margueritem said YOU GO GIRL!! Thank you Gary!

I volunteer at the VA outpatient facility in Sepulveda, CA and what I see is a bunch of dedicated people doing their best to serve our vets in spite of the sometimes strange dictates of a govt. bureaucracy. Of course, Bureaucracies are that way just because of their nature. Always were and always will be.

Dave

for the mags.?……ya…..his healing process seems to be helping others.

Anything that helps BD is good, whether it is therapy directed at him, or from him doesn’t matter. If he feels more important by being a willing listener, then great! I was a student at a VA hospital. The staff were better with the patients than at the “Christian” hospital I later worked at. And the Doctors at the VA were always ready to help in an emergency situation, unlike too many in private practice. The VA is great, but they take care of a lot of people who have reached their limit and beyond, so the care doesn’t always seem as productive/kind/wonderful as it is!

BD is so full of it.