From Who's Perspective? Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Have times changed that dramatically?
From who's perspective?

I was young and patriotic.
With a drive to volunteer my life and future,
In the putting in harm's way.
Nor was I afraid of being drafted.
I bought and was sold on keeping values.
And those standards 'then' I wanted them to stay.

Have times changed that dramatically?
Yes.
From who's perspective?
Well...
I have aged and it doesn't matter today what I say.
But...
Not only have times changed dramatically.
The minds of the people have become delusioned,
With beliefs that those who have given their lives...
To allow ongoing greed to feed,
Are not those still emotionally wounded...
Or left homeless and hungry and living on streets,
To be disrespected and/or ignored.
As a society they fought to keep intact...
Has no intention to acknowledge their deeds!
Or make attempts to pay them back.

'That's not categorically true.'

From who's perspective?
Are you requesting specifics?
Or do you wish my own experiences,
Be left to generalize...
As we both do a random observation?
Would the doing of that make you feel better?

'There you go with Vietnam again.'

Vietnam?
That history has all but been erased.
I am talking specifically about those,
Who dared to showed they cared, period!