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A  closer reading reveals much more. Some of the 
inequities highlighted in red are actually quite disturbing. It is hard 
to select which is worse on this slide: The discriminatory treatment of women;
 the devaluation of our victorious Cold War Veterans (6/8/75-8/1/90);  
or the complete exclusion of veterans of our nation's longest war 
(Afghanistan)? With apologies to veterans of the bloody "Blackhawk Down"
 battle in Mogadishu, Somalia and to the awardees of the coveted Marine 
Corps Combat Action Ribbon in the Balkans - both also excluded -  I 
would call it an embarrassing tie. It is all awful. We can do better for our vets: |