Friday, May 30, 2014

Vetting Our Affairs

President Obama
"with considerable regret"
today accepted

Eric Shinseki's resignation
as Secretary
from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The president described
his "commitment to veterans"
as "unquestioned"

and his "service
to our country"
as "exemplary"

As with other
behemoth institutions
it's usually the case

that neither genuine mistakes
nor "on-purpose accidents"

can be squarely placed
on the shoulders of one figurehead

but regardless
seeing that figurehead

take responsibility and do
what he or she perceives as honorable
is noteworthy.

And may those Republicans
who in February rejected a bill

pushed by Senate Democrats
to expand veterans’ benefits

when the bill turns up
again next week

be able to do the same.

This poem © 2014 Emily Cooper.