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.
