Should I join the American Legion?

[BOSSHOG]

Need some advice teammates. I have gotten a solicitation letter from them. I am "well qualified." But not sure if I should throw my hat into their ring. I'm a member of VFW and they piss me off on a regular basis. And I think the American Legion does the same.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Nickster]

1. Everything they do on a national level is right-wing heavy. So my knee jer

k response is no. The local branches have different people running things, so I'm sure the mood is different depending on where you go.

[atreides1]

2. The best way to enact change is from witihn

I too am a member of the VFW, and was once a member of the American Legion. I've been thinking about getting back in, because the best way to change an organization is to do it as a member.


Just my 2 cents, Chief.

[BikeWriter]

10. You got it, Bro! I'm a member of both, an officer in American Legion.

[pscot]

3. I've gotten the same solicitation

I decided against. On the one hand it's a chance to shoot the shit with some old soldiers. On the other hand, I don't much like what I've heard about their politics. Probably depends on the individual Post as much as anything. If you fall in with a good bunch it could be a lot of fun. If the assholes predominate, maybe not so much.

[tularetom]

4. I sure got a cold shoulder from the WWII guys when I attended

a couple meetings in the 70's, so I said fuck it and never went back. Then a few years ago I had a conversation with my daughter in law's grandfather, a really neat old guy who dropped out of high school, lied about his age and became a commissioned officer and a B-17 pilot at the age of 21. He was one of the local legion mucky mucks almost had me talked into joining but then he passed away. It never really caught on around here with the Vietnam vets and the guys my age who served between Korea and Nam. My advice is give it a shot. You'll probably get a few free drinks and hear some good stories and maybe the guys will turn out ok. If they're assholes you don't have to return.

[BikeWriter]

16. Things have changed, I got the same cold shoulder years ago.

VietNam Vets are now Commanders and most of the officers of my VFW and American Legion Posts.

[Ian David]

5. Well, here's a thought

1) As a member, do you get permission to use the facilities to hold meetings with guests of your choice?
2) If the answer is yes, then join-up, and then..
3) Use the American Legion Hall for meet-ups with Veterans for Peace and other groups.

You may not be able to create change from within-- hopefully you will-- but at the very least you'll severely piss-off a bunch of right-wing BushBots who think it's just grand to patriotically volunteer to be repeatedly ass-raped by Der Chimpenfuhrer.

Bonus Points: If they REALLY piss you off, then use their hall to hold fund-raisers for these guys:
http://www.sldn.org
The Serice Members Legal Defense Network

And if they don't piss you off...

Do it anyway. They're a good cause.

[quisp]

6. I got that solicitation recently too...

and decided against it. I understand the "change the org from within" reasoning, but it's just so exhausting. There are about a million more effective ways of improving the standing of the Dems than "shooting the shit" with a bunch of old soldiers (who probably aren't going to the Legion post to have deep political discussions).

If you need something to do on Saturday afternoon why not door knock for your local Democratic candidate.

...imhop

[Monkeyman]

7. Brother Boss you know I will tell you the truth

Hell no the commander of the Legion is a right wing nut caes

[BOSSHOG]

8. I knew there was something

that made me treat that envelope like toxic waste. Thanks very much. Either the American Legion or the VFW recently gave Oreilly an award. That would be enough for me to just say no. Thanks Again!

[BikeWriter]

11. Yeah, well I can vote against him, can you?

[Joey Liberal]

9. I wont have anything to do with them

Too republican for me...........Maybe you could work to change that?

[BikeWriter]

12. No shit. That's why I'm a member of both.

[Lowell]

13. Me too

It is easier to change things from within than sitting around bitchin about them and doing nothing. I've been a member of them both for years, too. And whenever I see them leaning too far to the right I start a letter campaign and let them know that not all vets are rightwing nutcases. I get along fine with all three of my vet groups and if you dig a little deeper than just the old farts in national leadership positions you will find that there are a lot of vets in those organizations who don't follow the party line. Give them a chance.

[BikeWriter]

14. I agree, and some of the old farts are Yellow Dogs, too...

My Dad sure was. If he knew my Sisters voted for dumbya "because he's from Texas" he'd throw a hissy fit!

[Lowell]

15. LOL! Yellow Dogs

This old Florida cracker is and has been a Yellow Dog forever. I haven't heard that term in a long time. And good at ya! Lets change this thing from the inside out.

[FogerRox]

17. Not a vet here

The VFW and the AM Leg supports non vet candidates over vet candidates. AS a non Vet, I want to see FULL Mandatory VA care funding. Its on the Am Leg, & VFW agenda, yr after yr. But when push comes to shove they dont get it done.

SO either the VFW & Am Legion get taken over, or they get replaced.

[BOSSHOG]

18. Thanks Fogerrox

Good arguments are made that I should join and institute change but I have been able to assist Veterans in many ways without being a member of either one of those organizations. I'm rationalizing in overdrive here. Join them and try the laborious task of changing from within or stay away hopefully shrinking their numbers and influence. I can't stand to see another VFW group give bush a standing ovation.

[The Wizard]

23. I joined the VFW as life member

It was cheaper to do that than renting the hall for my wedding. Life members get the hall for free. I know I couldn't get the free hall usage any more as the post commander knows my political leanings, and he'd have a million excuses as to why I couldn't get the hall. But if I could maybe I'll host a peace vigil and fund raiser for the poor and homeless veterans on behalf of DFA.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

19. What's the point of American Legion?

Is there any benefit to joining? I got a "invite" in the mail, but don't know anything about it. What's the purpose?

I'm not VFW-eligible, never in a combat zone (German beer halls don't count, right?), just another "era" vet :)

[derby378]

20. A little history note

Elements of American Legion teamed with a network of fascists and corporations in the 1930s for some plot to overthrow FDR and put in their own government until Gen. Smedley Butler blew the thing wide open.

[Captain Hilts]

21. They're right wing cranks, BUT any organization that keeps you informed about...

veterans' benefits is worth joining.

Remember how the Bush Admin told the VA not to answer questions or distribute information unless expressly asked?

[tabasco]

22. Hell no, unless you want to send your money to right-wing tards.

Same reason I won't join the VFW. The national leadership of these orgs has been behind the repukes all the way, even as they give vets the shaft.