Cheney’s “Heart” filled with swift transition
By Stephanie Walker Stradford and Eric Stradford, USMC Retired
AMWS, October 21, 2013, Atlanta -- By now you have heard about Dick Cheney’s “heart issues” and a new book that might help One Nation under God move from affordable healthcare to holistic healing. According to reports, the former vice president under President George W. Bush, at age 37, sustained the first of five heart attacks. He had smoked approximately 3 packs of cigarettes per day for nearly 20 years. Cheney’s heart issues led to a secret letter of resignation even before some highly criticized Bush Administration policies regarding the War on Terror, NSA Wiretapping and "enhanced interrogation techniques” trickled through for public scrutiny.
The best healthcare available is perhaps credited for keeping the 46th Vice President of the United States from meeting his maker before publicly confessing his fair share of America’s dirty little secrets. More than a few Grand Old Patriots hoped for a confession during the Obama Administration, but not from one they endeared as a political papa figure.
It’s a lot to put on a 73 year old heart patient, but much of the trickling evidence leaves cause for concern that Cheney’s heart issues, perpetuated through recent Tea Party activism, may have delayed if not derailed America’s healing. The timing for promoting his book, “Heart,” shall we say, is “filled with swift transition.”
Despite a political resume including aide to his congressman, White House Chief of Staff, a stint in Congress from 1979 to 1989, an appointment to Secretary of Defense and election to the vice presidency, Dick Cheney, and too many others, never served a day in the United States Armed Forces. But he made quite a bit of money on the backs of America’s heroes.
Unlike Dick Cheney, the late Arthur Lee Stradford, 72, transitioned from The Louis Stokes Veterans Hospital in his hometown of Cleveland, OH. An autopsy requested by the VA might justify treatment for cancer, perhaps resulting from years of smoking. Today, Art Stradford was to be laid to rest at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Rittman, OH. But a missing DD Form 214 delayed “Papa Art” Stradford’s burial and sparked a congressional inquiry into the after effects of a 16-day government shutdown.
Public Law 112-260 charges the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with ensuring “the expressed wishes of the next of kin or other agent of the deceased veteran are respected and given appropriate deference.” Properly executed, the federal agency serves the need of the veteran’s next of kin. The President of the United States is empowered to execute the Law of the Land.
The Honorable Marsha L. Fudge (OH-11) is responsible to Art’s widow for congressional oversight. Fudge is Mrs. Stradford’s elected representative in Congress. She also chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, a minority group entrusted and empowered to represent the “Beloved Community.”
“In the 21st Century, African Americans and other communities of color continue to be disproportionately and disparately impacted by poverty, environmental, justice and healthcare challenges,” said Fudge. After 140 years, the Black Caucus will be stepping up its historic social agenda to address credible national security threats to historically disadvantaged Americans.
Today, Art Stradford’s 77 year-old widow had hoped for some rest after a six month ordeal of watching and waiting. During her visits to “Heroes Harbor,” Mrs. Stradford asked medical staff and social workers what she might do to prepare. When she did not get the response needed to ease her concerns, she called Art’s brother, a retired U.S. Marine and the only other sibling to have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
In 2001, Art’s brother and his bride published TheEnterpriZe from slaveship to spaceship, a book of first chapters showcasing some ordinary Americans on an extraordinary journey. Arthur Lee Stradford is one of the Americans mentioned in the book.
In 2011, Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney (born January 30, 1941) published “In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir,” written with his daughter Liz. The timing of Dick Cheney’s new book “Heart,” and the VA’s handling of veteran’s burial benefits invokes memories of “red tape” and emotional wounds still festering from the American Civil War.
Cheney, an American politician and businessman, is often cited as the most powerful Vice President in American history. He will probably not need a DD Form 214 to be buried in a national cemetery. However, his accounting and that of every other politician of this time is certain to reviewed for allegations of disservice to America’s “Beloved Community.”
A line from an old hymn of the church now fuels a cause for VETERANS FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE PROTECTION, a combination of legislative and community efforts, demonstrating that obstacles can be overcome.
That old hymn reveals a truth about human actions and attitudes. With the blood of America’s sons still fresh in the American Civil War battlefields, writer Jennie Bain Wilson penned the lyrics, “Naught of earth unmoved can stand.”
The line, perhaps best explained as a “Kairos” moment on her “Chronos” timeline, might be translated from preacher talk as “no human is exempt from the frailty and uncertainty of life.” From Wilson’s perspective, whether one was a plantation owner, former slave, merchant, soldier or politician, northerner or southerner—all had to recognize how quickly life could change.
Jennie Wilson’s soul stirring hymn spoke a renewed and poignant truth. It underscores lessons learned by Arthur Stradford, more than a dozen siblings, scores of grand and great grand children, and millions of connected friends through the African Methodist Episcopal Church: Don’t build hope on your crops, mills, G.N.P., your military, class or political ideas alone, all fortunes which can quickly and unexpectedly change — but build your hope “on things eternal”, and Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
1 Time is filled with swift transition—
Naught of earth unmoved can stand—
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
2 Trust in Him who will not leave you,
Whatsoever years may bring,
If by earthly friends forsaken,
Still more closely to Him cling.
3 When your journey is completed,
If to God you have been true,
Fair and bright the home in glory,
Your enraptured soul will view.
Refrain:
Hold to God’s unchanging hand!
Hold to God’s unchanging hand!
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
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