The seriousness of Military Veteran Homelessness Essay

The seriousness of Military Veteran Homelessness - Essay Example â€Å"Roughly  56 percent  of all homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic, despite only accounting for 12.8 percent and 15.4 percent of the U.S. population respectively† (National Coalition for Homeless Veternas, 2011). The biggest problem of the military veterans in America is homelessness. About 50% of the veterans that had served in the military in the Vietnam era are homeless today. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), most of the homeless veterans of the nation are men while the percentage of women is about 5. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) records a minimum of 131000 homeless veterans every night while the number of military veterans that are found to experience homelessness every year is 262000 (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009). They generally come from urban regions and account for one third of the total population of homeless people in America. The homelessness and lack of employment is just as much a problem for the young veterans who have recently returned from Afghanistan and Iraq as it is for the old veterans that have served in the previous wars. They have their lunches and dinners in the soup kitchens and are desperate for finding jobs even if they have too do menial works (USA Today, 2007). Last, but not the least, the homelessness has led the military veterans to depression. A vast majority of these veterans are single and suffer from physical and psychological illnesses. Many are patients of depression and are addicted to substance abuse. One veteran said, I shed blood for this country and got the Purple Heart after a mortar blast sent shrapnel into my face and leg. But when I came back home from Vietnam I was having problems. I tried to hurt my wife because she was Filipino. Every time I looked at her I thought I was in Vietnam again. So we broke up. (Glantz, 2009, p. 1). Unfortunately, there is no proper system in place to cater for

Can Religion Improve Your Health Research Paper

Can Religion Improve Your Health - Research Paper Example People who did not attend church or religious services were more likely to be unhealthy and, consequently, to die. However, religious attendance also increased social ties and behavioral factors to decrease the risks of death (Deem) Even though, science and technology has developed a lot, the prominence of religion in human life has not been affected. Science succeeded in unveiling many of the mysteries around us; however it failed to make a concrete statement about the life before birth and life after death. On the other hand, religion has answers to all these questions. Religions and its principles are formulated not based any scientific facts or observations, but based on belief alone. The agony of what is going to happen to the soul after one’s death is haunting human life even now. Religions talk about an eternal life after death based on the activities one would perform in his earthly life. Religions argue that the current life is only a temporary one and a permanent lif e is waiting for human after death. The failure of science in unveiling anything about the chances of a future life created lot of psychological problems among humans. Such humans are relying heavily on religious teachings in order to avoid their concerns and stresses about a future life. In other words, religions can help people to improve their physical and psychological health. This paper analyses the role of religion in improving human health.... Mind controls or drives the human body and any problem occurred to the driver may result in malfunctioning of the body. It is difficult for a person to stay calm or healthy while his mind was agitated by something. Mental happiness is essential for the better functioning of the body. Religions always teach its believers to stay away from crazy life styles. For example, Christianity advocates that a person can engage in sexual activities with his wife only. All the sexual activities outside the frame work of marriage are considered as sins. Science has already proved that HIV/IDS like severe diseases are caused by unhealthy or crazy sexual habits. Christianity has realized the consequences of crazy sexual life much earlier than science and that is why it advocated sexual activities with a single lady alone. Religious beliefs are responsible for streamlining of human life in the right track. In the absence of religious beliefs or the threats of punishments, sins can derail human life o n earth. Even science has no second opinion about the role of a structured life in maintaining human health. Religions help humans in leading a structured life. In the absence of spirituality or religious beliefs, people will try to lead a life of their won will and may cause immense damages to his physical and mental health. Religions provide the right frame work for maintaining a healthy life on this world. According to Koenig et al, (2001) â€Å"Religion takes a firm hold on science and between 200 and 1700, or almost all the mental disorders are understood in terms of religious beliefs† (Koenig et al, p.16). Religion provides the necessary