The Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq call the VA motto Sexist
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Demands and complains of the VA motto being outdated, sexist and exclusionary are given by a group of veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq, and want the Department of Veterans Affairs work on it.

The organization having an approximate of 425,000 members, the Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans of America is advocating the whole year for its expanding services for the women veterans among them. Earlier this week, the veteran group renewed its effort by writing a letter to the Veterans Affairs secretary, David Shulkin and appealed to the lawmakers and the other VA officials in the department. They believe the effort will challenge the motto and women will be recognized more.

The Executive Director of IAVA, Allison Jaslow said that the top priority of IAVA this year is to increase the recognition and support for the female veterans. She continued to explain about how a key component of the priority has been on the Veteran Affairs department, seeking them for a change in the motto that can embrace equality among both sexes, especially that now that one of the arguably challenges veterans come across are cultural barriers. Many of the women veterans feel invisible because of that.

The VA motto since the year 1959, has been a quote deprived from the former president, Abraham Lincoln. “To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.”

The letter to the VA sectary, Shulkin, on Tuesday, he was addressed that the department should replace the outdated motto with something that contains an inclusive message and mission that would acknowledge and recognize women veterans among them.

A VA spokesman, Curt Cashour responded to the IAVA criticism of the VA motto and said that the VA has been having the utmost respect for the sacrifices and services of all the veterans among them, and that included even the female veterans. He later said that Lincoln’s words are just Lincoln’s words.

Jaslow said that the IAVA has not yet brought to the table the suggestion of motto replacement, but its replacement would need make a reflection and representation of the total population of veterans. The VA data has it that out of the 21 million veterans in the nation, among them are two million women.