Posted on 02/16/2016 11:46:05 AM PST by SoConPubbie
Now that the GOP race has moved out of the left-wing northeast, where Donald Trump shined, Ted Cruz is back in motion, getting bold when speaking to crowds in South Carolina.
Like fellow conservative Marco Rubio, who’s also showing gains in the state, Ted Cruz is making it clear that if he were President, America would have a stronger military ready to keep our country safe.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas speaks to supporters on the Statehouse steps in Concord, N.H., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, after filing papers to be on the nation’s earliest presidential primary ballot. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
Cruz is taking aim right at the classic Democrat policies that turn the military into a lab for social justice warriors:
That’s why the last thing any commander should need to worry about is the grades he is getting from some plush-bottomed Pentagon bureaucrat for political correctness or social experiments — or providing gluten-free MREs
Who are South Carolina veterans going to support? A tested conservative who understands the role of the military, or a New Yorker who rattles off Code Pink talking points when he’s not turning pink in a tanning booth?
South Carolina values, not New York values.
I don’t know where the gluten-free MREs issue arose. But, I will speak to the matter:
It may sound impossible for the military to meet everybody’s individual dietary restrictions with tasty and sufficient meals, also to meet their prescription drug needs in the field, as well as be handicap accessible and provide translators to “Americans” who are not proficient in English.
But, it might be possible to accommodate some situations. Let’s say X particular soldiers have moderate peanut allergies. Then labeling choices at the cafeteria should be sufficient, along with mixing in some peanut-free MREs into the boxes of them relying on the good sense of our soldiers to distribute them accordingly. At a more radical level, providing individualized rations, to include prescription medication, might be feasible through “mass customization” technology. As to whether these would be good ideas, it depends on the supply of qualified personnel relative to the needs of the military.
A lot of soldiers fake it when it comes to food allergies, lying to get in or stay in, and then using their common sense at the cafeteria and trading combat meals with buddies.
Yeah, I know there’s a backlash against going gluten-free, but for those with Celiac it ain’t funny.
Good question. But if they let people with celiac into the service, then they do need to offer them something their digestion can handle.
In my case, if I ingest even a molecule of wheat flour, I will be sick for 14 days. The symptoms are that your own intestinal antibodies go to work, attacking not the gluten, but the intestine, producing incessant lower GI rumbling and turmoil. It can be very debilitating.
For people with celiac's, gluten-free is not a fad diet.
Did you know that it was the blood preserved from soldiers during WWII and those gathered now that showed that we have a Celiac epidemic brewing in the USA?
Young soldiers have the same rate of Celiac disease as the soldiers during WWII, but vets now have much higher rates.
This leaves some to the conclusion that our guys are somehow being sensitized to gluten.
Why is this important?
Because Celiac disease is linked to many other autoimmune diseases and colon cancer.
Perhaps this is a very real issue for our troops...?
After watching two of my friends loose their soldier husbands to Chrones and affiliated Celiac disease, perhaps this isn’t such a damn JOKE to me.
Watching a strong man starve to death isn’t fun. It’s exactly the same as watching a man die of AIDS or cancer.
So yes. If gluten-free MREs can save a few soldiers and vets from dying like this, I’m all for it.
I can absolutely empathize.
I was told that, if ignored, the gut will destroy itself and lead to early death.
So, even though it’s aggravating, I stick very religiously to gluten-free, and my wife is my own nazi bodyguard whenever we venture to eat out at restaurants. I appreciate her for that. Also, labeling has improved vastly, so there is plenty of edible stuff for us; we just have to be vigilant.
???? I’m not sure that the MREs are high on anyone’s priority list - probably a stupid idea but not a priority.
Really? Overall prevalence of Celiac disease is less than 0.7%. Those in the US military? Likely less as the military is not a accurate reflection of the US demographic.
How exactly are voters to be upset about this? Most are not likely to be as thinned-skin as you perhaps.
That’s the spirit - if we can’t elevate Cruz to the WH, pave the road for Hillary or Bernie to follow Obama - would make Scalia’s seat irrelevant even if the Repubs actually manage to do one right thing and keep Obama from seating another Lefty.
Then confirmed by endoscopic examination of the villi of the small intestine.
Cruz should head back to Canada and run for office there.
How about your relative just doesn't enlist in the military instead?
I think some people are missing the point. The remark was tongue-in-cheek. He is just saying the priorities will be on war-fighting. I don’t think he really cares about MRE’s one way or the other.
I absolutely LOVE that Graphic. Which I had a bumper sticker like that....
And it has been getting easier to cope in the past couple of years. Tried Bob's Red Mill All Purpose flour? That stuff is great! I use it just like regular flour. It won't make bread like regular does but for almost everything else it's terrific.
If you’re gluten intolerant you can’t serve, but if you wish your penis was a vagina you’re a perfect solider?
I am a Cruz supporter unless George Washington is resurrected. However, Sen. Cruz I am extremely concerned about the suicide rates within our military.
You are what you eat and what you eat affects your mind and your mind affects how you feel, etc, etc.
How can we love the LORD God with all of heart, mind, soul, and body if we put junk in it?
Re: gluten and Celiac disease...
“Researchers have long observed an overlap between celiac disease and depression. Reports of depression among celiac disease patients have appeared as early as the 1980s. In 1982 Swedish researchers (link is external) reported that “depressive psychopathology is a feature of adult celiac disease and may be a consequence of malabsorption.” A 1998 study (link is external) confirmed that about one-third of those with celiac disease also suffer from depression. Adolescents with celiac disease also face higher than normal rates of depression. Adolescents with celiac disease have a 31% risk of depression (link is external), while only 7% of healthy adolescents face this risk.”
Sorry, Senator Cruz. What we feed our military is important. VERY important. Just like the fuel in their transport or ships or helos or ospreys, what our boots and their commanders eat is very important.
Love,
Former Marine Mom.
PS I did send my son some canned squid while he was on deployment (as a joke) but it stunk up the tent.
Sorry guys.
This is untrue.
Lifelong civilians and other individuals without a specialty that would put them in enlisted light infantry platoons are such experts on what soldiers do and need. Parts of the thread look communistic and anti-American.
Why? Because many civilians who get their money from government would like to have more at the expense of defense. That’s what political activity in both political parties is all about now.
Yes. Have tried it. Try Pamela’s for pancake mix and dinner roll mix. B Crocker has great cake mix. Yep. Not bad once used to it.
Eating out isn’t really worth it. Not very many restaurants can manage the cross contamination and a lot don’t really care. I guess it’s a pain for them and too many people are “GF” in name only.
Red Robin will make you an awesome burger and fries.
Rotisserie chicken at Claim Jumper.
Firebird Steak Houses — wow!
Joe’s Crab Shack
Maccaroni Grill
Carraba’s
Z-Tejas
In/Out burger just for fries
Wendy’s chili
All these are good; you really have to tell the management and your server what you need and they know what to do next. If ever you get a puzzled look on the face of a host or server, don’t order. But if they seem clued-in, they know how to keep you safe.
I am getting quite a repertoire. And I am one of those celies that can’t even tolerate a molecule.
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