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| L to R: Deborah and Jennifer Fink, founders of CHAMPS. |
Dear Operation CHAMPS Supporters,
This morning, with deep sadness, I am announcing that Operation CHAMPS will shut down.
Attached is our final statement that we will be posting on social media and our website. We reached this decision reluctantly, following weeks of distorted and destructive attacks from a group of adult children of military Servicemembers (Brats). Although the situation began as a mere difference of opinion regarding the “CHAMPS” terminology, the Brat attacks quickly escalated and became increasingly abusive. Some of our volunteers have been threatened, and as you know, your organizations have been besieged with posts, tweets, emails and mail requesting the withdrawal of your support. This controversy has become a significant distraction to many of your worthy organizations. Hence, we have made the decision to close our doors.
When Debbie and I set out on this journey a few years ago, we envisioned an organization that would be at the heart of a community where military families felt supported, understood, and appreciated by their civilian counterparts nationwide. Our path may have ended prematurely, but we are incredibly proud of the footprints we have left behind. Together, we were able to provide thousands of hours of free child and respite care to families of Wounded Warriors, Servicemembers, and veterans, and deliver morale-building, uplifting educational programming to thousands of elementary school-aged children living in the United States and abroad.
Moreover, Operation CHAMPS' legacy leaves a "Full Force Committee" bringing together the five military branch associations to collaborate on behalf of our military-connected children and their families. We find comfort in knowing that their collaborative efforts will continue. None of this would have been possible without your support. Because of Champions like you, we were able to bring joy to countless children and relief to our community’s Servicemembers, spouses and caretakers. We plan to use the rest of Operation CHAMPS funds on purchasing holiday gifts for our Wounded Warrior, military, and veteran families. Our high school and college volunteers will be involved in the purchasing, gift-wrapping, and delivery of these holidays gifts to our deserving Wounded Warrior, military, and veteran families. We believe this is a most befitting way to say farewell.
While Operation CHAMPS’ journey has ended, we have notified our team of dedicated volunteers that we will be happy to assist them in transitioning to volunteer with some of your organizations that would best suit their interests and locations.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, or concerns. On behalf of Operation CHAMPS’ Board of Directors, volunteers, supporters and the countless military families touched by our programs, we thank you.
V/r,
Jennifer E. Fink, Founder & CEO, Operation CHAMPS, P.O. Box 342431, Bethesda, MD 20827 - 301.758.6717 - www.OperationCHAMPS.org
Their criticism towards Brats being the cause of your shutting down is unfounded - we were not trying to shut down any help provided to the military families, in fact, we all agree, that the need for education to the civilian community is needed and any support for our military families is applauded, but to create a new "identity" should not have been their concern, we already have that, if they would have allowed the title "Brat" to be promoted as a good thing, providing a sense of belonging and heritage, your program would have received our full support. There are other reasons why their organization has decided to shut down, funding perhaps, or sponsorship? There is much more to this story than they are letting the public know. I would love to see our Brat Family come together and do whatever we can to help any of our military dependents and service men/women. ARMY BRAT STRONG!
ReplyDeleteThis was not purely about a name. It was about a heritage, a culture, and a society. Plus it was about teachings that were not correct that would weaken the youngest of our Society.
DeleteIf the Finks had ever entered into a dialog with any of the Brat organizations which was requested countless times and ignored, there could have been a resolution from the beginning. But they refused and went on their on campaign to belittle our concerns and heritage. It's sad they tried to commercialize their efforts and lost sight of their original vision.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with this. We could have been a great asset for them. But it remains true, some just don't get it!
DeleteThe truth is out there. Why not disclose the truth on why you're really closing?
ReplyDeleteWe liked that you wanted to help...but you were seeking to rebrand and create a new identity for BRATs. When we spoke up, rather than admit that you were wrong and didn't do the research you should have, you have attacked us. Were some BRATs out of line? Yes. Were some of your supporters out of line? Absolutely. BRATs wanted a CIVIL conversation and all we got were nasty replies and calling us liars.
It wasn't your help. It was that you thought you knew our life as BRATs better than we did. If you had simply HELPED (I wish I could take credit, but can't...I just don't remember who thought of it...) and used CHAMPs to be the acronym for Civilians Helping All Military Personnel, you would NOT, as so many BRATs have stated, met with such resistance.
HOWEVER...thank you! Most of us felt that our BRAThood was safe and secure. You showed us that it wasn't. You woke us up to what we had to lose; what we took for granted.
Now...let the truth be spoken. Tell everyone why you're really closing. And it's NOT because of BRATs...
You are so right Navy, this did wake us up. We are now going to work to secure our Heritage of Brats. In my opnion we should be honored with our own branch of service, just like the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. I think after all this time we have earned it.
DeleteShe is not a military brat, therefore, she does not understand - to us - Military BRAT is a term of respect. She had a good cause and for that we thank her. We all would agree and support the need for assistance to our military families both active and retired, however, she went about it wrong. Do not try to fix something that is not broke. We carry our BRAT name with honor. We were taught as children to defend ourselves with dignity - we are the children that stopped playing at 5 o'clock every day when that bugle played, we placed our hands over our heart in honor of our flag and all the wonderful things that make us American. So to her, I say, don't try to speak on our behalf...we got this. Just ask - this is something you never did.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately you took it upon yourselves to change the identity of something you neither belonged too OR lived through. Your belittling of "adult children" exposed your TRUE feelings to the millions of military BRATs past AND present. You are NOT one of "US" and cannot or will not speak for the millions of us whose identity you hoped to change for your own monetary benefit under the guise of "helping military children". Creating an organization that seemingly spouts to advance the lives of military children while STEALING the identity of those same children as they become adults is not the same thing. We are proud of the heritage that our parents gave to us. Our mothers and fathers fought, served, and many never returned home. We WILL NOT let a "civilian" interloper steal OUR identity with supposed good intentions, political connections, or self serving ideology. We Are Military Brats. Our hometown is nowhere, our friends are EVERYWHERE!
ReplyDeleteWhen efforts of multitudes of BRATS to reach out and open a dialogue with Operation CHAMPS went ignored or attacked, we began our own investigations. Thousands of people working together in concentrated efforts brought to light questionable business practices. Yes, Operation Champs was not just a non-profit, it's the front of an actual for profit company. And who benefits from the company? The Finks. Along with questions regarding false resumes, illegal trademark infringement of official Military Seals, the value of an "edutainment" program that tells kids how to feel while alienating the only group who will understand them, their persistent posting of military childrens' images in public forums (which anyone with military knowledge would know is a dangerous no no)... We had many growing concerns about the Finks' operation and, since we were again ignored by Operation Champs, we took those concerns to the supporting bodies. Now several have withdrawn support and certain practices of the Operation are being questioned from ethical standpoints.
ReplyDeleteI am certain there were a few uncivilized posts, or possibly even threats (we'd all like to see the proof of these actual threats). However, I am also certain the Operation is not closing its doors soley due to some bullying from a small group of adult military dependents.
Our concerns were far more numerous than her simple disparagement of our title and heritage of Brathood. Again, she's painted a picture how she would like it to be seen. As from the start, we BRATS want the whole truth. We were not asking for surrender or retreat. We wanted to be heard and our concerns addressed.
Although, you have brought countless BRATS together in unity so maybe some good did come of your attempt after all.
BRAT Proud, BRAT Resilient, BRAT STRONG!
Well said, Jen...m y strong BRAT sister :-)
DeleteWell said, Jennifer. Few had issues with the childcare. Many (myself included) had issues with being stripped of our Brat heritage. Try telling an Irishman he can no longer be called an Irishman. It is the same thing for those of us whose hometown is the military. Brat connections and bonds are like no other. Those who did not live it, see it as 'just a name.' Those who lived it and are now living it wear the Brat status with pride and don't want someone who is not a part of our culture deciding to change our identity. Additionally, having the gall to say that you just want these kids to know they are American justifiably infuriated many of us. I for one was born abroad and lived abroad as part of my military upbringing. Never once did I question whether or not I was an American. Even still, there were questionable business practices which shed doubt on the organization as a whole.
DeleteThis letter just *screams* that it was always about making money off of their "cause". They cant make money off free babysitting services. If they truly cared about helping these families, they would keep that part of the program going! Problem is, they need to distribute the books for it to be worth their while. It's called "funneling"....The books are bought by sponsors through their non-profit so they can then turn around and buy the books from their own for-profit company. The charity was just a pass through agency for them to live off the backs of military families. They are shutting down because they got caught using all those logos as endorsements without permission from most (or all) of them. They shut down in hopes of avoiding those lawsuits.
ReplyDeleteAnd let's not forget the babysitting was only available in a small area with time constraints and unavailable during certain parts of the college school year.
DeleteMost military operations and civilian ones are able to provide babysitting support for wounded and deployed families. As a child stationed in Italy, another military family took my brother and I in for several weeks while my mom underwent surgery in Germany so my dad could be with her.
They're using the babysitting as their "feel good" front without admitting it really didn't do much for a vast number of people.
For family support people should contact their local base family support group and/or the USO for information and advice on available services.
If someone is willing to find/get it I would be very interested in their financial statements.
DeleteThey keep claiming that the sale of the book provides the funding to pay for their overhead, etc. For 2 years their organization has been around. They sell the "popular" book for $8-$9 a pop. They GIVE the book to families. They provide free babysitting (how much do they provide?). They have a volunteer staff. So who is buying the books to be given away? What are the sales. How much has been donated?
A lot of things that seem contradictory. I would love to know what else is going on.
I cannot find any record of them filing their Form 990. 501(c)(3) organizations (except private foundations) are required. Most are viewable online somehow. Wonder where their financial reports are?
DeleteAfter all, it is worth scrutiny (before they take to the airwaves about how their sanctimonious, I mean, beneficial charity was forced to close because of a nomenclature dispute).
They wanted to bridge the gap between civilians and BRATS but toured overseas. Overseas is not where it was the hardest with little support. We had each other. It was stateside where the civilians were unsupportive, lacked understanding and needed education...it is stateside where BRATS could have used the most support.
Yet these people would travel/tour overseas, peddling their book.
Those financial statements may be very useful in the near future.
http://www.bratsourjourneyhome.com/Musil_OpEd_BratsVChamps_120914b
ReplyDeleteMs. Fink,
ReplyDeleteWhile I am an ARMY/Navy BRAT, I am also a Navy Spouse. My children are Navy BRATS. I have been discussing this issue we have with you with current Active Duty personnel friends of my husbands and also some of the Navy/Marine Wives in my area, and we all find it offensive that you tell us "BRATS are the new CHAMPS". Mainly because 1. we are not the heros, our parents were/are. 2. BRATS live the Military/DoD Lifestyle whereas "Champs" only play sports. 3. BRAT is NOT derogatory in ANY way shape or form, and those that think it is obviously dont know the difference between a Military BRAT and a SPOILED Civilian brat, which are not the same AT ALL and have two TOTALLY different meanings.. 4. You say you were "bridging the gap between civilian and military children" yet you were ONLY touring Europes DoDEA Schools where there are NO Civilian children instead you should have been in the USA traveling from school to school teaching these children how to be more giving and welcoming to Military children like myself, my fellow Brats and our children/grandchildren. I would like to remind you that you had the opportunity to respond to us and talk this out when I PERSONALLY emailed you BEFORE this all blew up in your face from MY PERSONAL email address, YOU refused to speak to us..We attempted to talk to you and question you on your official "Operation Champs" Facebook page, yet you deleted comments and blocked people (including myself and my child) from commenting or even talking to you. We even made a special Facebook page for you to come and join in on the conversation without any drama, Yet you STILL refused. After watching over the course of the last month, 4,177 people came forward so far, and are STILL coming forward to sign my petition to tell you to change your path.. Yet you STILL refused to acknowledge us. The ball was in your court, yet you even went so far as to call us a "Small band of adult military "Brats"". Whereas I think we showed you we are not a "small band" at all.. We are LARGE, We are BRAVE, We are ONE, WE are BRATS, and we dont back down.
What are you hiding that you would give up so easily and take your ball and run home, rather than come to a mutual conclusion?
Sincerely,
Misty Lobrano
PROUD BRAT, Navy Wife and Mother.
BAM...well said!
DeleteThank you.
DeleteWonderfully said. Thank you.
DeleteThank you Eve.
DeleteThank you Misty for your eloquent statement
DeleteThank you Angelica for your compliment.
DeleteWell done! Well done!
DeleteThank you Susan.
DeleteI apologize on behalf of every BRAT in regards to any inappropriate statement or action - again, no one wanted to shut this down...that was NOT the intention - she made a statement in November "“The members of Operation CHAMPS understand that many children of military and veteran families proudly call themselves BRATS. We also understand that many people in the civilian and military-connected communities see the term brat in a less favorable light,” At this point you are changing the focus on the kids and more about our term. The origins of the term BRAT came from the British Army. When a member of the British Army was assigned abroad and could take his family, the family went with the member in an Admin status entitled: BRAT status. It stands for: British Regiment Attached Traveler. Over the years, it was altered to refer only to the children of the military member - and I certainly am PROUD to be an Attached Traveler to my soldier dad. I will support her cause 100% if she does not attempt to change the identity and brainwash our strong BRAT children.
ReplyDeleteDon't apologize for me please. Any name they would choose to give us would meet with the same stigma from outsiders. People will always distrust and tease those who are not like themselves. This was taken on without study of who they thought they were trying to help. We don't need help or understanding, we are taken care of by our parents, their squadron, and base, and by the US Government. We had/have it better than any other American child. That being said, do some work for those that truly need it. Abused Children, Inner city children, Homeless children.
DeleteOne more time. "brat" is not an acronym and never was. "Brat" means "child of" and, as an army brat, that is what I am - a child of the army.
DeleteDon't apologize for me either, please. This is a sketchy organization and one that needs MUCH further review. Are you not suspicious of any organization that supposedly helps so many and yet shuts down at the first negative response to it? This is bizarre and I would not want them dealing with my children. Let experienced Brats help the younger ones. The Finks never understood our lives and now they seek to vilify us. Not a good organization. I stand by everything I've ever said on this topic.
DeleteNor for me. Her earlier statement was not an apology for a misunderstanding and a promise to no longer pursue that avenue. It was an implication that we were incorrect and misinformed about her intent -- when we had ample documentation that we were neither.
DeleteEven after her previous press release, she made absolutely NO effort to reach out to us. She decided to vilify us then, and now.
So no, you can apologize on behalf of yourself, but there will be no apology from me to either Fink.
(And if this double posts, I blame technology :) and especially my laptop)
If you didn't do anything inappropriate under the moniker of BRATs, then you have nothing to worry about C Hill apologizing for you, so why worry and say "not me".
DeleteThere are quite a few "Bad apples" in the BRATs "tree", as I've seen in the last 37 days (I've noticed they are good at pretending to be your ally) with my own eyes, but remember that just because theres some bad apples, doesn't mean the whole tree is bad.
I appreciate C Hill for apologizing on behalf of all the BRATs that have had APPROPRIATE behaviour this whole time. While SOME of us actually have good intentions for this cause.. There are those who don't.
Thank You C Hill, for your apology for those of us who didn't act inappropriately about those who have been. Because we all know that no one is going to admit their inappropriate behaviour, but instead lie through their teeth as if they are innocent.
Kind of annoying...they really still don't understand how badly condescending they are.
ReplyDelete"We challenge the adult Brats who have put so much energy casting aspersions on Operation CHAMPS and its supporters to now redirect their attention and resources to constructively serve the young people they believe only they can represent."
I think it is fair to say that being a BRAT, all that we sacrificed or missed out on, the higher bars we had to overcome...we have done enough to say that anything we do is above and beyond. And it is painfully obvious after them writing/selling their book since 2011 (according to their LinkedIn profile) and working on "serving" military families they don't understand it.
http://www.operationchamps.org/#!statement/cdm6
Tony, this is a great statement. I agree.
DeleteAnd it discounts the fact that Debbie Fink was well aware of the actions and ideas of Brats without Borders and other BRAT organizations which have been working for 30 years. She talked to them, took ideas from them, and instead of inviting them in to consult when she got in, she chose to hope they'd not find out.
DeleteWhy? Because BWOB would have actually wanted to do work....rather than go on European Vacations.
Let's not forget some more about Debbie Fink. She writes a book and then goes around peddling it for a few years. This anti-BRATs book was the 3rd from her. Previous ones were Operation Thanksgiving Eagle and Mom of Many Hats. She has been associated with those for 4 years and 5 years respectively.
DeleteWhat, though, does she know about the military way of family life? I don't know. She was an entertainer from 1994 - 2008 and Fundraiser and, get this, "Professional Volunteer".
Before that she was a research assistant and a consultant about the Homeless and health care.
She has no training in any of these things. This means that for decades she has made a living (and now her daughter after her) being given credibility on things that she knows nothing about.
I say that she has no training since her B.A. is in Psych and her masters was "Interdisciplinary" with a focus on Psychology, Education, Public Administration.
DeleteHardly credentials to be a consultant on health care. Hardly credentials to act like they know what it is like to spend Thanksgiving deployed. Hardly credentials to act like they know what is better for BRATs than BRATs know.
I really wish someone would look into the financials of her organizations. Lots of travel internationally for 4 years running. Just sayin', once all the pieces start getting placed on the table it looks like some 'splaining is needed from her.
What threats? There were no threats. We asked her to talk with us, we asked her to work with us. We repeatedly requested that she hear us. We were ignored; now being military brats we are, sadly used to that.
ReplyDeleteThen we read, and we watched. The book misrepresented the military child. We again reached out.
Had the Finks and Operation C.H.A.M.P.S. been a true Mitvah as Debbie Fink has attempted to represent, we would have thrown her our full support. Instead she chose to shut us out and she created this kappore.
It was in part about the name, calling us heroes only puts a target on our backs.
Had she wanted to perform a Mitvah towards the military child, should she not have asked us what she could do to help?
We have differences from the civilian child, of this there is no disagreement; but to say that she was trying to bridge that gap? How so? Let me put a label on this child so that others can see how different he is and bully him because I have given him a shoe that he does not need to wear?
If bridging the gap was her goal, why no civilian children in the book? why not reach out to the public schools? Why a huge USO trip to DoDDs schools that only could address the military child?
We are BRATs, we were born to a life that few understand and fewer still would want to. We do not threaten; we ask, we talk, we write letters explaining...we were born and raised to a military way of life...we did as we were taught. We followed the chain of command and when that did not work, we went to her chain of command. Why is Ops Champ closing? Because her sponsors were shown the truth....
Ms Fink and her daughter did not show the truth, there were no threats, we did not lie...those bailiwicks belongs to them, we held forth a small flame of truth and as is the American way of old, that truth bore out.
I am saddened that even in this she will not tell the truth.
I hate it when I see people saying things like "What threats? There were no threats." I have no doubt that some people felt strongly enough about the issue that they might have said something offensive/threatening. We don't know. IF they did get something threatening, then they should take it to the police... and I'm sorry for it. Nobody should be threatened or feel threatened. On this instead of calling them liars, we should be apologizing if there were any who did so, because those few do not represent the majority of us.
DeleteMs. Fink:
ReplyDeleteYou still fail to realize or admit that while you were digging for the honey, you stirred up a hornet's nest. There is not a Brat living that doesn't appreciate and welcome any support for military families. You knew this, or should have, from your conversations with many of us. Yet you totally disrespected our identity, our spirit, our name, and tried a "hostile takeover". I don't think you thought we would care, or fight back. Well, that alone demonstrates your limited knowledge of the military child. You could have reached out to us, asked for our help, supported Brat groups we already had in place, and helped us to enhance the services those groups offer. You CHOSE to take a different path. You chose to ignore, dismiss, and consider us a trivial annoyance, while forging ahead with what YOU believed about Brats and how they think, feel, and react to experiences. I do not know your reasons for taking the road you chose, but it is a dead-end, will always BE a dead-end, until you are willing to work with us. We, this "small group of adult Brats", ARE those children you are purporting to help and assist. We stood our ground, we did not back down, and we never, ever will. If you had an iota of understanding about what makes us tick, you would have known that those you dismissed, and are still trying to dismiss, are important. Do not try to lay the blame for this Champs fiasco at our feet, Ms. Fink. You made the choices, you made the assumptions, and you alone are responsible for it.
Reflect Upon It,
Pat Cronin, Proud Army Brat
Preach it!
DeleteI applaud your efforts to want to help someone. It is people such as yourselves that make the world go round. I am sorry you were thwarted at your attempts to help our family. We do not mind asking for help when needed but do not like to accept help while so many of our fellow Americans are suffering. We are proud, young or old. We can do without. We have a very large family that is there for us whenever we need it. We are not a fly by night group of children, we are our own, very large culture. There is an old saying, "It takes a village to raise a child" Our villages raised us. Unlike the disadvantaged here in America where children have been abandoned by their villages and even their parents.
ReplyDeleteWhat you tried to do for our family embarrassed us to no end. It is not your fault, you could not know or understand without having lived it. We are proud of who and what we are. I had a great education, great family, great extended family. I always felt safe, and a part of something larger than myself.
I would ask that, perhaps your energy be directed to inner city children, or perhaps helping to lobby for those with mental health issues.
Sincerely,
Buddy Lee
Air Force Brat 19 years
US Active Army 4 years
"we envisioned an organization that would be at the heart of a community where military families felt supported, understood, and appreciated by their civilian counterparts nationwide."
ReplyDeleteWhy would we need this? Our culture is much better than the American Culture. We are normally on base and around others just like us. Civilians are not going to change who they are. Not for their spouse, neighbor, government or anything else. For Americans, it is "Me First" Brats are not raised like that.
Buddy Lee
Air Force Brat of 19 years.
Ready yourselves for the attacks that will be coming, the misleading and half-truthing that will show up.
ReplyDeleteAnd it will come from people who will claim to be BRATs and still not have a clue.
http://spousebuzz.com/blog/2014/12/military-non-profit-destroyed-military-brats.html
Oh yeah, we know. Because, once again, these people decided to play the victim card because they didn't get told how wonderful they were. They couldn't bear to have an honest conversation about where they went wrong AND what they could do to fix it AND how we would be willing to help them.
DeleteThey were invited to talk to us. Apparently, they were too good for that.
We made a lot of sacrifices for our country, and we did so willingly. But sacrifice our identity for a pompous civilian who won't even talk to us? No.
But yeah...nothing like journalistic integrity.
Utter drivel. "..following weeks of distorted and destructive attacks from a group of adult children of military Service members. This first quote shows how little you comprehend what you were dealing with. You were looking at adult children, veterans, active duty members and current children of active duty military. Many of us crossed those lines multiple ways. My wife and I are both Brats, retired veterans who just left active duty this year, and the parents of Brats who are both grown and still in school. That was what you completely failed to understand. Brats are a diverse community of multiple layered generations that span back to children of WWII, all the way to the baby being delivered, as we speak, at an overseas hospital somewhere out there in the world. Pick an age, and there is a Brat that fits it. Your well intentioned, but misguided, attempt to amputate and reprogram the current generation of school age Brats was not well received by any part of that community.
ReplyDelete".. the situation began as a mere difference of opinion regarding the “CHAMPS” terminology" More drivel. There is no difference of opinion here. The Finks, having zero understanding of the Brat name, community or heritage, haughtily dismissed and disparaged it in every public statement they made. They attempted re-brand and reprogram the current generation of school age Brats with their vomit worthy acronym. It wasn't just about the name and it's heritage. The acronym they chose was ridiculous to anyone with any real concept of military life. If I need to explain, yet again, why the word 'hero" doesn't belong on a label one is trying to slap on children, then it merely serves to illustrate how disconnected the Finks, and CHAMPS are from the reality of the military family.
It disappoints me that they decided that their chosen name, and the "distraction" that name was causing, was more important than any merit they attached to their "work." Why the name change from "Little Brats" to "Little Champs?" To go forward and meet the resistance, they would have to engage the actual community they threw under the bus. Apparently that wasn't as important as their "legacy" or trademark concessions they would have had to make to go forward with support from the military child community. That final fact is important because that is what they were dealing with as this developed. The community of not just old military children, but veterans, active duty and current Brats as well.
The Finks are bowing out holding the umbrella of false victim-hood over their heads like a shield. Short and sweet, they screwed up on a monumental scale that they can't comprehend. They are the embodiment of the old adage "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." It's easy to stand around and bask in the limelight of admiration. True character emerges with the advent of adversity. Just ask a Brat. I guess a good example of the opposite of heroics serves as a good lesson too. They chose to quit rather that face having to admit to a mistake and try to fix it. Far better to exit publicly with the mantle of false martyrdom I guess.
You were contacted by many Elder Brats of all ages asking you kindly to not infringe on our heritage. Or to assume you could change the name of a long standing society you have never been a part of and no nothing about.
ReplyDeleteOur hometown is our community of Brats and for you to assume you could destroy a 236 years of this international community was arrogant.
We also pointed out to you kindly that you were wrong about some of your teachings for our youngest of our Brat community and tried to explain to you why. One reason being again because you have never lived this life, especially never of being born or raised in this society and what it meant to both old and young of us who have lived their whole life in the Fortress.
You didn't want a dialog with us, you were strictly concerned with what was monetarily best for you and your publishing company, both of which were suppose to of been none profit organizations for the youngest among us. Ergo why the donations now to disburse money that was suppose of been nonprofit.
You are not the victims, you are as guilty, if not more so, as you claim the Brats are.
None of this had to come to this conclusion had you respected those who know this life and were more than willing to help your organization get this right for the youngest of our society of Brats.
"Pro Bono Babysitting and Educational Programs for Children of Military Families End" - that's the headline on their website. That's just outrageous! How dare you start something and then QUIT the second someone questions you and then try to vilify a whole subculture - indeed, the adult version of those you're supposedly trying to help? Military kids need tougher people than that on their side! These people are not anyone I would want dealing with my kids.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about this blog, I typed a very lengthy post, and it went away when I tried to publish it. Not sure how "Warrior Families" came out on the side of the Finks. I am a warrior family, my brothers were warriors, one died in Vietnam, my husband is a warrior, as well has his father. My father, grandfather, great grandfather... back to the revolutionary war (thank you Ancestry.com) were warriors. None of them would have endorsed the slam on military Brats that the Finks pursued. They cannot possibly know what we have gone through without going through it themselves. I wonder how many hours the babysitters logged? There wasn't any education for the children of military families, just brainwashing.
ReplyDeleteHi Candy - I am the person moderating this blog and have not deleted any posts except for ones that are blank because the writers deleted it themselves. This blog originated because I was introduced to a former Superintendent of West Point who convinced me that the needs of military families were acute because of the changing nature of wars and deployments. Later I met Debbie Fink and wrote something about the CHAMPS book without realizing it was challenging to an existing tradition. I opened this blog up as a forum for discussion. I am not taking a side, just sorry to see the Finks' energy wasted on a project that is so clearly unpopular. On a positive note, their challenge certainly brought out Brat pride.
DeleteCandy, I too have that issue, and I blame the tech. With blogger (the site, not this blog), I've discovered that the first time I comment on any page during this particular viewing session, I will have to relog in. It won't offer this as an option BEFORE I post. So I type my post. Highlight and copy the whole thing. Press publish....and presto, my login opens. Once I've logged in, my post is gone (grrrr). No worries, I copied it before and now just select "paste".
DeleteIt took a couple of sites before I realized my computer had a personality problem.
Anyway, John.... thank you for your forum. You have tried to present the sides fairly.
And yes, they did.
They would also be more than welcome to continue their CHAMPsitting services...provided that CHAMPS stood for something one of my fellow BRATs came up with (and I wish I knew who it was so I could credit them): Civilians Helping All Military Personnel We could get behind CHAMPS if that was what it stood for.
(But that book and edutainment tour has got to go).
Misty, thanks. FYI, this blog's three posts on CHAMPS v. BRATS have attracted 5,000 page views, which shows a pretty amazing interest in the subject.
DeleteAs an air force brat I was never abusive and never even entered into the discussion with this group. I graduated from Wagner High School at Clark AB in the Philippines in 1973. I spent 6 years in the military after that. Much of my identity is grounded in the idea that I am a "brat." When someone comes along, albeit with the best of intentions, and tries to modify or rebrand that experience -- calling me a hero when the name just does not fit -- it threatens the essence of who I am. It's messing with my history and my identity. Apparently this was not considered. If it had been, I think there are a lot of brats who would have been supportive of an organization that was aimed at helping military families.
ReplyDeleteClosing your doors and acting with humility is a honorable thing to do, and I appreciate it. Those of us who lived and went to school overseas, or at countless military bases around the country, share a bond that few people understand. My wife is a military brat (Navy) and that shared experience is one of the things that binds us. Thanks for doing the right thing. I am sorry that people acted badly toward you. I hope this will not affect your willingness to engage in other work that supports the military. As Joe Friday once said "its a glamorless, thankless job that's gotta be done."
On the evening of May 23, 2007 I had the honor to meet with Donna Musil, Director & Writer for the film, Brats – Our Journey Home.
ReplyDeleteIf you have not seen this emotional panorama of our lives in “The Fortress”, then you must! Donna has done something truly wonderful here and all of you are well represented in the portrayals of life as Brats. I spent my 3rd to 6th grades in Germany & England then back to England for my last two years of school. Every aspect of my experience is documented in this film. The pictures are not of me personally, but I saw myself in every facial expression. I felt each and every emotion hinted at within the scripts. I left the final credits with a sense of loose ends of a great circle coming together at last. Not with a crash or fanfare, but with just a simple click.
I am a Brat and I would not have it any other way!
I thank you Donna for sharing your insight, your vision and the hug!
Frank D Kelley ‘66
Lakenheath High School England
Here is the link for the trailer to Donna Musil's movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6u6N0e8z3k.
DeleteThanks for getting me to look it up and watch it.