For a comedy series, Barney Miller brought a lot of issues to light. The significant one here is regarding Vietnam vets who were exposed to a horrible type of biological warfare in "Agent Orange."
Wojo collars an Air Force vet who tells him about the effects that he believes Agent Orange has had on him--especially given that he was a pilot responsible for dropping it.
Wojo takes matters into his own hands and calls in experts from the science lab responsible for making the stuff, an Air Force Officer, and a high-ranking official within the VA. Of course, none of them can give Wojo a definitive answer regarding the effects of Agent Orange, or even if much is being done about it. Obviously, it's not the hopeful answer Wojo is hoping for, but he proves his point: nobody is doing much about it. Why? Because in truth, nobody cares to do anything about it.
It's more than a little troubling to find out how deplorable the Federal government has been in trying to help men and women who have served this country. In short, most are treated with indifference and like disposable soldiers.
If you take a look at what Jon Stewart did for the first responders of 9/11 and why it took someone of his reputation to bring a horrific crime to light (the reluctance of the government to pay for the necessary medical treatment police officers and firefighters need after being exposed to terrible cancer-causing chemicals).
This episode was done back in 1980. Here in 2022, we find that the Federal government still hasn't done much--or even made much of an effort--to provide help to those who really need it. And those men and women who put their lives on the line to protect this country and its citizens, you'd think the government would do something. It hasn't.
Wojo collars an Air Force vet who tells him about the effects that he believes Agent Orange has had on him--especially given that he was a pilot responsible for dropping it.
Wojo takes matters into his own hands and calls in experts from the science lab responsible for making the stuff, an Air Force Officer, and a high-ranking official within the VA. Of course, none of them can give Wojo a definitive answer regarding the effects of Agent Orange, or even if much is being done about it. Obviously, it's not the hopeful answer Wojo is hoping for, but he proves his point: nobody is doing much about it. Why? Because in truth, nobody cares to do anything about it.
It's more than a little troubling to find out how deplorable the Federal government has been in trying to help men and women who have served this country. In short, most are treated with indifference and like disposable soldiers.
If you take a look at what Jon Stewart did for the first responders of 9/11 and why it took someone of his reputation to bring a horrific crime to light (the reluctance of the government to pay for the necessary medical treatment police officers and firefighters need after being exposed to terrible cancer-causing chemicals).
This episode was done back in 1980. Here in 2022, we find that the Federal government still hasn't done much--or even made much of an effort--to provide help to those who really need it. And those men and women who put their lives on the line to protect this country and its citizens, you'd think the government would do something. It hasn't.
