1 00:00:02,799 --> 00:00:06,799 The reason why we greet each other with "Aloha" is because of the real powerful 2 00:00:06,799 --> 00:00:10,599 meaning of this word that really expresses: 3 00:00:10,599 --> 00:00:13,119 "I come to you with respect 4 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:20,480 and with an open heart and with love." And the recognition that no matter where 5 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:27,440 we come from or the color of our skin or how we work or if we worship 6 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:28,480 or how we wor.. 7 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,399 All of these things... 8 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:34,679 It cuts right through and recognizes that we are all connected. 9 00:00:34,679 --> 00:00:38,200 We are all brothers and sisters, all children of God, and therefore are 10 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:45,560 inspired to treat each other with that most deep respect and care that inspires 11 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:47,200 us to take action. 12 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:48,600 To take action to care for one another. 13 00:00:51,359 --> 00:00:56,920 I get asked about the grey that I have in my hair here 14 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:02,880 I started to go grey during my first deployment, 15 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:06,840 and just over the years, I have decided to keep that 16 00:01:06,879 --> 00:01:10,719 because of the reminder that it brings to me 17 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:15,280 of those who pay the price for war. 18 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,000 The cost of war; I will never forget. 19 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:31,560 I think that it is most important to make sure that we have 20 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,840 the right people with the right qualifications, 21 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:40,000 motivated purely by that love, and care, 22 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,560 and compassion for others in positions of power. 23 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,200 Because ultimately when it comes down to it, 24 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,599 whether you have men or women in positions 25 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,040 of great power or influence, if they are driven by 26 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,519 that hunger for power and desire to hold onto it, 27 00:01:56,799 --> 00:02:01,120 that's where we end up in a very bad place. 28 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:13,039 The VA is an organization that has a mission to protect and to serve the needs 29 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,680 of our veterans. Those who go and are willing to sacrifice 30 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:22,080 all for our country. And unfortunately what we are seeing is that even after all of these years, 31 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:27,599 both, in the post-9/11 era of veterans but also Vietnam veterans, Korean War veterans, 32 00:02:27,599 --> 00:02:33,319 those who've come before us, the services are still falling short 33 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:38,560 And the area of post-traumatic stress is one of the main areas where that is true. 34 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:43,800 There continues to be a stigma around it - whether people are willing to admit it or not - 35 00:02:43,879 --> 00:02:49,120 both, within the military and also as people have transitioned back to their civilian lives. 36 00:02:49,159 --> 00:02:54,199 I have experienced it through some of my friends, who I have served with, 37 00:02:54,199 --> 00:02:56,840 who have come home really struggling, 38 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:01,639 and having a hard time finding the best place that can help them. 39 00:03:05,719 --> 00:03:11,840 This is one of the drivers behind the continued rate of veteran suicide 40 00:03:12,159 --> 00:03:18,360 that we are seeing in our country, and shows that we have to take a more holistic approach. 41 00:03:18,439 --> 00:03:24,000 And this is what I would lead as a president, where as a veteran, I understand in a deeply 42 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:29,599 personal way, who pays the price for war, and how heavy that price is. 43 00:03:29,599 --> 00:03:32,919 And I will ensure that our VA leaves no veteran behind. 44 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,919 And that every single veteran gets the care that they need. 45 00:03:35,919 --> 00:03:40,639 And as we look at post-traumatic stress, there are many different levels of 46 00:03:40,639 --> 00:03:47,439 how it impacts people on a whole spectrum: some very extreme situations, some less extreme. 47 00:03:47,439 --> 00:03:53,520 But every person heals and finds their therapy and their path forward 48 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,800 in a different way. And as a VA, as a government, and as a 49 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:02,240 society, we need to be able to help support that. 50 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,680 We are still working on putting together kind of on paper 51 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:11,080 in each of these areas what my vision for 52 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,800 the kinds of changes that we need to see 53 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:15,280 as a presidential platform. 54 00:04:15,319 --> 00:04:18,800 These are issues that I have been closely involved with 55 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,279 and working on with legislation in Congress, both, 56 00:04:22,319 --> 00:04:27,240 cosponsoring bills, like the AIM HIGH Act and others, 57 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,680 and bringing voice to those who are my constituents 58 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,120 and others in the country, who are still 59 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,920 not being represented at the table, 60 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,720 where a lot of these decisions are being made.