Are soldiers heroes?

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   johnb0127posted 14 years ago

   On facebook, there is a group called 'soldiers are not heroes' and then there is another group 'petition to remove 'soldiers are not heroes' from facebook.  This got me thinking....
   
   I support the troops.  I believe that they are over there protecting this great nation from another September 11.  They are over there countless times fighting for our freedom!!
   
   I joined the petition group, duh.  I want to see what other people think.  Please post what group you would join and why
   
   --John

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      chukra Gposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      NOT AT ALL.
      because the war you fighting now might be the stupidest things in future.

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         nicompposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         We don't judge current behavior by what might happen in the future.

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            Eaglekiwiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            We can use history as a reasonable predictor though.

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         dennisemattposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I dont think the question was about the war. thats a whole different issue. the question is aobut supporting the people ther. I would be on the side of the soldiers. No matter what you think about the war, those men and women are risking thier lives for a situation that is here, like it or not.

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   johnb0127posted 14 years ago

   How so?

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      chukra Gposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      simple the, for the object/subject you are fighting for now, will not be as much important as is it now soon. everybody aware of it, but ego of the leader.

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         johnb0127posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I can barely understand what your saying.  Is what your saying that the war we are fighting now is not worth it?

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   Dame Scribeposted 14 years ago

   Hi John, I saw that petition too. dont know who initiated the petition but I didn't join. Our military are heroes when they are protecting the people from harm, promoting equality and helping others rebuild, so yes, they are Heroes.

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   Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

   I don't want to open a can of worms but the term hero has been overused in our society today. When a soldier does something over and above the line of duty that makes him a hero; you are not a hero just because you are in the military. They are courageous and should be supported, but they are not all heroes.

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      Mrvoodooposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Couldn't agree more.
      
      As with any other large group or organization the military no doubt contains its fair share of nasty shits and twisted scumbags, those that join the military for reasons other than to protect those they love.  Being a soldier is a job, but if that soldier acts heroically whilst performing that job, then they become a hero.
      
      * And no, acting heroically does not necessarily involve being blown to pieces, bad people can be blown to pieces too.

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      nicompposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      What's over and above? If a firefighter runs into a burning house and saves a child, we could say they are doing what they are trained to to, therefore it's not over and above. I'd still consider that behavior heroic.

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   \Brenda Scullyposted 14 years ago

   they would become heroes if they were blown to pieces?????

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   Eaglekiwiposted 14 years ago

   I think the reasons they believe they are fighting for are an Individuals choice ( and to some extent a country's culture) and far be it for me to judge.
   
   I wanted to add to Brenda's comment too , I understand where your coming from, to die a hero might seem like an honor but any grieving family will tell you if they had a choice it wouldnt be honor they would choose ,it would be their beloved alive!
   
   I guess being called a hero somehow acknowledges the death wasnt in vain,unlike the bad guy who has lost the will to be good, or care too much about consequences. So soldiers dying are called 'heros' and bad guys dying are called 'dead'

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   BundleBoyposted 14 years ago

   There is no question, They are HEROES!
   
   They might be fighting a stupid war or a wise war (what ever that means), the decision to go to the battle field is not theirs. To put your life on line for some one else s - That's got to be a HERO!

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      Mrvoodooposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I just don't agree that all soldiers ARE putting their lives on the line for others, joining the military is a career path, bringing benefits and financial gain.  In my opinion soldiers often do what they're told to do, right or wrong, e.g. The Chinese soldiers that slaughtered many thousands of innocents at the order of Chairman Mao during his reign were still Soldiers, were they heroes?  What about the American soldiers who 'supposedly' raped Vietnamese women left right and center, heroes?  The soldier that goes against his orders in order to do the right thing, now that man would be a hero to me.

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         BundleBoyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I think people who choose to become soldiers know the risk yet take the option. Military might have a financial gain and other benefits but not all of us want to become a soldier? Do we. As a soldier you are at a higher risk of dying in your job.
         The first thing Soldiers are told is about discipline and to take orders. Imagine every soldier thinking morally and making decisions for them selves. That would be disastrous (there would be no army). It is like a knife - you decide if you want to use it to cut vegetable, fruits or you want to stab someone. I am not defending soldiers who did wrong deeds nor claim them as heroes but the rest of them, to me are!

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   tksenseiposted 14 years ago

   Is the validity of the war the measure by which you judge the men and women who fight it?

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      Eaglekiwiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      who ya talking too?

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         tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Whomever.

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   countrywomenposted 14 years ago

   On a lighter note my husband loves "Heroes" episodes(and even I end up watching it). I guess if some of these "heroes"/soldiers were able to go into the future(like the Japanese guy in the "heroes" who travels back/forth in time/space) and realize that they were being lied about the WMD then how many would have still put there lives at risk for those lies?

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      Eaglekiwiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      My sons love that programme too, my youngest (almost 18yrs) commented , everyone thinks they are all fighting for the right reasons dont they mum ,and he's right , every country has their own hero's. Mines at work right now

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         countrywomenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yes it is true isn't it one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.

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            nicompposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            A freedom fighter generally attacks military targets. A terrorist generally attacks people who cannot defend themselves.

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               tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               And there you go.

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               Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               You just proved the thesis - their freedom fighters (and yes, they call them freedom fighters) are your terrorists.
               
               On a serious note, I tend to agree to CW-girl point of view, too many times I saw in my life certain people and organizations moving back and forth from freedom fighters to terrorists, depending on who tells the story or when the story is told...

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                  nicompposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Perhaps you didn't read my thesis. I pointed out a functional difference between the two groups.

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                     Mrvoodooposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     My guess would be that he did read it, I certainly don't buy it.

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            tksenseiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            No, it is not.

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    tksenseiposted 14 years ago

    Going off the topic, no?

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    Eaglekiwiposted 14 years ago

    No TK we are multi-tasking
    do continue

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       countrywomenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Oops Sorry for digressing. I hate to be the party spoiler.

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    AEvansposted 14 years ago

    Of course soldiers are heroes, if it wasn't for our military here in the U.S. we would not be able to live how we live today. Without them we would not exist. I am proud of our soldiers and shame on the people who are trying to have it removed from facebook.

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       Mrvoodooposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       'Of course soldiers are heroes' - Whose soldiers?  When I read statements like that I always feel that something is missing and it should read more like this:
       
       'Of Course 'American' soldiers are heroes'.
       
       But I guess that's just me.

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    soni2006posted 14 years ago

    no they are more than that.

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    Eaglekiwiposted 14 years ago

    Do you think it might depend on whose side your on MrV

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       Mrvoodooposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I certainly do, and I certainly didn't mean that 'Of course Amercian soldiers are heroes' is what I was thinking, but felt that's what those making those kind of statements wanted to say, as you and others have pointed out above, even terrorists are soldiers of another side.

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