I grew up in an Air force town in the US. I have nothing but respect for people who are willing to die to protect my life.
Poll: Do soldiers deserves the title of hero?
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But for so many that's not the reason. They join because they can't find a job. Or, as written above, wanting to go to college. Some indeed join "to protect the country", which might be heroic. But also quite stupid.MagicMouse said:
It would be more helpful to try solving what causes wars. All about cause and effect. But as that would require everyone to (heroically) cut back on their livestyle it's much easier to send in the fighting force which, in the end, solves nothing.
Wow. This just. Wow. Just WOW.EspirituExterminatus said:
This is exactly what I was JUST talking about.
I really like how you contradict yourself. "Not all soldiers are lowlives, but everyone who participates in an unjust war is". Makes a lot of sense. Totally understandable.
I'd like to remind everyone that -real- soldiers don't act like the ones in Call of Duty and other related games. I KNOW soldiers who say that those games are not realistic at all. They are GIVING THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT US. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE TO SAY THIS.
Also, it cracks me up how people are still calling this an "unjust war". Really? Unjust you say? I recall terrorists coming into America, hijacking American planes, and killing thousands of innocent people and destroying an iconic American building. Seems like a justified reason to me. And what will happen when we take all the troops out and they're left alone not being searched for? THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.
Nope, but cheer up
At least they get the title of soldier which is way more than i'll probably ever get.
At least they get the title of soldier which is way more than i'll probably ever get.
ahh, I was going to say that, but didn't want to be presumptuous. I suppose if we can't call them heroes, we could at least respect them right? Then again, it'd be respecting murder wouldn't it? Omg I'm confuzzled!MGlBlaze said:I'd imagine it might have something to do with "there is no heroism in killing others" or something similar.lyfeindeyth said:First, I love your avatarKortney said:. Second, why do you think that is?
To call every person who puts on a soldier's uniform a hero is to lessen the title of hero. For example I am a soldier, (NZ Territorials,) yet the fact that I have a uniform does not make me a hero.
Most soldiers, as others have noted, don't really want to be known as heros anyway.
Most soldiers, as others have noted, don't really want to be known as heros anyway.
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv11/lulyoumad1/u-mad1.jpg
I'm sorry but for someone having a tempter tantrum and throwing random insults that seems ironic what you've counted and called us, that and you don't really think your argument through, everyone enlists to potentially give their life for the greater good? What about average joes who want the education, or references, or collage fund?
That and WW2 called for a draft too.
Yes, that truly was tragic. And I do have family in NYC. But compare that to the millions of lives we willingly sacrifice to keep our lifestyle. We've been exploiting the world for centuries. Be it spice, food, or oil. They'd be utterly stupid to fight back by the noble rules of fisticuffs.comet5002 said:
As Ustinov put it quite correctly: Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich.
Not approving of the war is an entirely separate issue from giving our armed forces the respect they're due. I wouldn't go so far as to make a blanket judgment and call every soldier in the US Army a hero. I imagine that's the kind of thing that's decided on a case by case basis. I would, however, call them courageous, and patriots, for putting their lives on the line in the service of our country.
I don't support the war, but I do support the troops who are out there fighting and dying. That's a very important distinction that the people of that group need to understand.
I don't support the war, but I do support the troops who are out there fighting and dying. That's a very important distinction that the people of that group need to understand.
I'll make my point short and sweet. Soldiers don't start wars, they just die in them. Are they heroes? Yes. Why? Having the balls to stand up against guerrilla forces who hate you and your family simply because you come from a certain country is a brave, heroic thing. The enemy might not be as well equipped as our forces. But they are still brutal, and a guy blazing at you with an AK-47 is still dangerous and deadly. It's that simple.
The term hero is thrown around by politicians looking for votes or to advance their cause. The actual soldiers on the ground don't think they're a hero, they're just doing their job.
Wearing a uniform and serving your country doesn't make you a hero. What you DO is what makes you a hero. And a hero doesn't always mean you're in the army. I think some of the greatest heroes have been doctors, scientists, volunteers, philanthropists and soldiers as well.
An individual can be a hero imo. Your job title doesn't make you one, what you do does.
Wearing a uniform and serving your country doesn't make you a hero. What you DO is what makes you a hero. And a hero doesn't always mean you're in the army. I think some of the greatest heroes have been doctors, scientists, volunteers, philanthropists and soldiers as well.
An individual can be a hero imo. Your job title doesn't make you one, what you do does.
Sure, SOME soldiers are very brave and dedicated and professional and good at their job and support the right causes.
But is EVERY soldier a hero? Of course not. Soldiers are HUMAN BEINGS. The fact that they need a special military court for prosecuting military crimes proves that some soldiers commit crimes. So no, of course not every single soldier is a hero, and putting on a uniform doesn't make one a hero at all.
The reason why is due to the fact that many soldiers have different reasons for joining. Believe it or not, many people join the army simply because they have no other idea what to do with their lives. I knew two people from my high school who wanted to join the military here in Australia. One genuinely wanted to be a soldier and serve his country. He was a pretty alright and nice sort of guy. The other eventually joined because he was an absolute bone head who had no real prospects or skills and thought that holding a gun in the middle of a desert was a pretty easy job (I know it's actually not an easy job, but you can't pretend that your average infantry man has the world's most intellectually challenging occupation). Many people join the army because they need money to pay off debts or for college, and some join simply because they are forced too (The USA did have drafts in the past, and many countries still require some form of military service, like Taiwan or Singapore). You can't, by any stretch of the imagination, call a conscript a hero. Even if they fight in a battle, a conscript does what a conscript does because the alternative is a court martial and a firing squad.
But there are genuine heroes in the army. There are men and women who serve with honor and valor and are recognized as doing so. Some soldiers really do join because they want to do what's right according to their own morals. Some want to serve their nation, some want to serve the cause of justice and some think of it as a way to pay back their debts to society. Those people can be called heroes.
But not every soldier is a hero or joins for the right reasons. I'm pretty sure every single soldier has met a fellow soldier who was, well, of less than stellar character.
But is EVERY soldier a hero? Of course not. Soldiers are HUMAN BEINGS. The fact that they need a special military court for prosecuting military crimes proves that some soldiers commit crimes. So no, of course not every single soldier is a hero, and putting on a uniform doesn't make one a hero at all.
The reason why is due to the fact that many soldiers have different reasons for joining. Believe it or not, many people join the army simply because they have no other idea what to do with their lives. I knew two people from my high school who wanted to join the military here in Australia. One genuinely wanted to be a soldier and serve his country. He was a pretty alright and nice sort of guy. The other eventually joined because he was an absolute bone head who had no real prospects or skills and thought that holding a gun in the middle of a desert was a pretty easy job (I know it's actually not an easy job, but you can't pretend that your average infantry man has the world's most intellectually challenging occupation). Many people join the army because they need money to pay off debts or for college, and some join simply because they are forced too (The USA did have drafts in the past, and many countries still require some form of military service, like Taiwan or Singapore). You can't, by any stretch of the imagination, call a conscript a hero. Even if they fight in a battle, a conscript does what a conscript does because the alternative is a court martial and a firing squad.
But there are genuine heroes in the army. There are men and women who serve with honor and valor and are recognized as doing so. Some soldiers really do join because they want to do what's right according to their own morals. Some want to serve their nation, some want to serve the cause of justice and some think of it as a way to pay back their debts to society. Those people can be called heroes.
But not every soldier is a hero or joins for the right reasons. I'm pretty sure every single soldier has met a fellow soldier who was, well, of less than stellar character.
Soldiers in general don't deserve to be called heroes much the same as a dad doesn't deserve to be called a hero. Generally no, but those who can prove it, hell yes call them a hero. Being called a hero is like any other descriptive term, have to prove it equals them. You don't call an idiot an idiot till s/he prove they are an idiot so the same rule of thumb should apply to heroes as well. If the person proves they are the descriptive term, they should be called that.
I recall an exchange from Knights of the Old Republic that kind of puts my feelings on the matter into words, as said by Carth Onasi;
"I'm not a warrior, I'm a soldier. There's a difference. Warriors attack and conquer, they prey on the weak. Soldiers defend and protect the innocent ? usually from warriors."
Cheesy, I know. But the jist of it stands - Modern men and women of uniform are organised to protect, from military officers to policemen and fire-fighters. If soldiers didn't fight - and perhaps kill - for the sake of those they defended, would anyone else?
Armed forces going on the offensive do not do so with the specific intent to murder, rape and pillage, but with the reasoning that "The best defense is a good offense". Mostly.
Military might is abused, yes. But that comes down to the people in power, not the people under their command. Some soldiers may commit atrocities by their own volition, without orders or influence. They shall be judged individually, not as soldiers, but as human beings.
Being a soldier or any other uniformed officer responsible for the defense of your nation and the protection of lives, wether you're a policeman or a paramedic, you're entitled to be refered to as a "hero" by those you protect. Of course, a real hero doesn't ask others to call them such. That's what makes them, innit?
"I'm not a warrior, I'm a soldier. There's a difference. Warriors attack and conquer, they prey on the weak. Soldiers defend and protect the innocent ? usually from warriors."
Cheesy, I know. But the jist of it stands - Modern men and women of uniform are organised to protect, from military officers to policemen and fire-fighters. If soldiers didn't fight - and perhaps kill - for the sake of those they defended, would anyone else?
Armed forces going on the offensive do not do so with the specific intent to murder, rape and pillage, but with the reasoning that "The best defense is a good offense". Mostly.
Military might is abused, yes. But that comes down to the people in power, not the people under their command. Some soldiers may commit atrocities by their own volition, without orders or influence. They shall be judged individually, not as soldiers, but as human beings.
Being a soldier or any other uniformed officer responsible for the defense of your nation and the protection of lives, wether you're a policeman or a paramedic, you're entitled to be refered to as a "hero" by those you protect. Of course, a real hero doesn't ask others to call them such. That's what makes them, innit?
