OT - Tribute to a hero

Atrocities · #1 April 25th, 2004, 01:24 AM

Alpha you may delete the thread if you wish. That will end the off topic and political discussion in your thread. Or you can ask that it be locked since you originated the thread.

President_Elect_Shang · #2 April 25th, 2004, 03:05 AM

For those of you that may have misunderstood:

What I posted below may sound like some poem I found or made up. IT IS NOT! This is the pain that I live with every day of my life; these are things that creep into my mind no matter how hard I try to drive them out.

Tillman is a hero! So are all the others in our armed forces. They are heroes because they chose to join. He didn�t go over to die, he went to serve. Damn the Webster definition of a hero. If you save a baby in a burning car does that make you a hero? If you help a trapped man after a storm does that make you a hero? Yes it does and why? Because you chose to help and he [Tillman] is a hero, along with all the other men and woman of the armed forces, because he choose to serve!

[ April 25, 2004, 02:10: Message edited by: President Elect Shang ]

Grandpa Kim · #3 April 25th, 2004, 05:47 AM

From Taterbill

Quote:

I just happen to believe that the world would be a better place if more people approached it with a value system similar to Tillman's.

Couldn't agree with you more!

Seems the only thing we are arguing about is the definition of "hero", not the quality of Mr. Tillman.

Alpha Kodiak · #4 April 25th, 2004, 08:12 AM

The reason that I consider Pat Tillman a hero is not that he died, but what he gave up to be a soldier. I considered him a hero the moment he gave up a multi-million dollar contract to join the army. There aren't many who have made that sort of sacrifice voluntarily. I respect those who define hero differently, and have no problem with them. I read a post in another forum by a currently active service member that summed it up well. She said that she had joined to serve, but also because she needed the education and experience to open up a future for herself, while Mr. Tillman already had all of that. He didn't need anything from the military, he only wanted to serve.

What I see in the death of Pat Tillman is a reminder that the news everyday of another soldier or soldiers fallen is not just another numbing statistic, but the loss of an individual. I understand that there are differing political views on this forum, and I appreciate the fact (and am not surprised by it) that those who oppose the current administration still recognize the courage and value of his choices.

I do not give up hope for this thread. It's purpose is to honor those who willingly put themselves in harm's way to protect the rest of us. It may have been sidetracked a few times, but there is still a sense of respect here that has value. I do not doubt that there are a significant number here (not just Americans, but from all over the world) who have a friend or loved one (or even themselves) in the military and have to wonder every day what will happen. That is something that transcends politics.

Atrocities · #5 April 25th, 2004, 08:59 AM

Well said Alpha.

[ April 25, 2004, 08:00: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

Grandpa Kim · #6 April 25th, 2004, 05:28 PM

I echo Atrocities: Well said, Alpha

Renegade 13 · #7 April 25th, 2004, 07:00 PM

Now that I read all your opinions, I may be forced to reconsider my own. Perhaps he was a hero. At the very least, he was a good man, who had his life senselessly cut short, and no one deserves that. A hero to me is someone willing to give up a lot, in favor of the morally right course. I'm not sure if joining the military is morally right, but regardless of that, I respect all of you who regard the man as a hero. I think that if everyone had the same qualities as Tillman, the world would be a much better place. If we were all willing to take a bullet for someone else, even though we may die, the world would be a much better place for my children to grow up in (when I have children of course, which I don't now). Personally, I think I would take a bullet for someone else, and would that make me a hero? I think not. It would simply make me human. And I think that Tillman may not be a hero, but simply more human than the rest of the world.

I hope that made sense to you all, I'm not trying to step on any toes here or anything, nor am I trying to derail the thread or offend anyone. I'm simply stating my opinion.

Tyrel