Do you think every soldier is a hero?
Discussion
I dont think theyre all heroes, no. I doubt that that is how they all see themselves either: at least Id hope so. There are heroes there, of course, but theyre defined as such by their actions over and above their duty.
Id ignore the site/page though, as Im sure that it is politically motivated.
Id ignore the site/page though, as Im sure that it is politically motivated.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
No, not all soldiers are heroes. Some are scum, some are heroes. Same with every walk of life.
No, not all soldiers are heroes. Some are scum, some are heroes. Same with every walk of life.
The majority of soldiers are heros in my book. Unfortunately you will always get some sadistic scumbags, who are drawn to killing and violence like moths to a flame. The numbers of the latter type are low and if they really step over the line there are systems in place to deal with them, as there are in civilian life.
No.
In fact, given the sort of circumstances that create an environment for someone to want to join - I'd say a lot are people with bugger all options in life and nut cases.
I don't doubt the environment they face in a war provides ample opportunity for them to act heroically (although plenty of people do that without leaving the shore.....firemen, paramedics, coast guards - OK, they do leave the shore!) and thus become genuine heroes - but for me, joining the army to kill nasty people in the desert (which is the basic job role today) is not heroic in and of itself (not in anyway i would regard the word hero at least)
In fact - i'd say the insistance of the media to label them all as heros is what will allow the people in charge to let this drag out for 30 years. If people started to say "we dont like the war and we aint to happy about people who enable it" ala Vietnam, our soldiers would come back pretty quick. As it is, things like Wotton Bassett play into the hands of those who want to protract things as it allows them to blurr the line between soilder and soldiers task.
In fact, given the sort of circumstances that create an environment for someone to want to join - I'd say a lot are people with bugger all options in life and nut cases.
I don't doubt the environment they face in a war provides ample opportunity for them to act heroically (although plenty of people do that without leaving the shore.....firemen, paramedics, coast guards - OK, they do leave the shore!) and thus become genuine heroes - but for me, joining the army to kill nasty people in the desert (which is the basic job role today) is not heroic in and of itself (not in anyway i would regard the word hero at least)
In fact - i'd say the insistance of the media to label them all as heros is what will allow the people in charge to let this drag out for 30 years. If people started to say "we dont like the war and we aint to happy about people who enable it" ala Vietnam, our soldiers would come back pretty quick. As it is, things like Wotton Bassett play into the hands of those who want to protract things as it allows them to blurr the line between soilder and soldiers task.
TVR653X said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
No, not all soldiers are heroes. Some are scum, some are heroes. Same with every walk of life.
+1 on this.No, not all soldiers are heroes. Some are scum, some are heroes. Same with every walk of life.
Thing is solders are in one of the few professions that they can be heroes. How heroic can most of us be sitting around in a office all day?
Tadite said:
TVR653X said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
No, not all soldiers are heroes. Some are scum, some are heroes. Same with every walk of life.
+1 on this.No, not all soldiers are heroes. Some are scum, some are heroes. Same with every walk of life.
Thing is solders are in one of the few professions that they can be heroes. How heroic can most of us be sitting around in a office all day?
I think that 'hero' is too strong a word. Doubtless there are many heroic men and women in the services (both those who are decorated for their acts and those who merely get a pat on the back and a few words of thanks from their comrades) yet at the same time I believe that all soldiers should be respected. People may argue that many join up to fulfil their lust for killing, and yes that may be true in a miniscule number of cases, but kudos for them for putting their lives on the line for their country rather than stabbing people in backstreets.
Edited by Benjybh on Wednesday 27th January 00:27
Benjybh said:
I think that 'hero' is too strong a word. Doubtless there are many heroic men and women in the services (both those who are decorated for their acts and those who merely get s pat in the back and a few words of thanks from their comrades) yet at the same time I believe that all soldiers should be respected. People may argue that many join up to fulfil their lust for killing, and yes that may be true in a miniscule number of cases, but kudos for them for putting their lives on the line for their country rather than stabbing people in backstreets.
In a war we shouldn't have started, in regards to Iraq? hmmmmm.....Edited by TVR653X on Wednesday 27th January 00:28
TVR653X said:
Benjybh said:
I think that 'hero' is too strong a word. Doubtless there are many heroic men and women in the services (both those who are decorated for their acts and those who merely get s pat in the back and a few words of thanks from their comrades) yet at the same time I believe that all soldiers should be respected. People may argue that many join up to fulfil their lust for killing, and yes that may be true in a miniscule number of cases, but kudos for them for putting their lives on the line for their country rather than stabbing people in backstreets.
In a war we shouldn't have started, in regards to Iraq? hmmmmm.....Edited by TVR653X on Wednesday 27th January 00:28
TVR653X said:
Benjybh said:
I think that 'hero' is too strong a word. Doubtless there are many heroic men and women in the services (both those who are decorated for their acts and those who merely get s pat in the back and a few words of thanks from their comrades) yet at the same time I believe that all soldiers should be respected. People may argue that many join up to fulfil their lust for killing, and yes that may be true in a miniscule number of cases, but kudos for them for putting their lives on the line for their country rather than stabbing people in backstreets.
In a war we shouldn't have started, in regards to Iraq? hmmmmm.....Edited by TVR653X on Wednesday 27th January 00:28
Tadite said:
TVR653X said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
No, not all soldiers are heroes. Some are scum, some are heroes. Same with every walk of life.
+1 on this.No, not all soldiers are heroes. Some are scum, some are heroes. Same with every walk of life.
Thing is solders are in one of the few professions that they can be heroes. How heroic can most of us be sitting around in a office all day?
WildCards said:
No, Soldiers are people just like you and me doing a job that they signed up for. Whilst doing that job if they should do something heroic or above the call of duty then perhaps they could be deemed a hero.
I would say this statement is spot on, and being an ex soldier i can comment.The hero's are the guys who will go in under fire to safe their mates when others get thier heads down, also been in that situation and the reason i am still here, is due to a guy who did just that.
The army didn't have the same view on the matter and got rid of him not long after.
TVR653X said:
Benjybh said:
I think that 'hero' is too strong a word. Doubtless there are many heroic men and women in the services (both those who are decorated for their acts and those who merely get s pat in the back and a few words of thanks from their comrades) yet at the same time I believe that all soldiers should be respected. People may argue that many join up to fulfil their lust for killing, and yes that may be true in a miniscule number of cases, but kudos for them for putting their lives on the line for their country rather than stabbing people in backstreets.
In a war we shouldn't have started, in regards to Iraq? hmmmmm.....Divorce the politics from the armed forces ffs.
slideways said:
WildCards said:
No, Soldiers are people just like you and me doing a job that they signed up for. Whilst doing that job if they should do something heroic or above the call of duty then perhaps they could be deemed a hero.
I would say this statement is spot on, and being an ex soldier i can comment.The hero's are the guys who will go in under fire to safe their mates when others get thier heads down, also been in that situation and the reason i am still here, is due to a guy who did just that.
The army didn't have the same view on the matter and got rid of him not long after.
Benjybh said:
TVR653X said:
Benjybh said:
I think that 'hero' is too strong a word. Doubtless there are many heroic men and women in the services (both those who are decorated for their acts and those who merely get s pat in the back and a few words of thanks from their comrades) yet at the same time I believe that all soldiers should be respected. People may argue that many join up to fulfil their lust for killing, and yes that may be true in a miniscule number of cases, but kudos for them for putting their lives on the line for their country rather than stabbing people in backstreets.
In a war we shouldn't have started, in regards to Iraq? hmmmmm.....Edited by TVR653X on Wednesday 27th January 00:28
There are loads of squaddies who join up because, to put it bluntly, they're dumb s
ts who couldn't score a job in Asda.
There are many others who are attracted to mindless violence.
And there are some who want to make a career of it, and a good career it is too if you can put in the graft and are clever enough (the first two categories aren't clever enough).
No, not all soldiers are heroes.
ts who couldn't score a job in Asda.There are many others who are attracted to mindless violence.
And there are some who want to make a career of it, and a good career it is too if you can put in the graft and are clever enough (the first two categories aren't clever enough).
No, not all soldiers are heroes.
Famous Graham said:
slideways said:
WildCards said:
No, Soldiers are people just like you and me doing a job that they signed up for. Whilst doing that job if they should do something heroic or above the call of duty then perhaps they could be deemed a hero.
I would say this statement is spot on, and being an ex soldier i can comment.The hero's are the guys who will go in under fire to safe their mates when others get thier heads down, also been in that situation and the reason i am still here, is due to a guy who did just that.
The army didn't have the same view on the matter and got rid of him not long after.
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