Do you believe soldiers are not heroes?

This aint hollywood? That was an example don't be a prick. Also, I was trying to prove a point by saying farmers are heros. My definition of a hero, is greater than that - which is also why I don't believe soldiers are heros. I'm not saying all soldiers are not heros. I believe in peace, not war... in most cases there was always a better option.

 

The lack of reasonable thought in this thread is baffling. Arya, great point.

Soldiers are not heroes, for heroes do not exist. A hero is a person who a person praises for doing what they believe is right regardless of the obstacles in their way. So, technically, a heroic action is subjective.

Soldiers, while I do find a majority of them to be respectable, honorable people, are not necessarily heroes. They are soldiers. They're doing a job, not a selfless act. If you truly knew any soldiers, you'd know that they're just people who are working. Some of them are assholes, a lot of them are retarded jerks, and most of them don't even care about the people.

I live not even a block away from Oceana Naval Base, I serve thousands of military people a week food, and I live with a 3RD Class Petty Officer. While he has personal reasons for joining the military, I know his main motivation is job stability and a good future for him and his family. He's no different than JoeBob who works at a Grocery Store and has a 401k.

Just because the job is dangerous, and just because it's an important job, doesn't make it anything more than a job.

Now, when you get into the topic of the Marine who jumped on a grenade to save his platoon, that's a heroic action. Even though it doesn't really affect me, I'm sure his platoon and their families see him as a hero. So, that's about as close as you can get ^.^.

 

Incredible post, I agree.

You explained it way better than I did. I appreciate the few who actually write reasonable responses. I'm glad you brought up the fact that it's just another job. Thank you for your post.

 

I am sorry, my views were wrong, I agree with you.

 

"Soldiers are not heroes. They can be heroes, they can act heroically, they can do heroic things - but the act of putting on a uniform and agreeing to put your conscience in a lockbox for the next so many years does not make your life more important than others, it does not make your opinions and insights more worthy of respect than others, it does not exempt you from moral judgement. It does not make you a hero."


+1

 

I agree with most of your post.

I am commissioning in the army very shortly, I have 4 cousins/uncles who are army SF/rangers, my dad is 25 years air force, and many other service members in my family.

Being a solier does not make you a hero. Courageous, perhaps. But it is a job you agree to do, and simply because you put your life at risk doing that job doesn't mean you are an instant hero. Soldiers can be heroes and can act heroically, as can any other person in any other profession.

 

Well, I mean this question is a bit vague. Being a soldier does not make you a hero. However, many soldiers can and are heroes. Personally, I believe heroes need to fight for some cause that can be considered above themselves, some ideal that is selfless or honorable. However, you definitely can't say all soldiers are heroes as some have less than honorable motives and others simply fight for horrible ideals.

 

I realise my logic may well be flawed, but the reason for my possibly stupid post is because the question asked initially hit a nerve. I do and always will hold a huge amount of respect for anybody who joins the armed forces - aslong as it is for the tight reasons - and I dislike people disrespecting them. For example, if somebody joined because they left school with no grades and the army was the only option, then they are brave, but not heroic. Where I disgree with most of you, is that I believe when somebody joins the forces, for the main reason of protecting others and serving their country, I believe that is a heroic act. I will hopefully be joining, but I will be entering as the basic soldier, on a salary of around £16000, when I could earn atleast £30000 if I used the qualifications I have. The reason I'm doing that is because I want to serve my country and make a difference.
My views on the armed forces are, along with many other subjects, very strong. Example, when the Islam4UK march was planned to go through Wooten Bassett, I thoguht that showed great disrespect to the soliders putting thier lives on the line, and anytime somebody shows disrespect towards them, I will fight against it as most of you wouldn;t like to be out there doing what they are doing, they do it so you don;t have to!

 

yes they are. they risk there lives so we dont get invaded

 

Boo hoo. Next try, try coming up with a counter-argument. o.0

?

It doesn't matter. The scenario, in no way, factors in what happens in the other peoples lives, outside of the scenario. Making such a scenario as a contradiction to my logic is simply ignorant.

Like I said, factoring in what the people do outside of the scenario is ignorant. If that were the case, I could include into my post, thousands of different scenarios that would change the very fabric of the situation.

Oh, the guy who held up the bank had mono, so when he went to tell the bank-teller to fill his bag up, he kissed her, and she got mono, and the cells spread too rapidly, and then she got cancer, and etc, etc, etc.

As you could see, what you're doing (factoring in "what-if's" about the peoples lives that are deviating from the original scenario) is idiotic.

Not only that, but it doesn't matter if the scenario wouldn't be a likely one in reality. It's not there for me to be a seer. It's there to show the logic in the post I was contradicting. As far as I could see, you failed at contradicting my logic, and focused on contradicting the likeliness of my HYPOTHETICAL situation.

 

Obviously you didn't think about what you where going to post when you did, Nazis didn't fight to protect a country, they fought to be the majority.

You would.

Doubt it.

You debate as a Pre-High, first time debate team member would.

A Pizza Hut delivery man can be heroic? "Delievering the record for the most Pizzas delieverd in a SINGLE DAY!"

Just because you join the Military does not make you a hero, as you would say, a "Heroic Act" would classify you as a hero.

Lets look at the basics. Deploying to Iraq, risking your life for the Freedom of your country, Heroic Act.

Deploying to Iraq, risking your life for the insurance that others know that we, "America" are the stronger of the majority, Heroic Act.

Deploying to Iraq, risking your life to insure your country that their children can go to school and be safe, that the parents of those children can go to work and be safe, Heroic Act.

Hmmm, if you ask me, this is only a beginning of things one could list to show an heroic act.

Soldiers, heros?

Of course.

 

Not on topic but hey this one had me lol

 

Very well said.

How could possibly not class them as heroes. chances are you wouldn't be sitting there typing on a forum if it wasn't for them in most cases.

 

agreed

 

agreed

 

I think soldiers can do heroic actions, but joining the military doesn't make them a hero.

 

First Time you've said something not bullshit
I agree but, a true hero would not be willing to kill in the name of peace

 

In my opinion it is based on what they are fighting for.
Soldiers from Vietnam WWI and WWII The Iraq war and even the Revolutionary war are heroes in my book.
They stood up and fought for what they believe in and for that I respect them.

 

No man who kills another man is a hero.
War medics, however, are heros.

 

I disagree. They are doing this for the greater good of the country they are from, to protect it and to keep it free from terrorism.