First, let me say that I detest MSNBC because it is flat out a propaganda machine for the Democrat party. Therefore, ANY person hired by MSNBC is highly questionable in my mind.
Second, I didn’t see the show or review it to see what the context was, so my comments aren’t really on the show or the host, per say. My comments are about the over use of the word “hero”.
I am a Navy veteran. I served for 6 years in the 1980’s. Four of those years were on board a Fast Attack Submarine. I joined the Navy for various reasons....patriotism, a desire to get out of town, a desire to learn a trade and a desire to get a job. I did my job. I wasn’t a super sailor and I never saved anyones life. I honestly don’t see that I went above and beyond the call of duty or even really risked my life to save others, therefore I don’t accept the title of “hero”.
I think the title of “hero” belongs to those who knowingly risk their life for others even when it means that they go beyond the call of duty or the requirements of their job. For me, that would involve all soldiers, marines, sailors or airmen who volunteered to go to a combat zone where an enemy could kill them by direct or indirect fire.
I saw a recruitment sign a while back that said something like “join the .....and not only earn a skill but become a hero.” I didn’t like that. While I have a higher respect for all that join the military, I don’t call everyone that joined the military a hero. If everyone that joins the military is a “hero” then how do we differentiate between those who do just their job and those who go beyond the call? To over use this word, in my opinion, cheapens it.
I know I’ll probably be flamed for this view, but it’s truely how I feel about the use of the word “hero”.
I totally agree with that sentiment. However, I do think more of your contribution on that Fast Attack than a simple walk in the park. Them’s some isolated conditions and back in those days it was pssible that the Soviets ould see to it that you never saw the sun again.
Nonetheless, I have to admit, when holidays, such as Memorial or Veterans Day comes around, I feel a tinge of guilt. People who know where Ive been and what I’ve done go out of thier way to wish me a happy “this or that day”. I don’t deserve it. I’m still here and still healthy. I had my few minor combat exchanges while I was in, and I embelished the sh)t out of them when I was telling stories as a younger man. All the while, I felt like a chickensh*t. When I tell the unvarnished truth, I was simply terrified, not at all brave. It took me a few years to say this, but I feel better for it today. What many of our Soldiers, Marines, Seabees, Sailors and even Airmen have dealt with over the past 10 is far more in depth, and war like. In particular, for the Marines that took Fallujah, I’m not good enough to shine their shoes. Let heros be heros. To me, a hero puts his or her life on the line for others, for his or her buddies in the field, at that critcal moment. That kind of desperation never happened to me. I never had to make that last second choice and I have no idea if I could’ve. There are hundreds of thousand just like me who served, but also know that the hero title is wildly overplayed.
That said, I too detest MSNBC. They know nothing of the subject, beyond their pissant anti-war BS. This reporter isn’t fit to wpie the a** of a buck private.