Turbo Pig, In general, that’s false. To make a sacrifice, a trade, you have to make the decision. In most cases, someone else made the decision to end their lives. There’s a “sacrifice” in everything we do. If we choose one path, we sacrifice the fruits of another. The difference with the military in general is in degree. Few in the military who died actually made a decision to sacrifice their lives for ideological reasons, but many of them did risk their lives for that.
The vast majority of those who actually choose to die do so for their buddies, their team, not wanting to let them down. That’s what has been reported from debriefings in a study after the battle for Tarawa in which a large number of Marines chose to wade into probable death against enemy crossfire rather than return toward their ship.
Recognizing this is not a slam on the bravery of those who risk death, but a recognition of the nature of war, of sacrifice and is a testament to the honorable character and rational nature of those who serve to defend our nation.
Palladin, You’re not justified in asking another “what sacrifices have you made for your country lately”. It’s self righteous, presuming the authority to set standards for another on such a personal issue, like asking what one has done to love their wife, or how much one donates to charity.
cynicom, Maybe as you suggest this isn’t such a significant misuse of language. Maybe I’m just sensitive to it because I’ve been involved in a debate with someone who redefined words to promote his objective.