They are not heroes, they are victims.
It's not heroic to go into space for the improvement of humanity?
So, by your logic, the firefighters who died in the Twin Towers on 9/11 are just "victims" and not heroes either, hm?
Either come out and say it or expose yourself as a hypocrite.
1. In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods.
2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: soldiers and nurses who were heroes in an unpopular war.
3. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field: the heroes of medicine. See Synonyms at celebrity.
vic·tim ( P ) Pronunciation Key (vktm) n.
1. One who is harmed or killed by another: a victim of a mugging.
2. A living creature slain and offered as a sacrifice during a religious rite.
3. One who is harmed by or made to suffer from an act, circumstance, agency, or condition: victims of war.
4. A person who suffers injury, loss, or death as a result of a voluntary undertaking: You are a victim of your own scheming.
5. A person who is tricked, swindled, or taken advantage of: the victim of a cruel hoax.
They fit the definition of the former far better than the latter.
you are entirely right. the difference between a hero and a victim is knowing ahead of time the nature and depth of the danger. the astronauts were lied to.
Victims or not, the comment you made sucks!
I don't see anything antithetical between being heroes and being victims. They are heroes, and if victims also, so be it. But I think they are bigger heroes than anything else.
Wow... there's a real positive thought to add to the discussion. I'm pretty sure this was supposed to be a motivational/inspirational thread. If it's not your cup of tea, just skip it next time.
Wrong.
Many think that the Space Shuttle was some routine ride into space. It never was. Every launch and flight was a MAJOR risk where uncountable things could go wrong. It was never routine. What they did was extremely risky, they were truly hero's first, and victims second.
If there are heroes anymore, these are.
No. They were pioneers venturing into a "new land". Were the people who died along the western wagon routes victims as well?
Should we still be living in caves?