Tillman not a hero?

[DeltAlum]

Very eloquent, Dekeguy.

I have another comment which might not match your prowess and prose.

Some people are just plain stupid. Open mouth, insert foot.

the inscription on the Memorial Student Center at Texas A&M, a tribute to the Aggies that gave their lives during WWII:

Greater love hath no man than this, to lay down his life for his friends
-John 15:13

Kitso
KS 361

[Optimist Prime]

Regardless of all other issues, you don't say "he had it coming" when some one dies in combat. That's just tacky.

[Munchkin03]

Gonzalez was highly inappropriate in making his comments. There's a line between practicing your right to free speech and being ignorant and crude; this "know-it-all shit" crossed the line right into the latter.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by dekeguy
It is a sad day when one man lays down his life for what he believed in and another so lacks the common decency of showing respect for a dead countryman who gave all in the service of our nation. If anything Ranger Pat Tillman grows in the respect and honor of his fellow Americans who will remember that he carried out the words of our founding fathers who pledged "Our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor". Tillman was a man who deserves our praise and what ever accolades we can bestow on one who has already achieved all. Remember the words "No greater love" and "to lay down his life". By God, I hope I would have the guts to stand up and be counted when my turn to face death comes. On the other hand, what can anyone say about the weasel who who speaks ill of the dead? Moral coward sounds close. Perhaps the most damning might be the very old fashioned but somehow, at least to me, appropriate reference, "I do not know hin, he is no gentleman". I believe the implications are sufficiently eloquent. I trust this persons fellow students will also come to the conclusion that they also do not know him, he is no gentleman. In England it was called being sent into coventry. At West Point it was known as Silenceing. It amounts to the same, we do not know him, therefore we do not acknowledge his existance.
As I said in another post, the words of Henry V seem very right to apply here.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he who sheds his blood with me this day shall henceforth be my brother.
As a fellow soldier I would be humbly honored to call Pat Tillman my brother. One thing for certain, I will honor my brother's memory.

*stands up*
*applauds, tears flowing down my face*
*sincerely hopes that I may also be of the same moral fiber*

[Kevin]

Holy crap...

I think everyone just agreed on something.

I think with this guy's information being public, he's probably regretting his words -- or getting book offers.

[mrblonde]

Im preeetty sure hes not getting any book offers.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by ktsnake
Holy crap...

I think everyone just agreed on something.

I think with this guy's information being public, he's probably regretting his words -- or getting book offers.

Search him out on the net and you'll get everything from his contact info to his reviews on amazon.com. The guy is a total jerk and this wasn't some isolated incident once you see what else he's said. He issues an apology saying that all he meant was that Tillman is being treated differently because he's famous. Somehow calling someone rambo and saying he got what he deserved doesn't sound like you were trying to get that message across.

-Rudey

[DeltaSigStan]

All this idiot and many like him wants is for decent people like us to talk about what a jackass he is. After that last sentence, I refuse to give this fucker another strand of my attention.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by Rudey
Search him out on the net and you'll get everything from his contact info to his reviews on amazon.com. The guy is a total jerk and this wasn't some isolated incident once you see what else he's said. He issues an apology saying that all he meant was that Tillman is being treated differently because he's famous. Somehow calling someone rambo and saying he got what he deserved doesn't sound like you were trying to get that message across.

-Rudey

At a nice school like that, you'd think they'd teach them how to communicate their intentions effectively through writing. Sounds like a young, encouragable mind that has been led astray by neo-hippy-pinko-commie professors.

He should get to study abroad in North Korea.

[queequek]

[RedHotChiO]

I admire and respect Tillman for giving up his football deal to go to war in Iraq, but at the same time, I don't think that is any bigger than the other soldiers who give up their families and lives to go fight the war. It's tragic that he died, but I don't think he should be revered more than all of the soldiers that have died in Iraq simply because he played NFL.

[honeychile]

RedHotChiO, I may be reading everyone wrong, but I don't think anyone's saying that Pat Tillman's MORE of a hero than anyone else who pays the supreme sacrifice for our country. At least, I think every person who does so is an American hero.

[PhiPsiRuss]

I think that a reason why pat Tillman is getting so much attention as a hero is because professional athletes have been treated as heros, when they are not. I fully realized this on 9-11. No professional athlete is a real hero, unless he does something off of the playing field that is an extraordinary contribution to society. Pat Tillman did that, and showed how trivial athletes really are in society.

[dekeguy]

While I wish Gen Patton's advice to "let the other ... die for his country" could apply in every case, we need to remember that the down side risk of military service is that, as my old Sergeant Major used to say, "sometimes you earn your money the hard way". By this he meant that a soldier needs to come to grips that the worst might happen and he might have to really lay it on the line. Pat Tillman had much to live for but he died acting to rescue his fellow soldiers. He is a hero in general for volunteering and for being willing to serve his country and its ideals at no matter how great the cost. He is a hero specifically for the actions which won him the Silver Star, a medal not given lightly and requiring very great gallentry and heroism under fire. There is an old Latin phrase that seems appropriate to Pat's sacrifice and one that I think he would both approve and appreciate. Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori!
When my Uncle went to Viet Nam my Grandmother told him her advice was to do a good job, don't go looking for trouble, and come home safe and sound, BUT, if the worst came to the worst remember that the last thing you do in life is die, so, DO IT WELL. I'd say Pat Tillman did it well!