Is it heroic to die for our country in a war?

Sgt. D.B.

No - the dead veteran is no more important than a kid who dies in a car accident. We really need to stop glorifying war - a dead child is a dead child.

As a military man I would not say it is heroic to die. As the great Gen. George Patton said. "Don't die for your country, let the other son of a ***** die for his". However I would give up my life in the defense of my country. It is my duty as a soldier as it is everyone who wears the uniform. The military is all volunteer. No one was forced to serve.

matt p

Yes it is Please don't forget about the UNDERPAID firefighters, EMT, and police officers who also risk thier lives each and everyday!

Jeff S

George Scott Patton said that the goal in war is not to die as a hero for your country but to make the other dumb %!@$%$@^@%^ die as a hero for his country. Paraphrased but close to the original quote.

A former 3rd Armor Tanker

Mickey S

It is. The pain of losing a loved one is no different than any other death. As time goes by the memory of what they were doing adds to the persons honor. Honor comes to one in different ways but dying for your country is the highest honor one can achieve.

Wonx2150

Nope its no longer heroic. It was once but society changed and now many view it as a needles waste of human life.

No ones a hero no matter what they die for they are just dead!

zzHoUnDzz

Yes,,it is.

U.wanna.battle.me?!

yes, but it makes me cry..................and i had that happen to a 24 yr old with his wife and 24month year old son left alone at home :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

Doctor Why

Simply being dead doesn't make anyone a hero (though there are those who will try and argue the point). The real question is WHY and HOW a person died.

Most people would argue that someone who willingly makes the 'ultimate sacrifice' for what they value is a hero, though I've observed that this depends somewhat on the values of the person in question. For example, those fellows who hijacked airplanes and blew themselves up probably believed they were doing things for the greater good, but they are usually castigated as monsters around here rather than hailed as heroes.

Likewise, many people I knew when I was in the military would have laughed at the idea that they were there to serve the greater good of the country. Some were there for money, some because of family tradition, some as an escape, and some because a court ordered them to do it or go to jail. To be fair, there are people in the military for whom the greater good is a factor in their decision. But to say all members of the military value this is to be nothing less than delusional.

So is someone who dies for a couple hundred dollars a hero? Or someone who dies to avoid going to jail?

The take-away message for all this is that if someone dies for ideals that you share, you will probably consider them to be a hero. This is also a clue to why some people get very upset if you don't agree that their heroes are such - you are attacking their very value system and branding yourself as their enemy.

Mr. Yammaha

Depends on the situation. If he died for something he believed in, ok, if he died becasue he held gernade too long, no hero.

mjohnson2469

There is nothing more Honorable than to make the ultimate sacrifice for ones country. A hero is defined differently by each person. However, in many minds, in America at least, someone who died so I could be free in my thoughts, my voice, and my life is a true hero. I honor them every day I walk in to city hall.

i hate hippies but love my Jesus

YES!!

It is VERY sad, and should be unnecessary. But imagine how many people may have died in terrorist attacks if we were not at war! Think about how many lives your husband's life has saved!!!

There is no more heroic death than saving your fellow countrymen. Too bad so many people belittle it by insulting OUR war and OUR troops.

Rich S

THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THEN A MAN LAYING DOWN HIS LIFE FOR ANOTHER.

ask and answer

Many people have different opinions on this. To throw your life away is not.To die for the very definition of freedom is.

Local Celebrity

What do you mean "just?" Of course it is heroic - they went and put their life on the line and lost it when it was not required of them.

paloma

Hero is a person who is willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. Hero is a courageous, good and noble person.

It might be heroic to die for our country in a war. It might not be. It depends on the war.

Brandi S

Yes as a matter of a fact I do! Cause they risked their life for your country that you did not try to do any thing for except pay for the dumb taxes! So I would definately say yes!

Tootles*** Brandi S****

Travis R

Yes, the fields of France are full of our heroes.

braun11d

My brother did come home with a flag draped over his body. He died for something he believed in and something I think the majority of people take for granted...freedom. He is definitely a hero, he always was a hero and he always will be a hero and so is everyone else who serves in the Military. To suggest otherwise is insulting.

I Hate Liberals

Yessuuur

Shawn M

Anyone who dies in the course of doing their job in the military is a hero to me, regardless of war or peace time. And yes, military members die during peace time.

Leah

My family supports an organization called TAPS - Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors - it is a non-profit organization that supports those who have lost a loved one (friend or family member) in active duty military.

I can tell you that all those families (mine included, as my father-in-law died in active military) believe that their family member died bravely and defending freedom.

In my opinion, for you to imply otherwise is an insult to the memories of our brave dead.

*****

That all depends on you perspective of the cause he was fighting for. If you believe the cause is bunk, then you might thing that he died for nothing.Just because the government says a war, or police action is just, this does by NO means indicates that it actually is.It is just their opinion.

Old Chris

I was an infantryman in the South Pacific during WWII.
I truly believe that the efforts of my friends and I (and sometimes wounds and deaths) resulted in saving our country and our way of life. To demean these men and women who are currently carrying out the pledge that they made when they volunteered is a terrible thing to do. A military perwson who carries out his orders in the face of great danger is indeed a hero. For us to sit back here in the relative safety of our homes and to belittle the efforts of these brave people is absolutely unacceptable.

C D

It is heroic to lay your life on the line to do your duty, whether you lose it or not. Those who have paid the ultimate price must be honored for their sacrifice.

Countless people have said it, from Jesus to JFK, but there is no greater love than giving your life to save another...

To answer the second part, I'm not sure you can call any innocent's death "just" as he didn't deserve to die, but he chose to hold the line that others may live, and that's definitely heroic.

SqRLiO

It is heroic to kill and die for your country, provided your country is waging a moral and just war. Without the moral high ground, you are just killed while trying to commit murder on behalf of your immoral political leaders.

Example: Fighting Nazis who were trying to kill innocent civilians was a just and heroic act. Dying while doing this is heroic.

Example: Nazi SS soldiers who died from resistance action while trying to kill innocent civilians were not heroes nor were they dying for an heroic cause.

Lynnemarie

I asked a similar question last week and got nasty responses. I have lost many people, my dad, my grandmother, my best friends father, I can't see how dying for any cause is worth it or heroic.

Oooo

It is always heroic.

There is a possibility of getting confused with the Commander in Chief's (possible) wrong and immoral decision that sent him to war in the first place.

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