(no subject)

[pfloyd]

Now I just saw something on the news last night, something involving my alma mater, UMass Amherst.
It seems that a graduate student (Rene Golnzalez) wrote an op-ed piece for the Daily Collegian, stating that Patrick Tillman, late of the US Army 75th Ranger Battalion, should not be glorified as a hero, that "This was a 'G.I. Joe' guy who got what was coming to him. That was not heroism, it was prophetic idiocy." And in another line, "It's hard to say I have any sympathy for his death because I don't feel like his 'service' was necessary ... He was acting out his macho patriotic crap and I guess someone with a bigger gun did him in."
The article in question was part of a point-counterpoint with another op-ed piece that praised Tillman as a hero.
Needless to say, this grad student has drawn a lot of fire upon himself from the UMass community, the military (particularly Rangers), and others who knew about the article. He's even received death threats over this.
The current president of the university made some good points in a press release. "The comments of Rene Gonzalez ... are a disgusting, arrogant and intellectually immature attack on a human being who died in service to his country." "Thanks to Pat Tillman and the other men and women who have fought and died for our freedom, Americans enjoy the rights, including the right to speak and write as they see fit."
Gonzalez then went on to say this (which I think is just a crock of bull in trying to cover his own ass): "I mean no disrespect to the family of Patrick Tillman, and I would be very hurt to learn they were hurt by my comments. My intent was to open a debate on whether or not serving the in U.S. military is a de facto reason for considering someone a hero."

I tried going onto the Daily Collegian's website to read more on the controversy, but the site's overloaded with high traffic volume.

Daily Collegian

My opinion? Tillman wanted to serve his country. He sacrificed a lot to do it. He ended up making the ultimate sacrifice. He should be honored for what he did. His heart was in the right place.

Comments

[7threality.livejournal.com]

Despite the mewling puerile venom being spewed, the writer does have one valid point. The service wasn't necessary, because it was unnecessary for us to have invaded Iraq.

While we were ramping up to go in, it didn't feel right to me, and hindsight has proved that feeling was right. Iraq did not have ties to al-Queda as we were supposed to believe (which was never convincing) and they did not have weapons of mass destruction. We invaded based on a lie told to us by our highest officials.

..."open a debate on whether or not serving the in U.S. military is a de facto reason for considering someone a hero."

Absolutely not.

However, that person is willing to put their life on the line to protect others who are unable or unwilling to do so. Like firemen and policemen, it does make that person worthy of a measure of respect.

The problem is that people cannot seem to separate the soldier from those giving the orders. It's the leaders that are corrupt and causing this problem for us right now.

Then again, the "I was just following orders" defense died after WWII.

[pfloyd.livejournal.com]

Not to rain on your parade concerning your very well thought out response, but Tillman was with a Ranger unit in Afghanistan, not Iraq.
However, your points are valid.

[7threality.livejournal.com]

Sorry, while I know that we have troops in Afganistan still, I tend to think of troop deaths as being in Iraq.

I don't disagree too much with what is happening there.