An overwhelming majority of people–
–( Based on an imaginary census that I neither took nor researched)–
–are under the impression that the men and women who serve in our country’s Military are Heroes who deserve our utmost respect, support and admiration…
But they’re wrong.
I started thinking about this when all the controversy blew up surrounding the new Clint Eastwood Directed Film, American Sniper.
I read good reviews, I read bad reviews, I read words of absolute venom spouted by uninformed and closed-minded individuals, and I read comparisons between Movie, Autobiography & Eyewitness Accounts…
But I haven’t seen the movie, I haven’t read the book, and I didn’t serve with the man, so none of this matters. I won’t pretend to have an opinion on something I know less than half the story of.
I have, however, served in the U.S. Navy myself, and am very proud of my term of service and multitude of experience gained during that time.
So I’ll leave it to you to decide if my thoughts on this topic are merely my own controversial opinion, or the truth people don’t like to consider.
What is a Hero to you?
Someone who stands up for what’s right? Fights for a cause? Protects and supports his fellow human beings in times of need?
Someone who does their duty to defend and reinforce a set of values and standards?
There are most certainly people in the Military who fit the description of a Hero, but I would say that the majority do not.
You know why I joined the Navy? It wasn’t out of any sense of duty to my Country or drive to do something about the then recent acts of Terrorism that suddenly made Patriotism popular.
No, I signed up for 3 reasons:
1. To get out of my hometown.
2. To gain life experience and travel.
3. To make use of the G.I. Bill after my enlistment and go to college.
And I’m not alone in this. A vast number of people join the Military for those same reasons, as well as others such as:
1. To give them direction in life.
2. Out of a need for discipline and order.
3. To escape a criminal lifestyle.
4. To carry on family tradition.
5. To gain power over others.
6. For the chance to hurt and/or kill people.
I didn’t make this up; those are all reasons from people that I’ve personally known–
–( Yes, including the last two)–
There are most certainly people who join up out of a sense of duty or patriotism, but not as many as the general public seems to think.
And there really are those who join because there’s something a bit disturbing about their personality, which is how this ties in with American Sniper; some people put themselves in a position to go to war because they really do want to hurt people.
This behavior is defended and justified, because War, and because they’re hurting the Bad Guys, which makes them a Hero.
But that’s a dangerous way to think.
Very few people set out to be a villain and to be evil. One of my favorite phrases is that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, because it rings so true so often.
Our “Bad Guys” are doing what they think is right, and to them we’re the Bad Guys.
I don’t feel that anyone should take pleasure in killing another human being.
But who am I really to say that people like that don’t have a place and a purpose?
If your response to this statement is anything along the lines of
“How dare you say such things about the brave men and women who serve our country and defend our freedom”
then you’re part of a big problem this country has.
Patriotism and pride in your country is good, and can be a powerfully positive thing…
But blind patriotism and hero worship is dangerous and irresponsible.