Does dying in a war zone

[prolesunited]

automatically make you a hero?

If yes, explain why?
If no, what would in a time of war?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. I think it's entirely dependent upon who is doing the naming

Lots of Nazi's died in war zones..are they heroes?

I don't confer hero status on people automatically but everyone who has died in Iraq thus far is certainly a million times more heroic than the piece of shit and his lackey dog administration who sent them there.... even though I was not raised to believe in hell..these people have made me hope there is one.

[Liberal Veteran]

2. Wow...I totally misread the title..

I was wondering why female deer were dying in a war zone.

[prolesunited]

3. Umm...

I guess you *could* read it that way. Do you think I need to re-word the question? :shrug:

[polmaven]

5. Has it been

a long week lib?

[SoCalDem]

12. Me too.. I thought .."Wow, they have deer in the desert??"

GMTA :loveya:

[TimMooring]

4. Way too b&w

My answer to your question is no. But that answer doesn't really mean anything does it? Where are all the variables? I admire the SSgt who refused to return to Iraq and spoke out against a war for oil. I hope that President Kerry will pardon him as Jimmy Carter did for those who sought refuge in Canada after Vietnam.

[polmaven]

6. And...

Is Iraq a "war zone"? Remember "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"!

[Avalux]

11. According to Rummy

in his speech today - "we are at war". So I guess "Mission Accomplished" meant nothing. But then again, according to the administration, Iraq is part of the war on terror, which is endless, so maybe that's what he's talking about since were just fighting villians and thugs and insurgents and killers now. I WANT TO SCREAM!

[Cat Atomic]

7. It makes you a noble victim, which is not the same as a hero.

Our soldiers have been victimized by their leaders. They've been lied to and shipped off to an unjust occupation. Everyone involved is a victim.

[prolesunited]

8. That's a good way of putting it

So many of the families of soldiers who have been killed are saying that their sons and daughters were heroes. You certainly don't want to try to take that belief from them, but I'm not entirely sure I agree in many of the cases either.

[Djinn]

10. but they're not automatically noble surely?

if your a war criminal who (for example no accusations of anyone here) the day after raping a few teenagers and looting their parents cash and jewellry while occupaying their country, you happen to step on a mine and die - are you really a hero? are you really noble?

[blondeatlast]

13. Excellent summation. Excellent!

[pmbryant]

9. I was going to say, 'not automatically', but...

then I checked the definition:

he·ro ( P ) Pronunciation Key (hîr)
n. pl. he·roes

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.

4. The principal male character in a novel, poem, or dramatic presentation.


5. Chiefly New York City. See submarine. See Regional Note at submarine.

So by that definition, they are heroes. Also, by that definition, all soldiers who risk their life by serving in a war zone are also heroes.

So that is a definition I can understand. The ones who have the horrible, tragic misfortune to be killed are doing the same thing that those who are lucky enough to survive are doing, so I believe they are equally "heroic".

EDIT: The "nobility of purpose" part of the definition complicates things a bit if one does not think the war has a noble purpose. But I believe that most of the soldiers in Iraq and their families believe that it does, since they probably take the administration's words about "freedom" at face value.

--Peter