Deployed Soldiers: Fully Automatic Heroes? Part 2

This subject continues to interest me. It's mostly the wide range of opinions on the subject and the conviction that individuals have for their different positions. The other issue is free speech, even when one has an unpopular view that is deemed unpatriotic by another group, the right to free speech still exists. Am I a big proponant of Soldiers Are Not Heroes on Facebook? No, there's a lot of low-wit angry baby talk from anti-military people. But that doesn't mean there's no valid issue.

I've noticed that it's the older non-military that insist all soldiers are heroes, and the younger within the military that feel the same way. Whereas the older current or former military members that agree that every joe is not a hero.

Just to make it clear, I don't argue over the book read definition of the word - I have an issue with an individual feeling entitled to elevated status, and the false obligation of others to honor that entitlement.

The following is an excerpt from "Petition to remove Soldiers are Not Heroes" on Facebook. It's a direct cut and paste so there are original typos et cetera. Since the forum is public, I left the names in.


Me -

As a soldier I have to say that there is a point in stating that "soldiers are not heroes" just by virtue of the fact alone, I mean, obviously. You don't get a damn hero card for serving or deploying, and you shouldn't either. There's a good point to be made for someone pointing this out, on the internet or anywhere. The freedom and the right to burn a flag, or have a "soldier's are not heroes" web site is what it means to be American. To shut them down would be very unAmerican.

These seem to me, to be obvious points, that someone somewhere here must have already made. I'm a "group member" here as I am on the SANH site only so I could post and make comments on both.

SPC Burkley


Keith Matthews (Atlanta, GA)

actually there is no "right to burn an american flag" . just like taxes there are federal guidlines as to how a flag must be treated and flown. this comes out of great respect for those that have died defending the flag. when someone burns a flag it isnt a show of discontent for our government, it is a slap in the face to all the gave thier lives for that government.


Me -

Ok, there's no law against burning a flag, and you have to be left alone by the police till they have probable cause to arrest you. So, no there's no explicit right to burn a flag, but being free to have an opinion and demonstrate it is protected by law.


Greselle Ramos (Chicago, IL)

I know that you say that we should not have the "soldiers are not heroes" page shut down, but I think your wrong. We have that right, soldiers are heroes, and freedom is not free, every war, every fight, every deployment, I am not a soldier but the ones that are out there fighting for me are my heroes. I know that freedom of speech is clear but this page is just wrong. Our military people are just doing what they are told, they do it because they have to. We need to keep there moral up and not let these petty infantile people harass them. It is not right.


Me -

How can all soldiers be heroes? That's just mindless. Most soldiers don't even think that. Acts of heroism make heroes. You lessen the word when you give it away to every joker in the ranks.

On the other side of the coin - Calling us murderers and killers is almost comical, but there are fruit loops who do think like that, so it isn't funny. Most soldiers are just regular people like non-military people, no better no worse, we deserve no special treatment, respect yes, hero treatment no.

As an aside too many scumbag soldiers are returning to the states and becoming violent criminals, and using the war card as an excuse. This is unacceptable by any military standard.



Marshall Chriscoe (Winston-Salem, NC)

Hear hear. As former mil myself, I can attest to the nausea that overwhelms me when I consider some of the guys I've been stationed with are being called "heroes". As you said, brudda, we're not all heroes, and we're not all psychopaths. I'm sure there's some of each at every command, but for the most part, we're all normal folks.



Greselle Ramos (Chicago, IL)

Wow, I was not rude to you! I have two uncles that were in the military for 25 years each. They are my heroes, I understand that not everyone in the military are good people. You need not have said that my statement was mindless. That was very dismissive, how is it that someone who is preaching about freedom of speech can turn around someone else's opinion. I made the statement that soldiers are heroes, I never made the statement that all soldiers are heroes. I stated the ones that are fighting for me are, maybe you should reread the statement and not react to a phrase in such a manor. I thought you might have had an opinion on the part of the comment where I stated that the sanh page was wrong. But I guess you did not think that was important, you just wanted to make a statement the way David does by belittling my opinion and not even getting the statement right. Thank you I see what type of people are on this sanh now.


Patrick Kent (Davenport, IA)

HERO: a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.

it’s all in ones opinion on who is a hero or not and I am in the military and I have seen many that I would not even come close to calling them a hero but others yes they have the will the and the mind to do whatever it takes to defend this country that we call home I can say that not all should be called heroes but most can be or just brave men and woman


Nathan Clauss (Saginaw / Bay City, MI)

no were not but what u been saying is point less your a fucking retard who need to shut the hell up hey the first mother fucker who burns a flag infront of me will not live to see tomarrow i will rip there head of there shoulders and shit in the neck

Charlotte Barfield
and their is a right its called the first admendment look up Texas v. Johnson