I am am a veteran, so I dont mean to demean the service and sacrifice of others, and I thought President Obama gave a fine speech, but the overly extended applause for Ranger Cory just seemed like his injuries were being played for a far too cynical reason. Let us remember that our military is now all volunteer. No one is drafted, no one joins against their own free will. These men and women signed on to do a job, theyre getting paid to do that job and they are aware of the inherent risks. Unlike most of the boys who went to Vietnam, I joined, of my own free will. I had a choice and I made it knowing full well I would most likely go into harms way. I accepted the risk. So many others were forced to go, against their own free will. They were more heroes than Ill ever be. I feel for Ranger Cory and the deep sacrifice he made for his country, but I often see how the word hero is so loosely used they days. Cory was in the wrong place at the wrong time doing a job he volunteered for. He was a victim of war. In many eyes that makes him a hero, but I see a victim of circumstance. No different than a road crew worker who gets hit by a distracted driver. Ranger Cory deserves applause because he is a survivor struggling against huge odds, not because he was injured on a job he was being paid to do. Yet I came away from that overly long standing ovation feeling like he, and the viewing audience, were being played.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 14:02:16 +0000
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