About 18 months ago and in response to a piece, "Why It's Wrong to Equate Military Service With Heroism," which discussed the technical, logical and semantic reasons why our fighting men and women should not be collectively called "heroes," I wrote a piece claiming "Our Military: Yes, They Are All Heroes."
I started the article as follows:
I am one of those misguided, clueless people who, when writing about our military men and women slugging it out in Iraq and Afghanistan, engaged in combat, just trying not to get killed or maimed by an IED, or just driving a truck with supplies across the desert, instinctively and invariably refers to them as "heroes."
Then I went on to explain why I felt that way.
Little did I know the overwhelmingly negative reaction and feedback I would get in response to my assertion, in effect -- and in no uncertain terms -- affirming how misguided and clueless I am.
While a few of the writers argued -- perhaps validly so -- that by calling all soldiers "heroes" we diminish the value of that accolade when used to honor the "real heroes," and while I was not too surprised by the anti-war sentiments, I was truly shocked by the vastly negative -- at times shamefully offensive -- commentary about our troops.
Of course, "massacres" and "atrocities" committed by our troops in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan were brought up in order to discredit my claim. Some went even further and used such misdeeds to paint all our troops with the same broad brush.
This week, we see, hear and read about the disgusting, inexcusable act committed by a handful of Marines in Afghanistan.
And, again, one can see the reactions going off in some predictable directions.
Some condemn the act, but then attempt to use the broad-brush tactic to indict the entire Marine Corps, our entire military.
Those "some" may well include the same people who criticized me for calling all our troops "heroes."
You know what, I would rather inaccurately call all our troops heroes because of a few real heroes than call all our troops criminals because of a few real bad apples.
Some disapprove of the act but then attempt to list possible "extenuating circumstances," even justifications for such a heinous act.
You know what, having watched the video where the Marines are in absolutely no stress or combat situation, where they are joking and laughing about it, I cannot find any extenuating circumstance nor rhyme or reason for such a despicable act.
Some object to the act, but then mention some of the perhaps even more reprehensible and inhumane acts perpetrated by the enemy, by the terrorists.
You know what, two wrongs do not make a right, and even more important, when we sink to the level of our enemies, we risk becoming that which we are fighting against.
I will not even dignify those who "celebrate" this act by commenting on such.
I honestly believe that we Americans can and must start calling what is wrong by its name, without euphemisms, without excuses -- no ifs ands or buts about it.
In this case, by unequivocally condemning such an act, we not only do the right thing but we also show real honor and respect for the more than 200,000 proud Marines whose motto and way of life will always be Semper Fidelis.
The marines urination video doesn't show the real war crime
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THe real world is much more complicated. And we have also harmed many innocent civilians who are not unlike us, really--who want to live and take care of their families.
A few of our "good guy" troops, the few who may lack maturity or character, interpret their role as comic book superheroes--and believe that anything goes because they are fighting evil.
Actions like this are a blueprint for spreading hatred of our country--and for creating more terrorists. We are supposed to be better than this.
Let's hope that this commentary from an experienced officer paints a clearer picture of the vast majority of our troops. And let's also hope that justice will be done in cases where our troops have crossed a line.
However, I think that the Corps at large has a tremendous obligation to demonstrate zero tolerance when Marines break the law. Desecration of the dead is clearly dishonorable and illegal under military law. Outrage is the proper response, as long as it is directed only against the perpetrators themselves, and as long as the Corps takes proper actions to sanction those who did it. The ball is in the Marine Corps court.
Your comments are some of the most objective and reasoned ones I have read in this thread.
Thank you
ps: I wish you would consider a different avatar. You are a very wise American
As to my avatar, well it's really meant to be ironic and not too serious. Americans are often viewed as not so intelligent in many other places in the world. I'm sort of suggesting that maybe not all of us fit that stereotype (although I do not consider myself to be the smartest person in the room).
Anyway, fanned.
I do think the Marines are serious about investigating this and applying proper military justice. So long as they do, the honor of the Corps will be preserved.
They will face military justice by fellow soldiers who have walked in their shoes, friend. As they should. Soldiers deserve our support but are not entitled to break military law. As a vet, you should know this.
Thanks again for reply, and I did get your point. F/F
Military law exists for a reason. It is not at all an unreasonable expectation to feel that soldiers comply with it. I get your point about training people to be killers and all that, but there is also a huge emphasis on the word 'honor'. Is that just a word?
But the real subject is our marines desecrating their enemies bodies, not physically dismembering, or such . Shameful indeed, but understandable when we look where we should to remember we (the nation) train our men and women to do the most heinous of an human act -- killing another human -- with malice.
I regret our marines doing what they did, yet I do not immediately withdraw in horror and pious prancing. No, I just know what should now be done.
We put our military guys and gals into situations where sometimes shameful conduct afterward is the norm, such as the pissing incident. No amount of training, indoctrination, or disciplinary activity will prevent shameful incidents while winding down from combat. Authoritative action must be, but weighed with compassion in an atmosphere of understanding and guidance intended to restore emotional stability to the men................to fight again............heroically.
Semper fi Marines.
However, I have been asked on Facebook from the guys I served with and from friends who never served about my opinion on this. I said that knowing myself I can't imagine ever doing something like this but I was not in their shoes so I don't know what they were thinking.
I think that because so few Americans actually serve anymore that people have a warped view of who our military is. Everyone seems to think it's either 'Saving Private Ryan' or 'Full Metal Jacket'. The reality is that the Marines I served with are just like everyone else and have the same faults as anyone else. I'd never question anyone who served Patriotism but I definitely knew some Marines who would probably do something like this. And I knew a lot more Marines who would never even think about doing it.
I was taught something in NCO School that I wrote in my notes, which I still have. "Some Marines in Vietnam created more enemies than they killed". That's all about how we treat the indigenous population, and their perception of us.
I agree that soldiers are just people too. We should not disdain the entire Corps because a few Marines broke military law. So long as the perpetrators face appropriate military justice, the right outcome is achieved.
The problem will be if the Corps does not handle this correctly. So far, it seems they are doing the right thing.
"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."--Elie Wiesel
"While every Marine is a marksman, only a select few can be a sniper, because it's a lot different mental makeup," Bristol said. "You certainly have more of the mind of the hunter than the bar brawler." That is evident within the cinder-block walls of the school, a single-story building near rifle ranges deep within the 60,000-acre Quantico reservation. One wall of the classroom is decorated with a painting showing a cigar-chomping boar Marine, armed with a rifle and sword, holding up a skull dripping blood. It is titled, "Scout Sniper -- Hunters of Gunmen." Animal skulls line the shelves. A poster carries a sniper slogan: "Death from afar."
http://www.historicalmilitaria.com/USMCNews/Snipers.html
Wrong on both counts. Like general society, most of them are middle of the pack, trying to do their jobs. Some are bad people who commit crimes. Some go above and beyond the call of duty, without ever being recognized for it. These are the heroes. Donning a uniform, surviving boot camp, and being dropped in the desert doesn't make you a hero, or a criminal either. Stop with the black and white.