What makes someone a hero?
It seems like it's a simple question, but MSNBC host Chris Hayes caused a firestorm when he said on Memorial Day weekend that he was uncomfortable calling people heroes just because they served in the military.
"Why do I feel so uncomfortable about the word 'hero'? I feel uncomfortable about the word hero because it seems to me that it is so rhetorically proximate to justifications for more war," Hayes said Sunday on MSNBC. "I don’t want to obviously desecrate or disrespect the memory of anyone that’s fallen, and obviously there are individual circumstances in which there is genuine, tremendous heroism, you know, hail of gunfire, rescuing fellow soldiers and things like that. But it seems to me that we marshal this word in a way that is problematic. But maybe I’m wrong about that."
Hayes' remarks immediately sparked a backlash, with some saying it was inappropriate to say such things about those putting their lives on the line to fight for their country.
Hayes issued an apology Monday, saying he understood why people were angry that someone who had never served or dealt with the cost of wars would make such a statement. His apology reads:
"On Sunday, in discussing the uses of the word 'hero' to describe those members of the armed forces who have given their lives, I don't think I lived up to the standards of rigor, respect and empathy for those affected by the issues we discuss that I've set for myself. I am deeply sorry for that.
"As many have rightly pointed out, it's very easy for me, a TV host, to opine about the people who fight our wars, having never dodged a bullet or guarded a post or walked a mile in their boots. Of course, that is true of the overwhelming majority of our nation's citizens as a whole. One of the points made during Sunday's show was just how removed most Americans are from the wars we fight, how small a percentage of our population is asked to shoulder the entire burden and how easy it becomes to never read the names of those who are wounded and fight and die, to not ask questions about the direction of our strategy in Afghanistan, and to assuage our own collective guilt about this disconnect with a pro-forma ritual that we observe briefly before returning to our barbecues.
"But in seeking to discuss the civilian-military divide and the social distance between those who fight and those who don't, I ended up reinforcing it, conforming to a stereotype of a removed pundit whose views are not anchored in the very real and very wrenching experience of this long decade of war. And for that I am truly sorry."
Hayes' remarks beg the question: Who exactly is a hero? We'd like to hear from you. We'd like you to sound off in the comments below or hit the button below to send a video comment to iReport. Do you think Hayes was out of line in his comments? Do you understand what he was saying?
Must you have served in combat to be a hero? Does enlisting alone make you one? Should that word be reserved for the military? Or does it apply to people who put themselves above others?
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If you read several pages of comments, you will see that the number of veterans who agree with Chris Hays is very high. But draft-doging country-club republicans would be the first ones to heap hate on Hays and sacrifice nothing themselves.
waterman you are just another lib trying to spill your lies while your party tries to destroy this country and our military. Libs= trash
Actually the vast majority of the 'draft dodgers' were of the hippie ilk who fled to Canada and turned their backs on their Country. After the Vietnam War was over they begged and begged to be allowed to come back and not be tried for treason...
That's because those couch-sitters need someone else to do their dirty work, while they reap the profits of war.
um, since when are draft dodgers strictly Republican?
I will add to the sanity thankfully leading this comment thread: Mr. Hayes didn't need to apologize for anything
Nope, he sure doesn't.............he has the freedom supplied by others. I'm says he hasn't served and I sure he won't. I would just hope he might make it through our on day of recognishin with out a derogitory comment.
Sorry, I hope you can figure out what I was saying.........my typing skills are limited and being upset makes it worse.
Borrowed, but appropriate:
Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You, Mr. Hayes? You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post.
Oh please.
Col Jessup was NO hero!
All good Americans question everything....... you bet I'll question the way you provide my freedom as you say. No dirtbags alowed.
Yeah, our freedom hasn't been threatened since the second world war. Our military actions bring us grief and very little else. Thanks for nothing.
I totaly agree Col.....its unimaginable how someone who probably never even had to defend himself could even make a suggestion as that of "what a hero is".....This guy doesnt have a clue....HOOOORAH!!!!!!
I'll spit from the hip
What you think may be right,
will be dealt with by your sand N***ER Jesus..
No sorry to break the news to you, Jesus wasn't a white guy...
your just another nazi in uniform ready to die spinning around 25,000 mph in the middle of outerspace .. Wake up you think your the only "ameri-can" or human being whos held a rifle in his hands thinking hes protecting his land and so-called libertys. What about on our own soil (lets just burn down their teepees)
what did you do about BP when you we're pointing your M16s back at us telling us not to video tape one of the biggest disasters of our living history. you work for the queen. Your just a hired hitman with a list of orders lika thug cop. You follow orders buddy, and if you don't you go to jail. And just remember GUY theres hellva lot of people in this country that know how to shoot straight too. But When your super hero suit comes off at some point your gonna need to take a shower.
A nice and accurate speech to bad it came from a nut....................and yes very appropriate.
I find that people are very easily offended now. We have the right of free speech and like it or not, Chris Hayes should not have apologized. Expression is a freedom. A hero is individually defined and it starts as a kid. Your hero is who you looked up to and that varies from person to person.
For me, a Hero has to be someone who chooses to put themselves in harm's way. For me that would include everyone in the military, especially today where even the even the people who are not on the front lines are targets for attacks.
However, I take exception with the concept that everyone who died on 9/11 was a Hero. Many were victims – wrong place at the wrong time. But those who chose to fight on the planes, and all the rescue workers, especially in NYC were obsolutely Heros.
PS: Russ Limbaugh is just a joke.
My father is a hero, not because he served 20 years in the Army, did two tours during Vietnam, or put a fire out in an ammo dump that could have killed many. He's a hero because he stood out as a positive role model, who taught me that I had to do right by others, lend a helping hand when needed, and stand up for those who don't always have a voice to speak for themselves. True heroism has many different meanings, and the value of the word lies within the act.
That is a hero!
In 1968 during the Tet offensive, I served with the 3rd Marines Amphibious Force in Viet Nam as a Corpsman. I saw combat action, handled my medical responsibilities and never suffered any injuries. Does that qualify me to be called a hero? Hell no! As far as I'm concerned,the term "Hero" should only be used to acknowledge those in combat that did something extraordinary. That's how real heros were honored in all previous wars and that's how it should remain.
Mr. Chris Hayes of MSNBC was right on target with his contents and there was no need to apologize to us veterans.
Being in the military doesn't automatically make anybody a hero. The military has the highest number of assaults against female military than any other job BY FAR. If a rapist comes under enemy fire, to me he's a rapist well before he's a hero. And let's face it, the Afghan and Iraq war don't have much heroism in them to begin with. They are long overdue, we have overstayed our welcome, let's cut the hero stuff and go home.
Soldiers show valor, loyalty, fidelity, and honor. Only a select few are outstanding. Those are called heroes, that’s why not everyone gets medals!
Yeah, there were plenty of heroes at Haditha, right?
Did anyone else catch Soledad O'Brien's last words on the video? Say actually says:
"It is really inappropriate to define the word – Hero."
Sound like she's up for every desk-jockey to get the Purple Heart & Congressional Medal of Honor. This is not Little League, O'Brien!! Everyone does not get a trophy for playing. SOMEONE must define HERO and hand out honors accordingly.....God help this country if it is someone like you.
Thank you.....quite right.
I have no problem at all with his initial comments. Like millions of others, I thank the men and women who served, but I do not believe that by signing a paper (or being forced to sign in order to avoid jail) makes someone a hero. Using that word is like over use of the word "love" that we hear so much we tend to ingnore it.
People in the military never, and I mean never, refer to or think of themselves as heroes. That's a ridiculous label foisted on the American public after Norman Schwarzkopf made his idiotic speech praising everyone who endured seven months or so of sand and heat to fight a three-day war. Some might well be heroes, but the vast majority of us are just the poor slobs who either did or are still doing your dirty work while you sit at home claiming to be patriots. Perhaps you'll consider that as you continue to off-shore the jobs we'd be filling were it not for your stupid wars.
Could he have possibly chosen a WORSE day or holiday for his musings on the definition of hero? I think not. It was a stupid stupid blunder.
50 cent is a hero..