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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Mr. Hayes has a valid point. I served 7 years as a military officer during peace time. I was never a hero under any interpretation of the word, and have always been uncomfortable with referring to all veterans as "heroes". There certainly have been and are many members of the military who perform heroic deeds even to the point of giving their lives and deserve to be recognized, remembered and honored. Even my father, a WWII combat veteran resents being called a hero for as he puts it, just doing his job. My experience with the military was that it was much like the rest of our society – a cross section of people generally good and some mediocre – most trying to do a good job. However, history is replete with stories of military men and women who didn't perform heroically, and who's cowardice and arrogance caused others to suffer and die. There is no occupation that automatically confers heroism, and it behooves us to recognize that.
My brother had a pilonidal cyst and served in the Marines during the viet nam war. But he was a liberal with out excuses.
The military has defined who is and who is not a hero in the military for centuries. Aren't they more qualified to define a military hero than some news guy who never served? The military rewards men/women who are designated heros with one or more of several awards for valor.
For example, if you are looking at a soldier wearing a Purple Heart or other award of valor then you are looking at a hero. A real hero.
I served in Vietnam and I've looked in the faces of many heros. Plus, there is nothing wrong with calling anyone who served a hero. But to say they are not heros is an insult to everyone who did serve.
That's exactly what Mr. Hayes said. Did you even read his statement? Or do you just dismiss him because he questioned what everyone blindly follows.
"The military has defined who is and who is not a hero in the military for centuries." Absolutely, and that's exactly who it should be left up to. NOT the media! I boil over the increasing mis-use of that word to justify media's drawing attention to itself. We're lucky to have you guys around to remind us of exactly what that word means.
Chris is right. For most recruits, joining the service is an economic choice. It's a job, it can pay for college, etc. Just doing what you're paid to do isn't heroic. I'll always whole-heartedly support the troops even though I believe war is wrong and the rationale given the young people is mostly lies. Many, many of them come back disillusioned, traumatized both physically and psychologically, and against war. But heroism is above and beyond what is expected, for the benefit of another.
We use the word "hero" so much in this country that it doesn't mean anything anymore. The US military is a JOB that these individuals decided to take, knowing the risks and accepting the duties associated with the position. They are paid for their work, receive benefits for FREE and if they don't like the JOB, they can always quit. Let's put some perspective on this. Not eveyone in a military uniform is a "hero" and some indiviudals who do not wear a uniform are.
Whoa! You had me until the "they can always quit" part. You do realize that you in fact CANNOT quit the military, right? And that you can be reactivated AFTER what you thought was the end of your comittment (something that absolutely must change).
When are you going to get it? The Far Left hates the military – always has and always will. The only reason that they have changed their rhetoric is because of the backlash of the Viet Nam War and the new found patriotism for our military after 911. You will also notice that they bite their tongues when they have to acknowledge praise for the police as well. But they are always looking to jump up at any sign of excessive force by the police. The Occupiers (Far Left) were baiting the police to violence. Just what the Left wanted. What hippocrites. Chris Hayes wouldn't know honor, duty, loyalty or valor if it jumped up and bit him in the face. He is the perfect reason for reinstating the draft. Put his butt in the line of fire and see how elite and smart he feels.
You've got it backwards. The far RIGHT hates the men and women in the military, as evidenced by their eagerness to enter America in stupid invented wars that risk soldiers' lives. Let us know when you find those WMDs, wingers....
I agree. I understood what Hayes said and why. But since he has not served his country in the military and stood a post, and considers himself a privileged elitist, he's not the one to slam the word 'hero'.
No real need for Chris to apologize. If anything maybe Memorial Day might not have been the best time to have such a discussion, but fundamentally he's right – the mere act of putting on a uniform, any uniform, doesn't make a Hero. To broaden that term to anyone who has put on a uniform only makes it meaningless. I've even seen some who post here making it seem like ONLY those in uniform could possibly be heroes, or even understand heroism or be qualified to comment on it – I hate to break it to these folks but plain old civilians save each others lives and sacrifice for others on a daily basis, all over the country and around the world. Are these folks -not- heroes because they aren't in the military ?
What's most telling about this to me is whenever someone who has performed an act of pure bravery and self sacrifice and saved lives or prevented disaster, military or civilian, is interviewed, the interviewer always asks a question along the lines of "So how does it feel to me/do you consider yourself a Hero ?" and the true Hero always replies "I'm not a hero. I just did what had to be done"
Well said!
The word *hero* is greatly overused. Just serving in the military doesn't make one a hero. If so, what do you call the fellow (or woman) who lays down his life to help his comrades survive? Those who serve in the military do so at possibly great personal peril and the nation should be thankful. But service to one's country should be viewed as good citizenship. And, such service may take many forms – not everyone can or should serve in the military. Let's save the hero worship for those who truly deserve it.
Retired Navy Captain
Well said.
Poorly written summary by CNN. Go watch the video of what he said. As a Veteran of Iraq, I agree with PARTS of what he said. I ran my convoys, did my missions, by the grace of God, was not attacked a single time. The same could not be said for some of my friends. They did in the line of duty. I personally consider them heroes, but myself I do not.
But you still went into it knowing the risks. You are more of a hero than most of us.
Funny, I watched one of my favorite war films "We Were Soldiers" over the weekend and I marvel at the sacrifice that those of the Viet Nam area made for our country. But the thing that strikes me most about that movie is the commemoration of the actual soldiers that died during the battles portrayed in the film. Why? Because I saw names from Oak Park and Highland Park Illinois. Especially in the instance of Highland Park, which of one of the wealthiest suburbs in America let alone Illinois, its my opinion that that was due to the draft. I applaud those that sacrifice in our all volunteer armed forces, but I truly wonder what percentage of them would have done something different if other economic opportunities were available to them.
Exactly.
It's funny how nobody stands behind what they say anymore. Everyone is quick to speak their minds and even quicker to retract their statements because of public backlash. The concept of a hero has been devalued because we attribute it to anyone who completes basic training. Get over yourselves.
Hero is an overused, meaningless word. It's used to define such mundane accomplishments that it's lost its power.
Someone asked for a definiation. Here is what Webster's has to say:
Definition of HERO
1a : a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability
b : an illustrious warrior
c : a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities
d : one who shows great courage
If by deliberately, noisily NOT serving in Iraq people could have somehow stopped GW Bush's War for No Reason, THAT would have been truly heroic.
A friend of mine died in Iraq. He was riding in one of Rumsfeld's unarmored Humvees and was killed by an IED.
He wanted to be there and, while I thought he was 100% wrong, I admired his willingness to put his life on the line for what he felt was right, for what he thought were the right reasons.
Does that make him a hero? I thought so.
The saddest part is that no matter how heroically soldiers act, many of them are simply unfortunate to be stuck in wars that politicians thought would be a cake walk. For this reason alone, I will do every thing in my power to keep my son out of the military. This country has not fought a necessary war since WWII (with the possible exception of the badly botched Afghan war, which should have ended at Tora Bora). Flag pin wearing politicians treat soldiers like pawns.