If you won't say "hero" what will you say?

[jp11]

83. I will when it is appropriate and that is based on what I know which is often not very much.

If people in general were more aware of what being a soldier meant they might not feel the need to toss out hero to elevate what is already an elevated word. Being a soldier isn't an easy thing to do it doesn't need to be elevated with a word it should be elevated with many other things like better care in how they are used, cared for, paid, equipped, etc. Tossing out hero to me is a cheap way our country, especially people who are happy to send troops in, make it seem like they care, that mentality in this country doesn't help the soldiers. Some may even mean it but if it doesn't translate into treasuring those men and women who risk their lives to do what most people won't then really what is the worth of the word?

I'm not saying that is you I am saying that is how *I* see it when people say hero and they aren't talking about someone doing something truly heroic in combat/etc to save others. The other side of that is those close to someone injured or dead have every right to call them a hero no matter if they died in their sleep or manning a defense while under attack if it makes them feel better about their loss. I disagree but it isn't about me in that case it is about the person who suffered.

I completely disagree with your statement that serving means you absolutely endure far more than those who don't ever will I think you know that to be an unfair characterization ignoring all sorts of life events and hardships that others have endured and will continue to endure throughout the world. It is likely that someone in the service will have tougher experiences but it isn't guaranteed.

There are plenty of people who serve and never see any combat others still may sit inside an office building in their own country sleeping in their own bed every night.

Tell me please how is that 'enduring far more than those who don't ever will' what about a child in any country going to bed hungry night after night perhaps abused as well, or trying to care for your sick mother after your dad was killed by the local militia that comes to claim men to fight because he resisted? Or what about the young girls who get raped by the freedom fighters only to have them come back to kill the babies then rape the girls again?