Is Jeanne Assam a hero?

[Ghost in the Machine]

Poll question: Is Jeanne Assam a hero?

Let's keep it simple. Jeanne Assam was doing a job as a volunteer security guard and stopped a rampaging, homicidal maniac. Her faith and/or religion mean absolutely nothing, it's her actions that count.

Do you consider Jeanne Assam a hero?

[brentspeak]

1. She risked her life to save others -- isn't that the highest form of heroism?

[Poiuyt]

5. It's my definition of heroism

Anything else cheapens the word.

[Mike Daniels]

29. Not much different than the soldier who throws himself on a grenade

She put herself at risk in order to save those around her.

I don't care if she turns out to be a fundy wackjob. If what she did doesn't count as heroism then nothing does.

[Danger Mouse]

2. If it weren't for her, many others would've died.

The man had a thousand rounds of ammunition, three guns, and a packed church. The death toll could've been horrifying.

[girl_interrupted]

3. Her actions definitely counted

I could care less about her religion. She put herself on the line to save others. She is to be commended. I don't want to think what the death toll could have been, if she hadn't acted, and mind you, this was a volunteer position not one where she got paid.

[Danger Mouse]

4. It amazes me how much shit she has gotten on DU for what she had done.

I honestly wonder what goes through the minds of people.

[hlthe2b]

14. Some seem to equate "hero" with "perfection"

I didn't like hearing some of what she said afterwards, which seemed rather shallow and callous in terms of "God" and what she perceived to be his actions that day, but I certainly can not deny her heroism. There is no other word for one who would put themselves in harms way to save others.

[Mike Daniels]

32. Most heros are flawed in some way

I'd like to see anyone point out someone who's historically regarded as a hero who wasn't flawed in some form or fashion.

[SidDithers]

30. She didn't get shit for what she did...

she got shit for what she said afterwards.

Sid

[Maat]

6. I rarely believe in the use of deadly force ... HOWEVER ...

this is a classic case of when one uses it.

I voted 'hero.'

[Forkboy]

7. Other - Human.

[BoneDaddy]

10. Don't buy it...

The majority of humans I know (through no fault of their own I may add) would not have acted this way.

[Forkboy]

13. Not defending her or attacking her. She's human, simple fact.

The majority of humans I know (through no fault of their own I may add) would not have acted this way.

That would mean there are some who might , because the majority is not all.

Buy it or not, this could happen to people in your town, not through evil forces but through the actions of humans. :shrug:

[BoneDaddy]

27. I know what you are saying

and perhaps I am reading into your statement based upon other posts that try hard to minimize her heroic action because she was attributing it to God. If I have, my bad.

[Forkboy]

28. No problem, it's cool.

:toast:

[provis99]

8. Other

Her individual actions stopped a killer, and that is praiseworthy, but her thanking God for guiding the bullet pisses me off. So kind of a mixed bag.

[BoneDaddy]

12. Why does who she thanks

piss you off? See this is what absolutely kills the liberal "progressive" stance. I am a liberal and I do not reject the totality of religion. I critcize it when deserved and I don't when it is not. If this woman needs to make sense out of killing another human being in self and other defense as attributing this to her God, goddess, avatar, guru or otherworldly being, why do you give a shit?

Why do you feel a need to demean her courage and action? I dont get it.

[leftynyc]

23. Very well said

She did an incredibly brave thing and faced a man who was shooting at people. Does it really bother people if she believes G-d guided her? How does this belief hurt anyone? Honestly, atheists are just as judgemental as fundies and can be just as annoying.

[BoneDaddy]

26. Absolutely

Do I know the inner workings of the universe? No. I do reject the ancient conceptualizations of G*D and in particular the G*D of the Abrahamic religions, but atheists are as guilty in their surety of their understanding as the fundamentalists, as you pointed out. I remain agnostic as I think that is the only real spirituality we can hold.

I don't know.

[BoneDaddy]

9. Absolutely

she was a hero. Does that mean I think she should get a life time discount at Dunkin Donuts or should be paraded around like some NRA poster child, no.

But did she protect and serve others at great risk to her own self....yes.

That makes her a hero in my eyes.

If this situation was at a Hillary rally and some freak who was turned away started shooting up the place and this woman shot and killed him...the vast majority of her current critics would be calling for her sainthood...

Don't be fucking hypocrites.

[The Straight Story]

11. Hell NO - real heroes play sports damnit

They don't stop someone from killing people :)

Not to mention, you can't be a hero if you are a Christian...

[Ghost in the Machine]

15. Thanks for the responses so far....

I guess I should have stated in the OP that I think she is a hero. She put her life on the line in defense of helpless people. If she chooses to give credit to a diety for her strength, courage or whatever else, so be it. Whatever gets you through the night..... I have no beef with that, even though I'm an atheist. I *prefer* to see people give themselves credit for their accomplishments, but like I said.... whatever gets you through the night and helps you sleep better.

PEACE!

Ghost

[joshcryer]

16. I voted hero, I wonder why none of the "no" voters have said anything.

With the potential exception of the person who disliked her "thanking God."

[truebrit71]

33. See my post.

.

[krispos42]

17. She took deliberate action to intentionally stop a major crime

Her deliberate actions saved the lives and well-being of probably dozens of innocent men, women, and children.

She is a hero.

Furthermore, she performed those deliberate actions quickly and effectively while under conditions of great stress and confusion. Remember, she didn't know if there was a lone gunman or a group of them hidden in the crowd. She didn't know if he had a bomb, or body armor, or both.

And she did all of this at great risk to her own personal health and safety. So she's the purest form of hero.

I think it's a little bit of a stretch for her to be seriously thanking God and Jesus for guiding her bullets (or whatever). I personally would attribute it to training, practice, and Smith & Wesson (or whoever), but that's just me.

[aikoaiko]

18. Hero.

It obvious -- but perhaps not to wussies.

[DangerDave921]

19. HERO

Totally. I don't care if she wants to thank Pat Robertson afterward. What she did was totally heroic.

[sendero]

20. Actions speak louder than words..

.... her actions probably prompted the killer's decision to go ahead and end his life.

Her actions almost certainly saved lives.

Her belief in whatever doesn't change that one bit.

[SoCalDem]

21. She's a former cop..an armed security guard who did what she was trained to do

She asked for that job, and she did it. She's like a fireman who put out a fire, a lifeguard who swam out to rescue a swimmer, a traffic cop who gave a ticket to a speeder, a coast guard rescue person who jumped off a helicopter skid into the water to save someone.. The fact that "more people did not die" is little comfort to the mother who is grieving the loss of her two girls, and the serious injury to her husband.

[joshcryer]

24. It's like a fireman running into a burning building to save someone.

Or a lifeguard swiming into high waters with torrential rains. It wasn't some regular thing she could be remotely expecting.

[I work for workers]

22. Other: I wanted to vote for God, but he wasn't on the poll.

:evilgrin:

[lame54]

25. Here is her press conference...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2455540&mesg_id=2455540

[truebrit71]

31. Nope. She's a God-bothering, gun-toting ex-copper doing her job..

...that is all...

[tuckessee]

34. No. She was just doing her job. n/t

[uppityperson]

35. People have different opinions of what a hero is

I think most of us, even those who sneer at her spirituality, agree that it was really good she was there and did what she did.