In response to Andrew’s blog about Pat Tillman’s death, let me understand: Even though Tillman died in combat, he’s not considered a hero because it happened to be friendly-fire and miscommunication?
How does this tarnish the sacrifices made by other soldiers? Regardless if you die from a tree falling on you or if you are shot point blank by an enemy, these soldiers are all sacrificing for their beliefs, if not their country.
Andrew wrote that if the news was “released right away it wouldn’t have hurt the image of the man who gave up an NFL career to do what he felt was right.” And it hurts Tillman’s image now? So we ignore all the sacrifices he made because of friendly fire? We forget about how instead of whining like Eli Manning, Tillman stood up for beliefs and convictions instead of money and team jerseys?
Tillman is much more than just a “famous image.” Tillman is still an example of all the soldiers who sacrifice more than money, who sacrifice being away from their kids, from their spouses, from the freedom to sit and blog about how a fallen soldier is not a hero.
Written by Leonceo Angsioco, a former NEXT writer
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