True Heroes Americans Forget About
Posted: Saturday, January 06, 2007
by Ryan Stroud
I can’t help but notice that American culture sees sports personalities as heroes. But what classifies someone as a hero? Does hitting a home-run in the bottom of the 9 th inning in the World Series count? What about sinking the game winning bucket of a high-profiled basketball game? Why are these people heroes?
I admit, making it to the “big show" of any sporting event is a major accomplishment to people’s lives. It takes time, practice, and many hours of your life devoted to this particular sport or event to become a “pro." But does that still make someone a hero?
This event left the wonderful people of the United States in shambles. Many innocent lives were taken that day, and strong actions and repercussions were demanded from America ’s people.
People I knew wanted Soldiers to head into the Middle-East in hopes to find the horrible terrorist who would attack our country. These same people cried for justice and revenge. So, our brave Soldiers packed up and headed out.
But what started out as a mission to bring down the terrorist who attacked us turned into a different objective – take an unstable country and give them the freedoms us as Americans take for granted.
In the past years, members of the U.S. military have been deployed to Iraq in hopes to bring stability to a nation seeking a change. This was not the mission America ’s people had in mind. This battle has had, in no way, helped bring to justice the criminals who attacked our beloved city of New York .
Okay, you might now be asking yourself, “What does this have to do with heroes?"
Here’s a question to help with the answer. While a war in Iraq continues, and looks to never see an end, one has to ask themselves, “Could I put myself through something these Soldiers are going through everyday?"
Or: “With the media and many civilians openly speaking out about the war in Iraq, could I, as a Soldier in battle, handle constant ridicule from those I swore to protect?"
It is these questions that make our Soldiers stationed in Iraq , Afghanistan , or any other foreign countries (and even at home), heroes.
These people, these brave people, should be America ’s heroes, not sports stars.
Now, I understand that many Americans might take offence to this statement, saying, “I love the American troops and want them to come home soon." Trust me, they know you love them, they do. But, this is only a small fraction of the population Soldiers protect.
Some Americans feel that the war in Iraq is only a job these Soldiers are partaking in, that it is nothing more to them than a paycheck. If that was the case, Soldiers would be demanding more money. (Many Soldiers make less than $23,000 a year.)
Some believe America is wasting their time in a country that doesn’t want our help. Maybe that’s true, maybe not. What needs to be recognized is the fact that these Soldiers spend everyday in a dangerous position, sometimes getting shot at or attacked, all in hope to help a country develop and become strong. And what do these Soldiers read in the news on the internet or see on CNN when they watch TV; they see repots about their own people, Americans, belittling their efforts to help a struggling nation.
And I ask you not to forget, while these Soldiers are deployed to another country, they are, in-fact, still preventing any further attacks on our country by showing the world, “If you mess with us, you will feel the pain."
THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE HEROES!
I ask Americans why they want to idolize a person who selfishly gets paid millions of dollars to “sink that winning basket?" Why not idolize the people who want to really help you, protect you, and provide a better life for your children and the children of others?
It seems to me that the American people, along with the American media outlets, have forgotten about the Soldiers fighting for our nation’s freedom and other nation’s freedom.
This is sad, because I know for a fact, these proud American Soldiers, who are giving their lives and time for others, have not forgotten about you.
Ryan Stroud is a military trained journalist who has served in Iraq with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, US Army. Prior to his military experiences, Stroud grew up playing, coaching, and refereeing soccer. Also, Stroud focused many years of his life playing, touring, and recording/producing local music acts. He has a wonderful wife of 4 years, a 2 year old son and a newborn daughter.
Stroud's biggest writing influences are Jim Butcher, Chuck Palahniuk, Edward Lee, Jack Ketchum, Christopher Moore and Ben Fox.
He currently resides in Huntsville, Al, with the 59th Ordnance Brigade at Redstone Arsenal.
Stroud would also like to take a moment to thank his friends who are currently in battle over in Iraq. God bless all of you.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Enjoyed the different perspective of the story!
EZRA RYAN ROE, GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL YOUR FRIENDS. THE SOLDIERS ARE THE TRUE HEROES AND AS YOU SAID THEY DON'T MAKE ENOUGH FOR THE THINGS THEY ENDURE TO MAKE AMERICA A SAFER PLACE. LOVE YOU SOLDIER.
I agree that many American people take our Soldiers for granted. Our Soldiers are some of the most underpaid individuals for the jobs that they are doing. They risk their lives every single day so that each of us can live in peace and feel safe. Thank you to all our Soldiers and their families for the tremendous sacrafices that they make for us all. God Bless You All. May you stay safe and strong; and may you return home safely with honor and satisfaction for a job well done.
Our Soldiers are true American heros. Don't confuse my political viewpoint with lack of support for our troups. Political resistance against the war in Iraq, is a statement to the leadership not against our brave soldiers. I am 100% behind our soldiers. Our leadership has no clear objective or direction. Over 1500 families have lost loved children without a clear understanding of what we are fighting for. I thank every soldier for making our country save and free. You are my hero!
Good point.
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