Values, Beliefs, & Conviction

[Mike]

Values, Beliefs, & Conviction



Over the years, we have seen a few celebrities who have joined and fought for a country or idea they believed in. James Stewart was a man who truly did epitomize the American Dream. He was the only person from Hollywood to sign up before the draft in WW2 while highest ranking by far. Prince Harry is currently fighting in Afghanistan risking all that he has to go and be with the few who have chosen to serve. And one that made the ultimate sacrifice, Pat Tillman.

Pat was killed a few years ago while serving as an army ranger on a mission in southeastern Afghanistan. Although there has been a lot of issues surrounding his death, he died with is fellow brothers, doing what he believed was right. What was even more amazing about his death was that he walked away from a $3.6 million contract as a safety with the Arizona Cardinals to join the military after the Sept. 11 attacks. He was an achiever and leader on many levels who always put his team, his community, and his country ahead of his personal interests. In sports we have a tendency to overuse terms like courage, bravery, and heroes, and then someone like Pat Tillman comes along and reminds us what those terms really mean. However, what we must remind ourselves is that his sacrifice is no more significant then the death of any other soldier on the battlefield, something the media seems to put to the test. He is no more of a hero then any other men over there, but rather a man who has shown his true testaments to his values, beliefs, and convictions. Pat Tillman died a hero because he died fighting for what he believed was the right thing to do. He wanted to stick it out with his fellow brothers and do what he felt was right.

Always stand up for what you believe in men, live life to the fullest, and die without regrets knowing you always tried to be a better man.

[Tornadom]

I couldn't have said it any better Mike.

We are all equals, and no one person is worth more than someone else...

[Whitz End]

^^ Tell that to Channel 10 wheh Heath Ledger died...

[Tornadom]

I didn't hear anything about his death until 2 days later. He was a good actor, and his time came soon... the value of his life (or in this case his death) financially may have been worth more to channel 10. The media is a business, and they have to do what sells.

[Whitz End]

True. But they had this entired movie 'extravaganza' devoted to him that evening. Yes, he was a good actor...I enjoyed his movies but at the end of the day, he never bought me a beer or wrote my grandmother a postcard...there were probably hundreds of people who died that day, doctors, researchers and so on that could have been working on a cure for cancer. Its all speculation but I found it was a little over the top for my liking. A day later, the Indonesian Dictator died...didnt see his movies on TV and I would have taken more interest in that since I studied Indonesian for 10 years. Im an ass I know...(maybe it was because the Heath Movies replaced a program I was particularly keen on watching...)

[david529]

Although i understand that no person is worth more than the other, I think that the point of the topic was that as a former Celebrity or sports star, Tillmans death should be no more significant than any other soldiers death. I think he was comparing the deaths of Military personel, not Military to Hollywood Actors. I respect the living hell out of Pat Tillman for walking away from the lap of luxary to fight forour country, It really sais alot about the man. But in the end i think all soldiers and Marines who die fighting should be honored as he was.