Teddy Atlas: The athletes: boxers, fighters, and others, are not heroes. Soldiers are

[Soundtraveler]

Not everyone in the military is a hero but that man is!

Absolutely, in fact he was fitted for a new prosthesis last week, and he is on his way over to my place for dinner this evening - I can't wait to have him read this thread! I would bet that his views will differ considerably from those of some posters' here. He will no doubt have plenty to say about this subject...

[Irish0910]

Alot of my ideology comes from my personal experiance, as well as the experiances of family members who have served as well as friends.I have also read many veteran made books about Vietnam which is where i got the idea that soldiers are political statements. Essentially, what i have said does come from the outlook of other soldiers, so once again, your really failing to see what im saying, and you likely always will.

I served, my father served, my grandfather served, my great grandfather served. Generations of my family including myself put my their time in, and just because im not going kiss the military's ass with every statement doesnt mean i dont love this country and it doesnt mean i have disrespected the military.

My family has served as well and I am serving now. I don't kiss the military's ass or agree with everything. I don't think everyone in the military is a "hero" but those that have done something for their country are more so hero's than any athlete. I know there are "former soldiers" that don't agree with the different political things whether its vietnam or Iraq. I just think it's disrespectful during a time of war to say the type of things you have been saying because it does disrespect the troops.

[Irish0910]

Absolutely, in fact he was fitted for a new prosthesis last week, and he is on his way over to my place for dinner this evening - I can't wait to have him read this thread! I would bet that his views will differ considerably from those of some posters' here. He will no doubt have plenty to say about this subject...

I bet he does find this thread pretty interesting.

[Soundtraveler]

Irish0910 -- I just knew you were a military man by the posts on this thread - I thank you for your service! Perhaps one day you and I can meet and raise a toast to the fallen soldiers I would really like that.

[Peder]

You are a hero if you put yourself at risk, on other people's behalf.. Isn't that the definition of the word? All soldiers are at risk.

You don't become a hero by boxing (unless you faced pure evil, and killed it)

[El Jesus]

. I just think it's disrespectful during a time of war to say the type of things you have been saying because it does disrespect the troops.

If nobody says anything negative about this pathetic war, it will never end, and if your going to say "while were at war with terror" the war on terror isnt a war, because wars end. And the war on terror will never end, ever. If everyone just kept quiet because its a "time of war" that keep in mind, WE ARE LOSING, then it would just go on and on with no real resolution and alot of death. Kind of like whats happening now, no real resolution and alot of death.

[Soundtraveler]

If nobody says anything negative about this pathetic war, it will never end, and if your going to say "while were at war with terror" the war on terror isnt a war, because wars end. And the war on terror will never end, ever. If everyone just kept quiet because its a "time of war" that keep in mind, WE ARE LOSING, then it would just go on and on with no real resolution and alot of death. Kind of like whats happening now, no real resolution and alot of death.

Well, you can bet your ass if the fighting comes to this country, I for one, will gladly stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone willing to defend our great land and our way of life. The *********s will never succeed, I will never surrender and neither would Irish, and I doubt you would either when and if it ever comes down to it...

[El Jesus]

Well, you can bet your ass if the fighting comes to this country, I for one, will gladly stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone willing to defend our great land and our way of life. The *********s will never succeed, I will never surrender and neither would Irish, and I doubt you would either when and if it ever comes down to it...

I stated something like this already

If china decided to invade us and reorganize our governemnt and implement an government they felt was more stable for us, do you think america would just lay down and like it? No

[Gareth Ivanovic]

BlackJesus all your posts have been spot on IMO. I think people in this country are to easy to say somebody is disrespecting the troops when there is anything negative said about the war. Isn't that what being an American is all about is being able to use your freedom of speech to speak out against things you think are wrong. I give a lot of respect for the troops in Iraq that are there risking their lives, but feel like the government is making a mess of the situation and costing innocent lives in the process.

For those who think the hate us because we are Americans are wrong. They hate us and want to kill us because we are in their home land. Many of the ****** extremists have never even met an american or been to america. They don't hate us because we are rich, prosperious, and have freedoms they don't like us because we are in their sacred land were Westerners or non-******s are not welcome. The Koran has scripture that talks about not allowing non-******s on their land and if they do to start war with them. There's also scripture that talks about killing the infedels, which means killing the non-******s. Other scripture supports the idea of suicide bombing or sacrificing yourself for the good Allah. Osama started not liking us once we moved into Saudi Arabia where he thought we didn't belong. Same with the ***s they always are fighting with them because they don't want them there.

Im not going to say that by getting our troops out of there is going to solve everything, but I wouldn't doubt if it made a difference. The people over there have lived a certain way for a long time and they are so caught up and brainwashed by their religioug beliefs (as many people are not just ******s) that it's naive of us to think that they are going to change and accept our way of life. I hope our next president concentrates more on the problems in this country and less on foreign affairs. It would also be great if he left his religious beliefs on the doorstep and did whats best for the american people.

[Irish0910]

Irish0910 -- I just knew you were a military man by the posts on this thread - I thank you for your service! Perhaps one day you and I can meet and raise a toast to the fallen soldiers I would really like that.

It would be a pleasure!