h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've had this sent via an email, I hope it's not a yikes'able thread/post, but where are the priorities when calling some person an HERO!

MY apologies folks! but I had to vent out


Two planes have come home to England today.One carrying a group of over paid,under achievers who who complained that they were tired and missed their families after two weeks away in 5 star accommodation.
The other carried the coffins of 7 fallen soldiers who spend months away from loved ones,living in tents in a war zone giving their lives for their country.

Who are the heroes???

R.I.P. to the men and women who gave their lives to our country

past and present!!!!!

Bit harsh, I feel. Don't forget that these brave sportsmen were kept away from their million pound luxury houses, Ferrari's, vaccuous wives and mistresses, games consoles, opportunities to make vast sums of money advertising tat, for days on end. I understand that Cristal champagne is extremely difficult to get in South Africa, and there are no exclusive clubs on a par with China White or whatever the new haunt is of the rich and famous-for-five-minutes.

And did you see the ball they had to play with? Rubbish.

Prof- I think you are entirely justified in your posting, and I certainly don't consider it disrespectful. What I do find disrespectful is allowing those over-paid prima-donna's to wear the St George cross on their jerseys, along with all the idiots that fly them from cars and buildings whenever a meaningless sporting occasion dictates it to be 'fashionable'.

I have promised myself never to pay to watch a football match again, instead I will donate the money to Help the Heroes. It's the least I can do to repay the debt.

I thank you for your comments my friend

Your sentiments are spot-on, Prof. Hero is a big word belittled.

Nevertheless, can you really blame those lost souls whose bodies once housed talent?
Are they not now condemned, at all their matches, to drink from bottles that once held Ginger Beer?
[stolen from Max Boyce - Max! The Grate!]

Ok. Certainly no disrespect intended here either. However, I am quite sure that this thought would cause some hackles to rise.

The term hero is greatly over-used and is somewhat emotive.

Certainly footballers are not heroes, at least not in the normal run of events. They MAY earn the epithet by some act perfomed outside of their normal job. However, I am not able to identify a footballing hero.

However, the term hero is not neccessarily correctly applied to dead soldiers brought back from foreign countries. Or even the ones who are still serving there.

Surely an act of heroism, is one of exceptional courage in the face of adversity. One that is undertaken selflessly and I would suggest unexpectedly. I can cite instances where soldiers HAVE earned the honour of being regarded as a hero. For instance, the soldier who threw himself on a hand grenade to protect his colleagues (I am sorry that I can't recall his name). That man would have expected to die for the sake of others. THAT man is a hero.

Joining the army in the knowledge that you might be sent off to a war zone is brave. Getting killed by a roadside bomb / renegade Afghan soldier is something else. I am pretty sure that no soldier signs up in the expectation that he will die.

PP

true words P.P, no heckles from me my friend

Perhaps the word 'hero' is misused in such circumstances, but I know which group of people has my respect.

Agreed, PP, MonkeyS.

Mr Pink-Paisley said it best.

I have a lot of respect for anyone who chooses to join the forces and defend our country. I have no respect what-so-ever for a bunch of over-paid jumped-up (I want to say more defamatory things but they may not be entirely true)people who kick a ball about.

I am proud to be British when I hear about Wootton Bassett standing out to welcome the dead home. I have no pride when I am forced to hear about and be part of a pointless game.

We need to choose our heroes a little more carefully.

Quite agree, Silvernalot.

<< We need to choose our heroes a little more carefully>>

Heroes, and role models.

as a Brother in the R.A.O.B (Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffalo's) we take a toast to absent brethren every lodge night and to ALL our armed forces home and away

Never was so much owed by so many to so few - it means as much now as it did then