On another board, Makedde wrote:

I think that how we define heroes says a lot about our culture. There have been several threads on here about the cult of war in the U.S. Even in ancient Rome, heroism in war was a way to gain political power, witness Gaius Julius Caesar, Gaius Marius, and Lucius Cornelius Sulla, amongst others.

I don't idolize soldiers simply because they are soldiers, though I do respect their service. On the other hand, I have never considered soldiers murderers for doing their job.

And this comment really bothers me:
I have worked with several police officers who saved lives by killing an armed perpetrator. In one case, a man entered a library in Salt Lake City, armed, and started shooting. He killed a librarian and kept firing at the patrons. Officers responded to the scene. A friend of mine was the man who was first on the scene and ended up shooting and killing the perpetrator. He risked his life entering the building and shooting the gunman.


Was he a murderer for doing so?

I agree that we need to examine our view of heroes carefully. To me, a hero is a person who takes great personal risk to do what must be done. In this case, what had to happen to stop this man from killing more innocent people was to kill him.

Some people simply do not understand the concept of peace, and can't be reasoned with. And, in order to keep them from doing more harm, they must be removed from society or incapacitated.

Any thoughts? Please don't attack Makedde. Let's keep this a discussion about ideas.

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, HH the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu all heroes.

Thich Nhat Hanh--hero. Ang Sung Su Kyi-- hero.

Jimmy Carter, Madeleine Albright.

All non-violent.

I have personal heroes too--who no one knows but me. Survivors of the holocaust and their families. Survivors of domestic violence and child abuse.

I have as much respect for the typical soldier as I do for the typical baker at Safeway; no more, no less.

A hero in my book is someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty to rescue others.

Risk your life for another life = hero.

Its an act of bravery and the ultimate form of compassion.

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Left sucks! so visit our new group! Obama is a Joke!

Every soldier is a hero. Those who are willing to give their lives to protect America are heroes in my book. Anybody that doesn't respect these soldiers are worse than scum in my books

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Any thoughts on this:

Murderer? Hero? Both? Neither?

I believe he was a hero and NOT a murderer. In that situation, failing to fire on the gunman would have resulted in the gunman killing further victims, IMO.

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

My hero was my Dad.
Now the only thing I worship is Jesus Christ.

I admire lots of folks, but I worship none but God.

Some people might combine the two, for instance, I have Christian friends who say that their hero is Jesus Christ (who they also worship). But being recognized as a hero and being worshipped isn't necessarily the same thing, is it?

Are military personnel heroes by virtue of their service? Does being a hero require more than just serving a tour of duty or term of service? Does being recognized as a hero require some exceptional action on the part of a person?

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

Considering that many folks in the Military have been doing multiple tours in a very un-popular war; and in a forgotten war....(Afghanistan)...yes in my eyes they are all heroes.

They stand above the rest. They've earned my sincere respect and gratitude.

Heroes to me are, by definition, fighters. Not necessarily in the sense of physical combat, but those who overcome great obstacles in life and achieve great things. We all have our personal heroes and most of us at least are likely heroes to somebody else. Soldiers, police officers, firefighters, and all "first responders" are definitely heroes in my book. What they do is so much more than just a job.