PBS Frontline: WikiSecrets
 

So, on another forum, a poster posed a question that has truly brought out the trolls. But also, some reasoned, well-thought out discussion. The question was "Why are soldiers considered heroes?"

The discussion covered everything from the obligatory "shut your mouth, we keep you safe at night" rhetoric to private military contractors' abuses in Iraq to WW2's John Basilone, etc. etc.

Almost to a man, the jingoists hailed all soldiers as unquestionably heroic, and scoffed at the notion that they might serve the purpose of flawed or immoral foreign policy.

So I asked, "Is Bradley Manning a hero?" You can imagine the visceral response.

Anyhow, Frontline produced another gem, and really adds texture to the complex story of Manning, and state secrecy:

Re: PBS Frontline: WikiSecrets
 

Free Bradley Manning! :D

Re: PBS Frontline: WikiSecrets
 

Soldiers I know get pretty uneasy with the hero worship that surrounds what they do.

Then again, I know that's not what this thread is about, but I find the portrayal of soldiers as being attention whores who lap up this hero worship shtick to be wide of the mark.

[/hijack]

Heil wikileaks and such...

Re: PBS Frontline: WikiSecrets
 

I've always been a little uncomfortable with people thanking me for my service. I appreciate that they appreciate it, but it's a really hard thing to reply to.

Re: PBS Frontline: WikiSecrets
 

Thanks for your service.

Re: PBS Frontline: WikiSecrets
 

I've never been in the military - but I have been in the situation where people thanked me for what I did (firefighter/medic)....I was always highly uncomfortable with it - all I was doing was my job - if you wouldn't think to thank the check out girl at the grocery store or the dude who takes your money at the gas station, then you shouldn't think to thank me, either. I'm not doing any more than they do.

Even more uncomfortable were public display "awards," of any sort.

There were some guys who really liked getting them.....and there were a few guys who really really liked getting them....personal observation, but they were usually the same few guys I wouldn't trust with a can of lighter fluid and a match.