PFC Lynch. Hero?

[juliod]

For her to get rewarded in this manner is an insult to those who got injured, but not rewarded in any other fashion.

I'm not sure why it should be an insult. As a wounded soldier it is realonable to say that she deserves special consideration. Other wounded soldiers do to. But I don't see how them not getting it is an "insult" to them.

DanZ

[Bill the Cat]

Today @ 05:54 PM post located here
juliod:



I'm not sure why it should be an insult. As a wounded soldier it is realonable to say that she deserves special consideration. Other wounded soldiers do to. But I don't see how them not getting it is an "insult" to them.

DanZ

She deserves nothing more than a purple heart and the disability she will get. We are not supposed to accept any compensation for our duty except our paycheck.

• The Soldier's Creed
  
  I am an American soldier. I am a member of the United States Army - a protector of the greatest nation on earth. Because I am proud of the uniform I wear, I will always act in ways creditable to the military service and the nation it is sworn to guard.
  
  I am proud of my own organization. I will do all I can to make it the finest unit in the Army. I will be loyal to those under whom I serve. I will do my full part to carry out orders and instructions given me or my unit.
  
  As a soldier, I realize that I am a member of a time-honored profession - that I am doing my share to keep alive the principles of freedom for which my country stands. No matter what situation I am in, I will never do anything, for pleasure, profit, or personal safety, which will disgrace my uniform, my unit, or my country. I will use every means I have, even beyond the line of duty, to restrain my Army comrades from actions disgraceful to themselves and the uniform.
  
  I am proud of my country and its flag. I will try to make the people of this nation proud of the service I represent, for I am an American soldier.

[juliod]

No matter what situation I am in, I will never do anything, for pleasure, profit, or personal safety, which will disgrace my uniform, my unit, or my country.(emphasis yours)

Are you saying that Lynch has done something to disgrace her uniform, country or unit?

As you said, wounded soldiers get disability benefits. If some organization or government wants to give a wounded veteran a benefit, why should that reflect poorly on the other wounded veterans?

DanZ

[Bill the Cat]

Yesterday @ 10:31 PM post located here
juliod:



Are you saying that Lynch has done something to disgrace her uniform, country or unit?

As you said, wounded soldiers get disability benefits. If some organization or government wants to give a wounded veteran a benefit, why should that reflect poorly on the other wounded veterans?

DanZ

For her to accept this "extra" benefit is IMHO, a disgrace. She should politely say "no thank you" I know it's the american way to get all you can squeeze out of a situation, but I see it as a lack of honor. If I were her, I'd have been proud to serve my country, and that's all. Now the disability is what any injured soldier would receive if they could no longer do their duty.

My question is why are these schools doing this? If it is to honor her as an injured soldier, what about the others? If it is just for publicity for the institution, which is special treatment for her, it is not honorable, and she should decline.

[Alden]

I find it interesting that some people are upset that Lynch is getting a free education after what she's been through, yet some of these same people are not so upset that others get free education (or any type of preferential treatment) for being minorities.

Very curious

[juliod]

I find it interesting that some people are upset that Lynch is getting a free education after what she's been through, yet some of these same people are not so upset that others get free education (or any type of preferential treatment) for being minorities.

I suspect that it is the same group of people in both cases.

I think giving free education is a good idea, regardless of the pretext. Giving free education to Lynch might encourage states to give such benefits to all wounded veterans in their state. Giving free education to the underpriveledged (minority or otherwise) at least gives them options other than street crime.

DanZ

[popof3]

07-22-2003 @ 04:49 PM post located here
Salus:



She mentioned from her hospital bed once that she would like to be a kindergarten teacher. So Eastern Michigan University jumped on the bandwagon and has an open spot, also free of charge, if she chooses to come to Michigan.

I bust my butt working 50 hrs a week and raising 3 kids and I still have to pay for my education. A girl gets in a car accident because none of her peers know how to read navigational devices, becomes a war story, and gets FREE schooling pretty much anywhere! The world is not a fair place.

(Don't forget the free car she got)

God didn't say the world was a fair place. God said be free from envy, and do not covet.

We waste too much of the love that is God on bemoaning the extras others get.

Remember what Jesus said, they have their reward. Be happy for every blessing you have already gotten in your life. Remember, you weren't in an Iraqi hospital not knowing for sure what would happen afterwards, You don't know if she fought a spiritual battle and won, and all this is Gods blessings for staying firm against the temptations she may have been under.

Happiness will never happen if we always look at others and put down what they get since that is us envying them. Happiness can only happen when we look at out lives and thank God whole heartedly for giving it to us.

[popof3]

Yesterday @ 09:32 AM post located here
Bill the Cat:



For her to accept this "extra" benefit is IMHO, a disgrace. She should politely say "no thank you" I know it's the american way to get all you can squeeze out of a situation, but I see it as a lack of honor. If I were her, I'd have been proud to serve my country, and that's all. Now the disability is what any injured soldier would receive if they could no longer do their duty.

My question is why are these schools doing this? If it is to honor her as an injured soldier, what about the others? If it is just for publicity for the institution, which is special treatment for her, it is not honorable, and she should decline.

And, of course, Job should have told God "no thank you" for all he received.

Again, this is envy. God rewards us all in different ways. You seem to place the rewards of this world higher than the rewards of God. This thing she is receiving is nothing. It is a materialistic prestige award. If she becomes a kindergarten teacher and infuences the lives of hundreds of children positively, then she will be doing God's work, making this all His plan.

We need to concentrate on doing Gods work ourselves, not being envious of those who achieve fame or rewards on earth. They are answering to God for whatever they end up with, whether that is with his pleasure or displeasure.

Remember your own gifts. She doesn't have many things you have, one of which just might be the ability to sleep without nightmares every night for the rest of her life.

You just do not know.

[AtheistArchon]

- Envy schmenvy... she's a soldier. Or at least, she's supposed to be one.

- I'm not bemoaning her good "furtune" of being a media darling. I'm questioning the motives of the people throwing presents at her as if she were a war hero. She isn't!

- The businesses, political orgs, and institutions giving her all these presents do not give a single bippy about heroism or honor. They care about advertising. How many other POW's are getting free crap? How many soldiers coming home who DIDN'T get caught, but got shot at, lost sleep, were homesick, ate crappy food, and endured all manner of hardships are getting this kind of attention?

- Big business, that's what little PFC Lynch is. And she's too young and dumb to know she's being used by the media, the big businesses in question, and her own government.

[popof3]

Today @ 03:17 PM post located here
AtheistArchon:

- Envy schmenvy... she's a soldier. Or at least, she's supposed to be one.

- I'm not bemoaning her good "furtune" of being a media darling. I'm questioning the motives of the people throwing presents at her as if she were a war hero. She isn't!

- The businesses, political orgs, and institutions giving her all these presents do not give a single bippy about heroism or honor. They care about advertising. How many other POW's are getting free crap? How many soldiers coming home who DIDN'T get caught, but got shot at, lost sleep, were homesick, ate crappy food, and endured all manner of hardships are getting this kind of attention?

- Big business, that's what little PFC Lynch is. And she's too young and dumb to know she's being used by the media, the big businesses in question, and her own government.

And everything you stated is 'envy'. But I understand since you are a self proclaimed atheist. As such the statement I made doesn't really have the same biblical moral hold on you that it does on me. You are looking at it without any religious implications.

AS I said, I don't consider her a hero either. But I don't consider her greedy or abusive of the rules of the military.

Promotions in the military are made based on commendations until you are ready to become an E-5 (US Army rules, to become a sergant. Not talking about commissioned officers since I don't know what their promotions are based on.) when you must meet a 'point' requirement. The amount of points depends on the job and the amount of NCO's above you. The highest is 999.

To get these points, study, NCO schools, extra military training, and commendations all give you point totals. So if you want to further yourself, you must acheive and be rewarded or you will not grow.

She took what was offered her. The error might be on how high the offer, but she was doing what she was trained to do since you are TRAINED to earn these rewards!

Your job as a soldier isn't to die for your country, it is to serve your country. Sometimes people die doing it.

You have decided that Ms Lynch is wrong for doing what she was trained to do. If you have a problem with that, then I suggest you join and serve and refuse any commendations yourself. I will state right now you could not, nor would you do so.