Statement from the Family of Pat Tillman

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
i think they are saying that he could have chose the easy way out and played football, but he felt a responsibility to his country, so he went to the army. this requires a certain amount of bravery.

Stupidity and naivity are better words.

Stupidity because...well, he turned down a great life to serve his country and ended up dying for nothing.

Naivity because he thought he had a responsibility to his country to do that.

The man made a dumb choice.

And I LOVE that quote; "People are only willing to do shit if it's at their personal safety.", well...yeah. What? Of course. I don't want to die, I certainly don't want to die in a situation I can avoid and a situation that isn't worth it, JUST so knee-jerkers who don't have the brains to say "Patriotism is bs." will respect me. I don't want their respect.

Hey, while we're on topic, Pat Tillman joined the army and did all that, he gained a lot...oh wait...I just realised we are talking about him and he just gained death.

Being the most respected man in the graveyard isn't something I'd like to achieve at the expense of friends, family and a career most could only dream of.

-AC

I will say one thing. Being a safety for the abysmal Arizona Cardinals ain't a walk in the park. Chasing some guy for 80 yards only to have him do a touchdown dance in the end zone and spike the ball in your face isn't anyone's idea of pride. Having to single-handedly make 20 tackles a game because your LB's can't tackle the RB isn't a piece of cake, either.

F-futuristic rugby.

-AC

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
F-futuristic rugby.

-AC

Oh, boy. Not the rugby thing again. But fair enough, I can totally see how Europeans could call American Football "futuristic rugby," just like Americans could call European Football a "slightly more intense version of me repeatedly deflecting a paper ball off a baseboard with my foot while I'm waiting for my sister to get out of the bathroom so I can take a sh*t."

Although one involves feet only, and the other doesn't.

American Bastardisation; It's what's cool.

-AC

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri

And I LOVE that quote; "People are only willing to do shit if it's at their personal safety.", well...yeah. What? Of course. I don't want to die, I certainly don't want to die in a situation I can avoid and a situation that isn't worth it, JUST so knee-jerkers who don't have the brains to say "Patriotism is bs." will respect me.

-AC

Fine, situation: Armed man kidnaps your daughter. Demands $1 mil that you don't have. You know where the man is. If you call police he will find out somehow. Do you go to find and try to save your daughter or just play by his rules? (Yes it's unreasonable and that's the point.)

Yeah, but I think rugby is the better sport because their players don't wear all the protective equipment.

Originally posted by chithappens
Fine, situation: Armed man kidnaps your daughter. Demands $1 mil that you don't have. You know where the man is. If you call police he will find out somehow. Do you go to find and try to save your daughter or just play by his rules? (Yes it's unreasonable and that's the point.)

No, that is totally different. He went there to do something stupid....

Originally posted by chithappens
Fine, situation: Armed man kidnaps your daughter. Demands $1 mil that you don't have. You know where the man is. If you call police he will find out somehow. Do you go to find and try to save your daughter or just play by his rules? (Yes it's unreasonable and that's the point.)

How is that at all relevant? Explain that to me first.

Second, I said I don't want to die in a situation that isn't worth it or die in a situation that will earn me A) Death and B) Respect of people I don't give a shit about.

If I thought it was worth going to save my daughter, I'd do it, because it'd be worth it. Going to fight a war doesn't, hasn't ever, nor will it ever seem worth it.

-AC

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
How is that at all relevant? Explain that to me first.

Second, I said I don't want to die in a situation that isn't worth it or die in a situation that will earn me A) Death and B) Respect of people I don't give a shit about.

If I thought it was worth going to save my daughter, I'd do it, because it'd be worth it. Going to fight a war doesn't, hasn't ever, nor will it ever seem worth it.

-AC

Just seeing where your "important" stance is. Still, it is funny you said "If I thought was worth going to save my daughter," 😆

Originally posted by chithappens
Just seeing where your "important" stance is. Still, it is funny you said "If I thought was worth going to save my daughter," 😆

Why is that funny?

Originally posted by chithappens
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2813963

Originally posted by chithappens
Just seeing where your "important" stance is. Still, it is funny you said "If I thought was worth going to save my daughter," 😆

Yes, because being the gung-ho "I don't care, I'm above the law." nutcase doesn't always help. If I believed the police could help, I'd not intervene.

-AC

So just to be clear: You think if he fights and comes back safely with all limbs and balls intact, it was stupid and not worthy of respect?

Poor Guy...I would never make the decision he made

Originally posted by chithappens
So just to be clear: You think if he fights and comes back safely with all limbs and balls intact, it was stupid and not worthy of respect?

I think it's stupid to fight "for your country" no matter what. It's not an act that earns MY respect, and I PERSONALLY don't feel it should earn anybody's. I'm not everyone, though.

If you feel that's something that deserves respect, I pity you, but it's your choice.

In HIS case, yes, it's even more stupid. The man gave up a dream life to go and fight in a war that shouldn't have happened anyway, and didn't even get killed by the enemy. It's a waste and it's pointless. You can't help where you're born, I see no point fighting for a country. It doesn't care whether you do or not.

Originally posted by Lord Urizen
Poor Guy...I would never make the decision he made

Why "Poor Guy."? See, this is what annoys me.

He did it himself, it was his choice, why is he getting sympathy? Do you think he went to Iraq expecting it to be Pee Wee's Playhouse?

-AC

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Stupidity and naivity are better words.

Stupidity because...well, he turned down a great life to serve his country and ended up dying for nothing.

Naivity because he thought he had a responsibility to his country to do that.

The man made a dumb choice.

And I LOVE that quote; "People are only willing to do shit if it's at their personal safety.", well...yeah. What? Of course. I don't want to die, I certainly don't want to die in a situation I can avoid and a situation that isn't worth it, JUST so knee-jerkers who don't have the brains to say "Patriotism is bs." will respect me. I don't want their respect.

Hey, while we're on topic, Pat Tillman joined the army and did all that, he gained a lot...oh wait...I just realised we are talking about him and he just gained death.

Being the most respected man in the graveyard isn't something I'd like to achieve at the expense of friends, family and a career most could only dream of.

-AC

Originally posted by Bardock42
...why? That's the case with everything though.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
are you really asking me why i have respect for soldiers? because they are just following orders. they have a job to do and they are doing it. if you met as many of them as i have, guys that are days away from being shipped over, you might agree.

I met a few.

But that's the point, they follow orders. It is their job. The job they chose. I don't respect them more than I respect the average plumber.

Originally posted by Bardock42
I met a few.

But that's the point, they follow orders. It is their job. The job they chose. I don't respect them more than I respect the average plumber.