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After reading the OP, I decided to do a little of my own research on (Lt) John W. Finn.
Mr. Finn performed truly heroically at Pearl Harbor (Kaneohe Bay) on December 7, 1941. It is doubtless that many lived through that day thanks to his efforts.
Sadly, I also read about the horrible way Mr. Finn was treated by United airlines and airport security on Tuesday, June 25, 2002. (http://www.homeofheroes.com/talkingp...0207_finn.html) Even if Mr. Finn were just an ordinary man, the manner in which he was treated, as an elderly and physically limited individual is reprehensible. It is all the worse when you take into account that he IS a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, and he had his medal on his person during this entire chain of events. No one person had any idea what the medal meant.
We, Americans (in general), are quick to idolize those who entertain us. These are athletes and actors/actresses, singers and even those who don't do anything - but they're in the media 24/7 (Paris Hilton comes to mind here). Every one of these individuals gets rich and spoiled by the attention; raking in millions of dollars and laughing at us on their way to the bank. They feel they "deserve" it all (and more).
Wouldn't it be nice if, for once, we idolized those true public servants (I'm NOT talking about politicians here!). Teachers, Law Enforcement Officers (the good ones), Firefighters, and the members of our military. These are our real heroes!
This will never happen en masse. I'm a pessimist.Quote:
Originally Posted by theGinsue
Why? Because of the media machine and the onslaught dedegradtion of standards and morals. Money is king.
Military versus Football: Military and Athelete train year round to be proficient in what they do.
- Athelete trains in physical stamina and memorizes only their duty to a playbook that consists of some 40 odd consistent plays to occur during a 100 yard stretch. They win, they get hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars and recognition. They lose, they get hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars and "get 'em next time".
- Military trains in physical and psychological stamina to have the cognizent power to ascertain whether to pull the trigger and end another beings life in the blink of eye. They memorize not only their, but the whole teams role and what to do should something unexpected happen. Their playbook consists of thousands of scenarios on limitless feilds. They win, they get to come home to the protesting of the citizens that they are protecting. They lose, they die.
Firefighters:
- Train everyday and often work 24+ hour shifts to risk their lives to save your stupid life because the idiot thought that it would be fine to leave dinner cooking on the stove while she went shopping and left her kids home alone. Firefighters suffer smoke inhalation and she asks if they could go back in and get the damn TV out cause it's brandnew!
Even in the teachers' world things are skewed.
Etc....
It's a bad situation. Until people start dying to themselves and living for their neighbors/friends/etc... it'll just get worse. But what do I know, I'm just a kid.