Why do most people call people in the army heroes? When most of them haven't performed a specific heroic act.

My opinion is that not everyone in the army is necessarily a hero. I know some who go there for the money. I don't think they're all altruists. I personally believe there is nothing heroic about holding a gun and firing, but standing unarmed between a loaded gun and some other person, now that's a lot more heroic. I've read about brave acts throughout history and many of them were about people who were not soldiers. Just because somebody joins the army doesn't mean they're a hero. They have no idea what real fighting is until they are actually sent to war. Of course i have to admit that the fact soldiers many times defend their country and their compatriots is brave by itself. And many of them are heroes. As for the Iraq world, shame on you USA politicians!!!! I call that imperialism!!!! (the soldiers and the civilians are not to blame of course).

Because when they signed up many believed it was to protect - oh, someone like - you.

My son wasn't in Iraq a month before he threw down his M-16 and walked into a small clinic near the Baghdad airport and volunteered his EMT skills. He picked up a 75 lb medic pack and went to work.

He was blinded when he suffered a head injury during heavy shelling while working on a Marine. He refused to carry arms because he got to know the Iraqui people a bit and felt that something stank and it wasn't in Denmark.

Here's one of my favorite bumper stickers that answers your question:

"Ask me about MY son who died for you!"

Because it sounds good and makes people happy. A fireman who pulls someone out of a burning building is a hero. I don't want to bash on the military, but we use the term hero loosely. We calll people heroes who are in the wrong place at the wrong time, when they didn't do anything heroic, they were just there. Someone survives a tornado and all the sudden they are a hero.

To be placed in harm's way WILLINGLY is already a great sacrifice. They are betting their own lives just to protect the country and the people they love. They are voluntarily putting themselves in the arms of death just as long their country is safe. Would YOU even DARE do that?

Politics not withstanding, people who join the military are voluntarily agreeing to put themselves in harm's way and risk injury or death to protect the interests of the citizens of their country. At home we have the luxury of debating whether or not a war is just or necessary; on the field they have to trust that it IS, and if lives are sacrificed it will be for a good reason. That's pretty heroic.

a heroic act can be defined in many ways,,just that they signed up was pretty heroic i think,,,but did you know they teach our army to see the people from Irac and iran as less then people? I could tell you some shit that would blow your mind but would get my brother in trouble if anyone found out,,,

there's always a risk when you enlist......what's yur great act?........scarin small children?

A veteran is someone who at one time took an oath to defend you and your rights with a check up to and including their life. My definition of a hero.

they have agreed to lay their life on the line, that's pretty heroic to me.

Because those who are in the military / armed services are there to put their own lives on the line to protect each and every one of US ... as called upon .

I hear ya, definitely not my definition of a hero

just joining is more then most do