Courage Under Fire

by Mike

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Motherwell Joseph Devine said in a statement yesterday that the public should demonstrate their appreciation for the armed forces currently fighting in Afghanistan and beyond.

He feels that people should not confuse “our courageous young troops” with issues about war and I have to say I agree with him.

It is easy to dismiss any war as wrong and have nothing else to back up the statement and I am one of the too few who believe that war is the wrong way to settle things. However, the fact that someone is prepared to defend their family, friends and country in a foreign even with all the sacrifices needed takes some doing.

I think we take less of an interest in people who have served in many battles and wars, particularly those who fought in World War I and II. We have a general lack of respect from youth towards the elderly, so is it safe to say that the same amount of respect will not be given, in the future, to those who return from the current conflicts in the Middle East?

Soldiers usually win the battles and generals get the credit for them.

Napoleon Bonaparte

I admire the bravery of any soldier who is prepared to be part of a battle where bombs, tanks and guns are at their most dangerous, where it’s about survival and where you’re hoping that your enemy as well as “friendly fire” won’t take your life.

War loses a great deal of its romance after a soldier has seen his first battle

John Singleton Mosby

We are brought up with war movies and toy soldiers to believe that war is where heroes are made and the bad guys get defeated and the good guys come home to smiling faces. What we have seen in more recent times have smartened us up in some ways and taken us far away from that age of innocence.

There have been many cases of post war syndrome with those who serve not being able to come with a return to a normal life. In fairness, how easy would it be for any of us to return to normality after seeing the things that soldiers would see?

My admiration will remain for soldiers who find themselves in battle, but will constantly lessen for those who send them there in the first place.

Monday, October 1st, 2007 and is filed under Thoughts & Questions, Views on News.