The heroism of the unfortunate
Some may consider what I have to say to be sacrilege, but I think it needs to be said.
This is the front of Sydney's Daily Telegraph today.
"Our fallen heroes to be honoured by grateful nation".
The hyperbolic headlines of Murdoch papers seem to be bordering on patronising the dead. They were just doing their jobs. Unfortunately in the process their work claimed their lives.
The Daily Telegraph has decided that those killed in Indonesia are heroes. How so?
They've helped many people affected by a natural disaster, yes.
They died in the service of their country.
They were unfortunate to end up on that fateful mission.
But, do these things make someone a hero? No one called them heroes before their deaths, so why are they now?
This sort of sensationalist crap just serves to trivialise the efforts of all of the Australian Defence Force personnel who haven't been killed in the service of their country. A sort of "you're not a hero unless you get killed, regardless of your efforts" idea.
Having said this I have the deepest respect for these people and hope that they will all rest in peace. My thoughts are with their families.
I welcome comments on this topic, whether you agree with me or not.
posted by Pricey @ 1:54 PM
5 Comments:
I disagree with you, I think anything that will make it easier for the families to deal with the fact they lost a love one is a good idea. I don't see the problem whatsoever.
Claudia
A lot of people aren't comfortable being labelled as a hero and many of these families may feel the same.
I can't see how families are going to feel better from seeing the dodgy efforts of journos who have never even met their loved ones, yet feel entitled to resort to hyperbole to describe their efforts.
My ex is the great grand-daughter of our Alec Campbell (the last Anzac) and has first hand experience of being harassed by such parasites. Their family didn't want Alec to be labelled a hero, they just wanted him to be respected, along with their privacy.
Having said all of that, I'm glad that you challenge my views on such topics. Thanks for visiting :)
Technically that headline is not hyperbolic ;-)
I see what you're saying, but what has this got to do with journalists?
It's an ARMY decision if the awards are given, why are you so negative about journalists? If I was writing the story I'd label them as brave too, they were on their way home and turned around to help others in need, that is brave and they deserve every bit of recognition they get.
I think the families would be happy that they are being recognised so it doesn't feel like they died in vain.
You're welcome by the way, you know I'm always up for a debate ;-)
Despite what that front page implies, they're not being given any awards for bravery or heroism. They will each be given a medal that is awarded to those who have served six years or more, or are killed/injured in service. They will also receive an award that will be given to all those who have participated in the tsunami relief effort, as detailed in the Sydney Morning Herald.
I think that the Daily Telegraph's sensationalist journalism devalues the contributions of the hundreds of thousands of Australians killed in WWI, WWII and other past wars.
Bravery is climbing out of a trench and going over the top into no man's land, even when the chance of successfully making it to the other side was minimal. It's not getting killed in a chopper crash. That's called being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I just think you're being unnecessarily harsh.
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