For those of you who talk about having "Patriotism"

[Lasher]

Some people actually live it.

Tillman graduates from infantry training brigade

Tillman graduates from infantry training brigade

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By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com


Officials at Fort Benning (Ga.) confirmed that Pat Tillman graduated Friday from the United States Army infantry training brigade, moving the former Arizona Cardinals safety a step closer to his goal of becoming a member of the elite Ranger force.

A four-year NFL veteran, Tillman, 25, left the NFL this summer, rejecting a number of contract offers, to enlist in the Army. He and his younger brother, who enlisted with Tillman, have steadfastly declined an interview requests, including one by ESPN.com earlier this week.

Tillman served as the flagbearer for his unit, B Company of the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, during the Friday ceremonies.

"That is a privilege," said sergeant first class Ismael Godoy, the sernior drill sergeant for the 2nd Platoon. "For a soldier to be able to carry the colors for his platoon means that he leads and always leads from the front."

The ceremony concluded 14 weeks of training for Tillman, who friends say was deeply affected by the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Tillman and his brother will now continue their training at airborne school with the goal of becoming Rangers, members of the Army's elite light infantry unit.

Frank Bauer, the agent for Tillman, has reiterated that his client does not yet consider himself retired from the NFL, and that he still plans to return to the game in three years. The league confirmed that Tillman has not officially filed retirement papers.

Tillman was an unrestricted free agent this summer. He fielded several offers, including a three-year, $3.6 million proposal to return to the Cardinals.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

 

[jennaflower]

yep.. he will go far.... and will be a better human being than the NFL could have made him. Thanks for the story..

 

[patient1]

Interesting. Maybe all professional atheletes aren't self-absorbed.

 

[The Heretic]

Interesting. Maybe all professional atheletes aren't self-absorbed.

I don't know that all are self-absorbed, or even many - but I do know that there is an athelete that deserves to be admired for something other than quick reflexes and physical prowess. There is a person who seems to have something in his character that should be held up as an role model.

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

Elvis had a great Army career too.

 

[The Heretic]

Elvis had a great Army career too.

There were some differences:

1) Elvis was drafted - he didn't volunteer. He got a deferment so he could film a movie.

2) Elvis did not eschew the media circus that followed him around wherever he went while in the Army.

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

There were some differences:

1) Elvis was drafted - he didn't volunteer. He got a deferment so he could film a movie.

2) Elvis did not eschew the media circus that followed him around wherever he went while in the Army.

Valid points....

But a celebrity in the Army is just that.

 

[Guest]

 

[Monazwx]

Tillman, a guy who actually walks the walk.
Great story, Lasher.

 

[The Heretic]

Valid points....

But a celebrity in the Army is just that.

A celebrity is as a celebrity does. If he avoids publicity as it seems he is doing, then eventually he will cease to be a celebrity - at least for a while.

I have met and talked to a number of celebs and many just wish to be treated like any other person.

The point of the thread was that here is a person who had a very promising career that would make him a lot of money and fame, and because he felt he wanted to contribute more to his country, he gave that up, at least temporarily. That is deserving of admiration whether he is a celeb or not.

BTW, I had no idea who this guy was before this thread; I do not follow sports, and I especially do not keep track of sports celebs.

 

[Bob_Bytchin]

A celebrity is as a celebrity does. If he avoids publicity as it seems he is doing, then eventually he will cease to be a celebrity - at least for a while.

I have met and talked to a number of celebs and many just wish to be treated like any other person.

The point of the thread was that here is a person who had a very promising career that would make him a lot of money and fame, and because he felt he wanted to contribute more to his country, he gave that up, at least temporarily. That is deserving of admiration whether he is a celeb or not.

BTW, I had no idea who this guy was before this thread; I do not follow sports, and I especially do not keep track of sports celebs.

Don't get me wrong...I'm glad that he wants to show his patriotism.

I'm a vet myself, and my wife is currently active duty.

She busts her ass to get ahead in her career, and is ready to go to war if need be.

But, even though Tillman may be shunning the media, and even if he does have pure "patriotism" as his motive as it seems, the Army will still give him special treatment while the media is watching.

If I'm wrong, that will be really great news.

 

[70/30]

I nominate TeddyBear, JazzyJim, and Cheyenne for the Rangers. Not an objectionable attitude among the 3, undoubtedly that's enough to ensure victory.

 

[teddybear4play]

I nominate TeddyBear, JazzyJim, and Cheyenne for the Rangers. Not an objectionable attitude among the 3, undoubtedly that's enough to ensure victory.

I nominate you to sit on a Howitzer.

TB4p

 

[Coolville]

Tillman, that moron, was obviously relieved of billions of brain cells on the playing field.

I feel sorry for the schmuck.

 

[Sillyman]

Bully for him. I can personally respect his hard work and dedication, although part of me thinks he should stick to football and let people who weren't have so lucky in that field take their shots at the army.

 

[Weevil]

Question: if he had made that money and devoted it most of it to community programs with the intention of making America a better place, would he be less patriotic?

I think it is, in fact, a less patriotic thing to join the army then it is to do whatever is in your power to make your country a better place. For a guy who had access to the money that could have established school lunch programs or battered women shelters to join an overcrowded army seems, well, shortsighted.

Patriotism isn't all about flag wavin' folks.

 

[Morwen]

...

 

[Azwed]

Question: if he had made that money and devoted it most of it to community programs with the intention of making America a better place, would he be less patriotic?

I think it is, in fact, a less patriotic thing to join the army then it is to do whatever is in your power to make your country a better place. For a guy who had access to the money that could have established school lunch programs or battered women shelters to join an overcrowded army seems, well, shortsighted.

Patriotism isn't all about flag wavin' folks.

NOTE: It is late I dont' care about spelling.


I would say those are both acts of good will and community spiritness as well as patriotism. I could not say which one is more patriotid etc. then the other though.

Using that money to create programs like that would be a good thing but he is not really risking anything. Generaly patriotic acts involve some form of risk on the part of the patriot.

Joining the Army is definetly a risk and I would not call the Army overcrowded. The Army has the worst retention/reeinlistment rates of all the services. They always need new people because frankly the job sucks and the pay is lousy.

 

[SINthysist]

He is a Patriot.

I hope he goes far in life.

I wish him and all the men and women of our armed forces the best in these trying times...

 

[SINthysist]

But you get to wear a spiffy black beret...

 

[Azwed]

But you get to wear a spiffy black beret...

Everyone in the army does now.

Fucking bullshit i say.

 

[SINthysist]

"Question: if he had made that money and devoted it most of it to community programs with the intention of making America a better place, would he be less patriotic?

...

Patriotism isn't all about flag wavin' folks."



Yes, yes it would. A patriot is a defender in every sense of the word. Not an enabler. Intentions never equal deeds.

It's about having the character to fill people with pride when you wave the flag...

 

[Johnny Cool]

NOTE: It is late I dont' care about spelling.


I would say those are both acts of good will and community spiritness as well as patriotism. I could not say which one is more patriotid etc. then the other though.

Using that money to create programs like that would be a good thing but he is not really risking anything. Generaly patriotic acts involve some form of risk on the part of the patriot.

Joining the Army is definetly a risk and I would not call the Army overcrowded. The Army has the worst retention/reeinlistment rates of all the services. They always need new people because frankly the job sucks and the pay is lousy.

I disagree completely. Patriotism is about loving your country and wanting it to be the best place it can be. Risk isn't a neccessary part of it.

Over crowded was the wrong word. I meant something more along the lines of unneccessary.

I've been called a lot of things on Lit but Morwen is the first to call me a Jealous Queer. Well done babes.

 

[SINthysist]

Agreed.

I hated giving up my greens for cammies.

You felt more proud, upright in the greens, more like a Marine. The cammies made me feel like an army slouch ...



Hope school's going well for you.

 

[SINthysist]

...like I said, it's not risk, it's purpose...

I'll give you that one. Risk doesn't define it, but purpose of action does.

If you give all the money you've ever earned to making the world better place you are a Saint. The richer you are, the better loved you are.

If you give your blood [real/symbolic] for your country. You are a Patriot. The more you give, the more you are admired and looked up to. But you're no Saint...