Illustrations of grace under fire are hard to come by, but here is one. Most vitally, his heroics on the battle field are medal worthy, but I also admire Salvatore Guinta’s stunning humility and grace as he receives the Medal of Honor. Staff Sgt. Guinta is only 25 (!) Watch and learn:
I hesitate to mention this in a post about a great American but contrast is sometimes a good teacher. The American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer has something to say about the Medal of Honor and as is true to form, it is not good. Fischer says that because Guinta saved lives and didn’t take them in combat, the Medal of Honor has become feminized. First, Guinta did kill an insurgent to free a fellow soldier (watch the clip). Second, why would anyone waste one word trying to diminish the honor of the award and Guinta’s bravery?
I spoofed Fischer in a prior post but I think now he may have become parody-proof.
I guess I am more or less obligated to make this comment, given a recent regrettable discussion here. First, no one who has been privileged to serve in our nation’s armed forces, in peacetime or time of war, can hear this young man’s words and not tear up. Yes, he represents the best of the best.
I have only met one living MOH recipient (and you should know military folks bristle at the word “winner” in combination with such an award. I embarrassingly made the mistake myself once). The man I met, a WWII vet, was at the Washington, D.C. premier of a 1980s television docudrama series, “Medal of Honor” (now sadly lost in some archive), co-written by my husband and Patrick Duncan (of “Mr. Holland’s Opus” fame). To be in his presence was awe-inspiring.
It is rumored that a Marine officer, now retired, may also be up for the MOH, by the way.
As to the obligatory part, I will just say that Bryan Fischer seems to be preoccupied with death in an unsavory way. Yes, he has gone over the edge. War is hell, but those who find “blood and guts” glory in the necessity of taking human life are probably few and far between, and certainly not welcomed in that viewpoint. The honor is in serving a cause greater than one’s self and other people. The Bible contains lots of war imagery, and tales of wars and prophesies of wars. One must be careful not to conflate their meaning.
I’d much prefer to see mentions of our young heroes — and there are many unsung ones today, living and deceased — standing on their own merits. As a member of the USMC Combat Correspondents Association, I get to mingle with some of these young men and women from time to time. I think it’s time to consign the Fischers of the world to the dustbin of history and focus on things much more worthy of our attention.
That’s all. Thanks for posting this.
Bryan Fischer should learn from Fred Phelps.
When Phelps was picketing funerals of gay people who had died of AIDS, he was considered classless… but many Christians thought he was right. Some churches denounced his message of hate, but such counter-protesters as existed were primarily from within the gay community.
When Phelps extended his “God Hates” campaign to gay-accepting churches, then mainline Christianity became involved. Churches stood up for each other.
But when the Phelps’ began picketing funerals of soldiers, the entire community responded. The biker community became the de facto protectors of the soldiers’ families.
This week the Phelps family showed up to picket a funeral in a small town and had their tires slashed. But the real story is that all the repair shops in town refused to fix their tires.
The Phelps’ crossed a line and are now universally reviled.
No one objected much to Fischer’s wacky over-the-top anti-gay nonsense. It was perhaps a bit outside the usual boundaries of anti-gay hyperbole, but it’s expected that AFA would be so.
But if Fischer wants to take on soldiers and heroes? He’d better be prepared to have the public reject him completely. And, unlike the Phelps Family, the AFA is funded by contributions.
Bryan Fischer should learn from Fred Phelps.
When Phelps was picketing funerals of gay people who had died of AIDS, he was considered classless… but many Christians thought he was right. Some churches denounced his message of hate, but such counter-protesters as existed were primarily from within the gay community.
When Phelps extended his “God Hates” campaign to gay-accepting churches, then mainline Christianity became involved. Churches stood up for each other.
But when the Phelps’ began picketing funerals of soldiers, the entire community responded. The biker community became the de facto protectors of the soldiers’ families.
This week the Phelps family showed up to picket a funeral in a small town and had their tires slashed. But the real story is that all the repair shops in town refused to fix their tires.
The Phelps’ crossed a line and are now universally reviled.
No one objected much to Fischer’s wacky over-the-top anti-gay nonsense. It was perhaps a bit outside the usual boundaries of anti-gay hyperbole, but it’s expected that AFA would be so.
But if Fischer wants to take on soldiers and heroes? He’d better be prepared to have the public reject him completely. And, unlike the Phelps Family, the AFA is funded by contributions.
I guess I am more or less obligated to make this comment, given a recent regrettable discussion here. First, no one who has been privileged to serve in our nation’s armed forces, in peacetime or time of war, can hear this young man’s words and not tear up. Yes, he represents the best of the best.
I have only met one living MOH recipient (and you should know military folks bristle at the word “winner” in combination with such an award. I embarrassingly made the mistake myself once). The man I met, a WWII vet, was at the Washington, D.C. premier of a 1980s television docudrama series, “Medal of Honor” (now sadly lost in some archive), co-written by my husband and Patrick Duncan (of “Mr. Holland’s Opus” fame). To be in his presence was awe-inspiring.
It is rumored that a Marine officer, now retired, may also be up for the MOH, by the way.
As to the obligatory part, I will just say that Bryan Fischer seems to be preoccupied with death in an unsavory way. Yes, he has gone over the edge. War is hell, but those who find “blood and guts” glory in the necessity of taking human life are probably few and far between, and certainly not welcomed in that viewpoint. The honor is in serving a cause greater than one’s self and other people. The Bible contains lots of war imagery, and tales of wars and prophesies of wars. One must be careful not to conflate their meaning.
I’d much prefer to see mentions of our young heroes — and there are many unsung ones today, living and deceased — standing on their own merits. As a member of the USMC Combat Correspondents Association, I get to mingle with some of these young men and women from time to time. I think it’s time to consign the Fischers of the world to the dustbin of history and focus on things much more worthy of our attention.
That’s all. Thanks for posting this.