Great LTTE on Lt. Watada

[n2doc]

Jamieson misunderstands the concept of real heroism

Robert L. Jamieson Jr., writing about Lt. Ehren Watada, fundamentally misunderstands the concept of heroism, as well as the obligation of citizens to act in a manner consistent with national and international law and with the dictates of their conscience (Thursday).
There is a difference between engaging in heroic acts and being a hero. Most would agree that a soldier who has risked or sacrificed his or her life to defend fellow soldiers has shown heroic action. But whether that soldier is a hero depends on the cause for which the life is given. Certainly not many Americans would view soldiers who died for Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy or Imperial Japan as heroes.

Jamieson derides Watada as "shirking his duty" because Watada will not fight in a war that violates international law, has not been declared by Congress and is, in the eyes of a large majority of Americans, simply wrong.

Would Jamieson argue that National Guardsmen in the deep South during the 1950s and '60s had an obligation to obey orders to defend racial segregation and stop people from asserting their constitutional rights? Would he insist that any National Guardsman who refused to carry out orders to attack those seeking justice was "shirking his duty"? Are the courageous Israeli soldiers who have refused to take part in attacks on Palestinian civilians also "shirking their duty"?

Heroism is making sacrifice to defend what you believe is right. In this case, Watada is indeed acting heroically. That in no way detracts from the bravery of those who have lost their lives because of the illegal war against and occupation of Iraq.

Paul Bigman
Seattle

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/303005_ltrs9.html

Great points on Herosim vs. heroic action. The context means everything.