Football star ambushed in Afghanistan
Pat Tillman: One man, one sacrifice. He chose duty over fame, now his death touches nation.
The death of Pat Tillman is a tragedy in every sense of the word, yet I find myself experiencing some very mixed feelings. From all accounts, he was a very special person doing what few of us would have done in the same situation. Yet in the final analysis what he did is no different from thousands of other soldiers in the US military- many of whom have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9.11. Tillman's death is but one among many, and any life cut short at such a young age is beyond sad. That Tillman was a football player of some renown only serves to magnify the sacrifice.
Tillman walked away from a $3.6 million dollar contract to join the Army Rangers and risk his neck for amount to NFL chump change. It's a career move that few of us would willingly make. Speaking for myself, I can tell you with absolute certainty that I would NEVER have walked away from that much money. I suppose that is part of why Pat Tillman was so very special to so many people.
I was going to make an argument that at least Tillman was fighting a war in a place where one needed to be fought, but for once I think I'll leave politics out of this. I think I'll just admire Tillman, and the hundreds of other Americans who have lost their lives in defense their country since 9.11. My condolences go out to Tillman's family and friends- and to those of the other soldiers who died more anonymously but no less valiantly.
To offer a little historical perspective, I offer Bob Kalsu, an offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills who was the only professional athlete to die in Vietnam. No, the death of an athlete is no more or less tragic than that of any other soldier, but sometimes it takes that to draw attention to the true cost of war.
War is a costly, brutal, bloody enterprise. People fight and die, and if they're fortunate they kill instead of being killed. There are no winners. Pat Tillman volunteered, as did the thousands of other Americans risking their lives. For that alone, these soldiers should have our enduring admiration- no matter which side of the political fence you happen to inhabit.
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