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The Spectacle Blog
On Sunday, MSNBC host Chris Hayes put his foot in it in the worst possible way. Speaking in the context of Memorial Day, Hayes said he is “uncomfortable about the word ‘hero’ because it seems so rhetorically proximate to justifications for more war.”
To be fair, he did say that he understands there is such a thing as true heroism, but also that we “marshal this word in a way that is problematic.”
What planet does Hayes live on? Planet Nimrod, clearly. Beyond the obvious question of who would think like that, one has to wonder who would speak like that? Nobody who is in touch with real life on Planet Earth.
The liberal intelligentsia is so reflexively anti-war that they are, despite their not-so-brave words to the contrary, also anti-military, which is to say anti-individual military members even if they will not admit it.
Hayes is the elitist version of the Vietnam War protestor spitting on a returning soldier.
John McWhorter of the NY Daily News was equally out of touch and equally deserving of scorn and ridicule: “Sometimes you need to revise. I would almost rather not say ‘hero’ and come up with a more neutral term which of course would take on partisan resonances as time went by…it is manipulative, I don’t think necessarily deliberately.”
In other words, for that New York leftist elitist, the word ‘hero’, along with ‘sacrifice’ and “valor’, is part of some grand conservative “argumentational strategy,” as if anyone knows what that means.
Hayes, McWhorter, and other guests on Hayes’ Sunday show are living proof that liberals must try so hard to make themselves sound smart because their actual thoughts are so stupid.
Another liberal went on to say that the word ‘hero’ is meant to ‘drape war in a righteous way.” Just goes to show that there are both males and females of the Nimrod species.
Ann Coulter, on Twitter, capsulized the reaction of many: “Chris Hayes ‘Uncomfortable’ Calling Fallen Military ‘Heroes’ – Marines respond by protecting his right to menstruate.”
Not surprisingly, Hayes followed this discussion with an interview of a woman whose son committed suicide after serving just over a year in Iraq, and who blames the Army for his death. (I’m not saying that this poor mother is wrong, just that it was an utterly inappropriate segment on the day before Memorial Day.)
If you can tolerate listening to effete liberals who understand nothing about the real America or real Americans, you can watch this, starting at about 6 1/2 minutes into the video. You will find it almost incomprehensible that MSNBC was able to find in one town on one day so many people with such fanatically anti-military views. But that’s Manhattan for you.
At least Hayes had the courage to offer a sincere-sounding apology, though I’m certainly not alone with my suspicion that he truly believes everything he said, and everything his co-religionists in the cult of anti-Americanism said alongside him to besmirch our soldiers — living, dead, and fallen — on this Memorial Day weekend.
Our soldiers take an oath to defend America against enemies foreign and domestic. Clearly, domestic enemies are in MSNBC studios, though I don’t suggest they be punished or harmed. They have every right to be idiots, though one would prefer that they at least recognize who is risking life and limb to protect that right. While I understand the temptation to waterboard Chris Hayes, the right answer is to understand that he represents today’s Democratic Party. The proper punishment for Mr. Hayes and his ilk is to make sure their TV ratings are as low as possible (which may already be the case when it comes to Mr. Hayes’ show) and to vote against Democratic candidates, other than those who (unlike John Kerry) have served with honor, at every opportunity.
View all comments (21) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Ross Kaminsky
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/05/29/at-least-he-apologized
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Albert Constantine Jr.| 5.29.12 @ 9:34AM
For those on the left like Chris Hayes (I hesitate to use the title Mister, as it infers masculine characteristics that he has not yet displayed), it is difficult to understand that while it is accurate to associate acts of gallantry and valor with the term “hero”, it is not limited to this.
We honor those who give their lives in the service of our nation because they showed up to serve, and during the course of their appearance they gave the ultimate sacrifice. The individual circumstance of their passing is not factored into the hero label, that their lives were lost in the service of us is why we remember.
It does not matter if a soldier is run down by a convoy, a sailor falls overboard and drowns, an airman is killed by a helicopter crash or a Marine is killed by a roadside bomb. The heroism of those who died in the course of valorous acts is not diminished by calling those who “merely” died heroes. We continue to celebrate gallantry of individuals both live and posthumously, but the sacrifice of all lives on our behalf also qualifies for our remembrance, and it is for such that we celebrate Memorial Day.
Honor, valor, sacrifice and the service of others with what you have to give (as opposed to redistribute from others) is foreign to the like of Chris Hayes and his ilk, so it is not surprising that he has difficulty understanding this.
TexasMom2012| 5.29.12 @ 10:17AM
Amen. I have a father who served in the Navy. He has never considered himself a vet because he was not involved (enlisted in '54) during a active war. He reserved the vet status for active duty and honors them weekly by visiting with vets in a VA facility. I am very glad that Mom and Dad do not have cable!
Padraig Willoughby| 5.29.12 @ 10:05AM
Yes, Mr. Hayes stepped over a line.
However, if conservatives wish to rail against leftist- inspired politically incorrect speech, one should be equally mindful of rightist-inspired politically-incorrect speech, including any criticism of the Defense Department, Homeland Security and "first responders", who are now untouchable and beyond criticism or reproach in a paranoid, militaristic America.
TexasMom2012| 5.29.12 @ 10:24AM
I curse the TSA every time I travel via air. I get the intrusive pat down EVERY time I fly. Not because I look suspicious, slightly overweight blond blue-eyed handicapped mom of two... No, because I have a knee replacement and an ankle fusion. Every time! What a colossal waste of resources. Homeland Security didn't even catch the underwear bomber, he and every other dimwit that has been captured, literally caught themselves after HS failed to stop their ability to fly. Even when the underwear guys dad warned the US about his son, HS still did not manage to stop his ability to fly. He apparently did not have to be mauled by TSA agents. WTH!
Marie commenting| 5.29.12 @ 10:06AM
Well Spoken!!
Thank you
Eric Dondero | 5.29.12 @ 10:15AM
As bad as this was, there was something far more worse on Memorial Day. Left-libertarian activist Justin Raimondo posted an article "Abolish Memorial Day," in which he attacked our soldiers as "mass murderers." Sadly, no coverage at AS or even other conservative media of Raimondo, and his hate-spewing towards the military. You see Raimondo is a Ron Paul supporter. And it's politically incorrect in conservative circles to attack the Paulists. Especially for publications that have Paulists on their banner - cough, cough, James Antle, ahem, ahem.
Occam's Tool| 5.29.12 @ 11:02AM
My Dear Eric,
I liked a lot of Paul's domestic suggestions, except legalization of drugs. However, and as a Doctor he should have had this rammed home into him, treatment of disease does not improve by waiting until the infection/other pathology has gone system wide. This applies to foreign affairs as well. As for Raimondo, I think my view of him is actually harsher than yours.
Thank you for your service to your country, Eric. Let me know when you are running for something so I can jiggle the cash register for you.
As for this foolish man's comments---I looked at Murray's book (it's on Kindle and is one of my many projects to get through) about the "bubble" people like him live in. I, myself, find that you don't have any chance of knowing the real America unless you shop at Walmart. A lot of these Manhattan nose bleeders would not be caught dead in a Walmart, and I notice a lot of people I know in my local area also avoid shopping there, out of a false sense of "prestige."
I find it amusing, myself. I make $350K/yearly in a rural area, and have about $60 K I squirrel away for retirement each year. One reason I can do that is that I shop at Walmart and Amazon.com almost exclusively, and live in a rural area where I can show up in Dickies. The number of military family cars to be seen in a Walmart parking lot is huge.
These people in Manhattan know nothing of "the great overflight's" lives, opinions, shopping habits, reading habits, etc. They know no military families, farmers, etc. It is disgusting and futile to communicate with them, as well.
They also don't realize that we live much more civilized lives OUTSIDE the megalopoli. For example, my children can take their bikes around the mile circle around our neighborhood with no fear at all. My sister doesn't let her kids go farther than a little bit away from her house (she lives in the Chicago suburbs), and certainly won't let them ride bikes around the block. Who, in this case, is living the more civilized lifestyle? (Forget the fact that my bookshelf has the same types of books theirs do, my CD collection is just as varied, my traffic is non-problematic, and my neighborhood is quiet enough to hear a pin drop at night.)
W. James Antle III | 5.29.12 @ 12:29PM
We've never published criticism of Ron Paul? What color is the sky in your world, Eric?
Red Phillips | 5.29.12 @ 1:06PM
Dondero is the guy who thinks Texas is going to be invaded by rampaging Islamomeanies who are going to make his girlfriend wear a burqa unless we bomb far off Muslim countries. Let's just say his reality testing is impaired.
Occam's Tool| 5.29.12 @ 2:03PM
Red: have you ever been to Galveston and noted the number of Russian flagged ships in port? Ever?
I was reading about the youngest Marine ever to win the MOH, Jack Lucas. At AGE 14, he possessed brass ones larger than ANY of the commentators on this site. By AGE 17, he was back in High School, finishing up as per his promise to his mama, with the MOH around his neck, for falling on a grenade and saving his comrades' lives.
Yeah, we've had lots of heros. We don't commemorate them is the problem. The WWII generation knew who Audie Murphy was.
By the way, Red, WHEN the WMD goes off on American soil, please volunteer for the cleanup, OK?
Red Phillips | 5.29.12 @ 4:55PM
I've been to Galveston but never noted the Russian flagged ships. I was a little kid at the time, so I guess I can be forgiven.
I assume you are implying that a nuke or other WMD could be placed in a cargo vessel. How bombing far off Muslim nation states is supposed to decrease the risk of that, I don't know. But I've never understood the magical thinking of the interventionist crowd.
As for volunteering for cleanup, if it were a biological weapon I probably would since I got my second Small Pox inoculation and some special training when I was in the military. Didn't you also? Oh wait. That's right. You weren't in the military. Too busy keyboard warrioring and sending others off to die I guess.
TexasMom2012| 5.29.12 @ 10:29AM
Truly embarrassed that Paul is from Texas, sigh. He may have many good ideas but his looniness on foreign policy and the military are a complete disqualifier for me. I simply cannot listen to his good ideas because basically he is a NUT on many other issues. And the Paulbots hang out on many websites promoting their hero and proclaiming they won't vote for anyone else. Fine, then they should take their ball(vote) and go home (leaving the rest of the adults).
Paulbot attack in 3...2...1...
Red Phillips | 5.29.12 @ 4:56PM
Why do you support globalist interventionism? Are you a globalist? I would think that a patriotic red-blooded Texan should support an America First foreign policy. I expect Davos Man Kaminsky to support a globalist foreign policy. He's a globalist. But globalism doesn't suit someone who calls herself TexasMom.
Buck Bradley| 5.29.12 @ 11:11AM
I have some thoughts on this but unlike Hayes, I'm smart enough to keep them to myself. God bless all of our men in women who served, past or present!
Buck Bradley| 5.29.12 @ 11:11AM
"men in women." "Paging Doctor Freud, paging doctor Freud!"
solidground| 5.29.12 @ 11:21AM
An apology? No, only a sign that Hayes can't take the heat. He knew what he was saying, meant what he said, and no doubt still fervently believes it.
I'm always conflicted with these kinds of situations in which belly-aching, out-of-touch, mentally deranged liberals spout nonsense. It makes my bile rise, but on the other hand, acknowledging their stupidity seems simply to encourage more of it. Best to ignore them, as difficult as that can be.
George| 5.29.12 @ 12:41PM
Why does the new media even bother acknowledging these old media, socialist, democrat hacks? If we ignore them, they will go away because the vast majority of viewers don't watch them anyway. By acknowledging them, even negatively, it gives them some relevance. They're dying, just let them go.
All American American| 5.29.12 @ 1:52PM
I think what this dude did so clumsily was say what some of us have the cajones to say: that is in today's America everyone who's ever worn a uniform---from Cub Scouts to Green Berets and everyone in between---is a "hero." When everyone's a "hero," nobody is.
Its like giving trophies out to all the little leaguers, even the sucky ones. The same principle applies here.
I served 21 years in communications. Was I a "hero" when I kept the mainframes running (yes we still used mainframes in the not-too-distant past)? If I was, well what do we call the Marine Force Recon guy who actually saw combat, killed bad guys and saved lives?
The word "hero" should be jealously guarded and only used sparingly for folks who truly, TRULY deserve to be called one.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 5.29.12 @ 9:37PM
At the risk of excess repetition for the sake of clarification, I think our nation should be grateful for all who serve in uniform peace and war, who live up to their oath to support and defend us (the Constitution) against all enemies, foreign and domestic, as per that oath, they can be called upon to give their lives. Their service becomes what I consider “heroic” when in the course of that service, they do give their lives, and they are deserving of our remembrance as well as our gratitude. I also consider those who serve with valor and gallantry to be heroes, whether they survive their service or not.
I consider those who were killed in the rehearsal for D-Day as our nation’s heroes, just as I consider those whose landing craft was sunk with all hands en route to Omaha Beach, or whose gliders crashed without them ever getting a chance to fire a shot. Had you died in a fire while running the main frame, or if you were struck by lightning on the ant farm while erecting a 292 in the service of our nation, I would consider your service heroic, too.
Having survived to collect (presumably) a 52.5 of basic pay pension, a grateful nation thanks you for your service monthly. Please allow me to thank you as well, for if you kept the main frame running, it probably meant that I got my LES on time, along with orders, pay, allowances or any of the other data driven documents that a large bureaucracy such as the Corps and other elements of our defense establishment consider as their life blood. It doesn’t make you a hero in my book, unless you sacrificed your life while doing it, or (for example) exposed yourself to imminent danger while saving mine. I still believe it makes you worthy of respect for volunteering.
Ken (Old Texican)| 5.29.12 @ 6:13PM
All American,
thank you for your service...and your modesty. You wrote off a lot of money to serve us.
rrtter| 5.29.12 @ 11:58PM
ch as the Corps and other elements of our defense establishment consider as their life blood. It http://www.lunettesporto.com/l.....c-3_4.html doesn’t make you a hero in my book, unless you sacrificed your life while doing it, or (for example) exposed yourself to imminent danger while saving mine. I still believe it makes you worthy of respect for volunteerin