Comments on: Who are “war heroes”?

By: srivanamoth

srivanamoth — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 17:30:00 +0000

One person’s war hero could be another person’s nightmare as the case of SL well demonstrates. But when justice itself is in serious jeopardy all’s lost. The case of SL is a good case in point and it will remain an open sore debate!

By: Jayalath

Jayalath — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 21:59:00 +0000

In reply to Devanesan Nesiah. Before we come for a conclusion we must recognise who are the terrorists and who are the army . If you define the terrorists as combatants and say they should be recognised as heroes which is totally against the ordinary system . But if the north part of country was a separate country with own army ,then we can regard them as combatants who fight with Sri Lankan army . But it is not the case . Therefore ,it is not possible to recognise a group of terrorists and their companions as heroes . That is the system , but on moral grounds we all can remember or commemorate loved ones in a private manner or level who died in a battle . But I will not refuse your right to label terrorism as heroism . Because we live in a good governance today . However , the general opinion is Refraining from supporting terrorism verbally or materially . Which is the law . I hope you understand it first. Could you say ,yes to ISIS just because of what Israel is doing to Palestine in the Middle East .

By: Kumar1938

Kumar1938 — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 18:14:00 +0000

In reply to Devanesan Nesiah.

Kindly view this link: http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=33380
146,679 Vanni people missing within a year of war: Bishop of Mannaar

By: Devanesan Nesiah

Devanesan Nesiah — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 11:51:00 +0000

In reply to srivanamoth. I agree that it is necessary to go through a credible legal process that is acceptable locally and internationally in respect of allegations of war crimes.

By: Devanesan Nesiah

Devanesan Nesiah — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 11:46:00 +0000

A war hero need not have been an armed combatant. in fact combatants had opted to participate with knowledge of the possible consequences. non-combatants caught up in the war with options to exit but choosing to stay on and serve in civilian occupations so as to make it possible for other non-combatants to survive are surely displaying commendable heroism. Those from outside who enter the war zone are also displaying such heroism.

By: Devanesan Nesiah

Devanesan Nesiah — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 11:37:00 +0000

You are right that the middle east crisis is due to the absence of evenhanded response from the west from the time of the creation of Israel.

You echo one of the points of my entry, that our understanding of a war hero is biased in favour of the winning side. We particularly see this in the period since the war ended in May 2009.

By: Devanesan Nesiah

Devanesan Nesiah — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 11:29:00 +0000

In reply to Father S.J.Emmanuel. Thanks. I am happy that we are now in agreement on some matters.

By: Devanesan Nesiah

Devanesan Nesiah — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 11:28:00 +0000

In reply to Kumar1938. I agree, except that I am not sure of the statistics.

By: Devanesan Nesiah

Devanesan Nesiah — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 11:26:00 +0000

In reply to Kailas Pillai. Kailas Pillai, You are right. Happily, those who ochestrated July 1983 are now dead and gone.

By: Devanesan Nesiah

Devanesan Nesiah — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 11:21:00 +0000

In reply to Jayalath.

Jayalath,

I never said
that we should not commemorate war heroes. We need to do that. I was only
questioning the prevailing notions of who our war heroes are. As for Hitler he
was a war criminal.