I haven't made up my mind as to whether I love or hate this song. As a soldier in the United States Army, I have mixed feelings.
Members of the armed forces have joined on a volunteer basis. Obviously, they each have their own individual reasons, but I'm sure each and every one has a sense of pride for their country and the belief that they are doing something noble by enlisting.
However, I believe this song perfectly exemplifies how easy it is to change from a hero to a criminal. We are in the field, where absolutely nothing is certain. I believe being in the armed forced is quite possibly one of the most difficult jobs, because you never know what is coming the next second. Driving in a convoy, the car ahead with bystanders next to it could be people waving and thanking you, or waiting with a bomb in the trunk.
The first situation with the prisoner shows how a hero can become a criminal. There are rules of war, and when violated, you are most certainly in the wrong. This chorus angered me, because I know there are ignorant people in this country who will read it and immediately stereotype every soldier. Yes, this has happened, and it is an ugly scar the army must live with, but it does not mean the rest of the soldiers must sacrifice their innocence, heroism, and pride because of it.
As for the second situation with the woman being shot, I feel this shows by so many soldiers return from tours of duty needing counseling. The woman was running towards him ignoring commands, what else is he to do? She could have had a bomb strapped to her chest. In war, it is split second decisions. Him or her. He has a job to do. She ignored his command. He immediately becomes worried and scared for his own life.
Only after does he realize the error in that the woman was not an enemy, but someone wanting peace. Certainly a mistake...but a mistake MUCH harder to avoid than the first.
bradley906 i completly aggree with u. i love this song and its my favorite by Rise Against. Its a very powerful song. I'm just a teenager but what u said about "split second decisions" is very true and u r rite.
bradley906 i completly aggree with u. i love this song and its my favorite by Rise Against. Its a very powerful song. I'm just a teenager but what u said about "split second decisions" is very true and u r rite.
First thank you for joining the armed forces, I have a younger brother that is a marine and is getting ready to go to boot camp in the fall. I also have other family that have been in different branches of the military and good friends that are currently in the military. And i agree with everything you said, the song is about taking pride in your country and in times of war terrible things happen some are avoidable while others are things that no one can expect or see coming. This song is great cause it shows how a...
First thank you for joining the armed forces, I have a younger brother that is a marine and is getting ready to go to boot camp in the fall. I also have other family that have been in different branches of the military and good friends that are currently in the military. And i agree with everything you said, the song is about taking pride in your country and in times of war terrible things happen some are avoidable while others are things that no one can expect or see coming. This song is great cause it shows how a person can believe in being a soldier and fighting for their country, but still have problems with what they have to do while they are at war. Again thank you for protecting our country and everything that you do for us. The men and women in the armed forces are not recongnized enough for what they have to do every single day. May you come home safetly.
Like assassination44, I am also a teenager. I have mixed feelings about the current wars. However, I do respect the soldiers and all that they do. I just wanted to think you for helping me put into words what I was unable to.
Like assassination44, I am also a teenager. I have mixed feelings about the current wars. However, I do respect the soldiers and all that they do. I just wanted to think you for helping me put into words what I was unable to.
I think that this song is about taking pride in your country, but when everyone does so in war you lose sight of the goal of peace. Sometimes in war immoral acts are committed and then it can be hard to tell who is and isn't a "hero of war".
I think that this song is about taking pride in your country, but when everyone does so in war you lose sight of the goal of peace. Sometimes in war immoral acts are committed and then it can be hard to tell who is and isn't a "hero of war".
I would just like to analyze one brilliant line at the end where it says "It's the only flag I trust". I think that what is trying to be said is that sometimes pride for your country becomes too great to trust other nations.
I agree, i am a young canadian, and i have a brother and two cousins who joined our reserves, so this song has alot of meaning to me. This amazing song, in my opinion, isn't just for one country or one soilder though, it's for the universal soilder, for every man or woman who has ever fought and or died for thier country,
I agree, i am a young canadian, and i have a brother and two cousins who joined our reserves, so this song has alot of meaning to me. This amazing song, in my opinion, isn't just for one country or one soilder though, it's for the universal soilder, for every man or woman who has ever fought and or died for thier country,
it's a very well writen haunting song.
it's a very well writen haunting song.
"And I brought home that flag
Now it gathers dust
But it�s a flag that I love
It�s the only flag I trust"
i think means that the flag (the one the woman had) represents a soilder's hope for peace after what they had to do and what they had seen, and the dust gathering is representing how no one is trying for peace. i have listened to this song over and over at least 15 times in a row and each time it's just as haunting as the first time i listened to it.
there are no heroes in war, because what makes you a hero in one person's eyes, makes you a monster in another's.
Thank you for posting this. I, myself am a fourteen year old girl.
When I first heard this song - I cried. I'll admit it. And hearing it come from a soldier their self, I thank you, because I had mixed feelings. I mean, I loved the song, but the meaning and how fast someone can change to hero to criminal.. that got me confused. I know that in the war, things change in a split second. My mother's ex husband is in the war, and I worry about him like crazy, still.
But back to my point, I just want to...
Thank you for posting this. I, myself am a fourteen year old girl.
When I first heard this song - I cried. I'll admit it. And hearing it come from a soldier their self, I thank you, because I had mixed feelings. I mean, I loved the song, but the meaning and how fast someone can change to hero to criminal.. that got me confused. I know that in the war, things change in a split second. My mother's ex husband is in the war, and I worry about him like crazy, still.
But back to my point, I just want to thank you for posting this because you gave us a soldier's point of view on this amazing song, and I think a lot of us needed that.
-BrookeNichole
I won`t quesion that its the hardest job in the world to be a soldier. But you guys didnt questioned what they are actually fighting for. I mean NATO is fighting Taliban and Al Quaida in Afgahnistan and in Mali but sends them wapons in Syria and also gave them weapons back in the 80s. You all say you fight for your country, but in fact you dont fight for the people, you fight for the interests of your Governement. The sad fact is they dont give a fuck if you die. If you die you were worth five barrels...
I won`t quesion that its the hardest job in the world to be a soldier. But you guys didnt questioned what they are actually fighting for. I mean NATO is fighting Taliban and Al Quaida in Afgahnistan and in Mali but sends them wapons in Syria and also gave them weapons back in the 80s. You all say you fight for your country, but in fact you dont fight for the people, you fight for the interests of your Governement. The sad fact is they dont give a fuck if you die. If you die you were worth five barrels of oil. Gongratuliations.
I wouldn't believe it to criticize the troops, since my brother was one and he adored this song, but I think it shows the true nature of a soldier. Most people believe joining the ranks means killing the bad guys, from what my brother said, you do a lot darker.
I wouldn't believe it to criticize the troops, since my brother was one and he adored this song, but I think it shows the true nature of a soldier. Most people believe joining the ranks means killing the bad guys, from what my brother said, you do a lot darker.
Zjensen09 War can be a very complicated thing it's true. But don't claim to know everything about it because you can't. There's times when the government makes the wrong decisions yes. But you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. We help and get criticized, or we sit back and watch it all we get criticized for not doing something. Can't please them all no matter how hard you try. Making those decisions is not something I would want to do everyday.
Zjensen09 War can be a very complicated thing it's true. But don't claim to know everything about it because you can't. There's times when the government makes the wrong decisions yes. But you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. We help and get criticized, or we sit back and watch it all we get criticized for not doing something. Can't please them all no matter how hard you try. Making those decisions is not something I would want to do everyday.
@bradley906 i completely agree with you. i am also a fourteen year old, but when you wrote the post, i was only 7 years old. The whole meaning behind Rise Against is all about how corrupt the American Government is, and how they don't care if you die or live. I am not trying to be offensive, but this is what i believe, and i have read many other comments that say the same thing as me. If you don't believe me, listen to, Survivor Guilt or Kotov Syndrome. Those two songs send an extremely strong message to me about...
@bradley906 i completely agree with you. i am also a fourteen year old, but when you wrote the post, i was only 7 years old. The whole meaning behind Rise Against is all about how corrupt the American Government is, and how they don't care if you die or live. I am not trying to be offensive, but this is what i believe, and i have read many other comments that say the same thing as me. If you don't believe me, listen to, Survivor Guilt or Kotov Syndrome. Those two songs send an extremely strong message to me about how the American Government is stubborn, and selfish. People only get into Government, for money and fame.
May God have mercy on you, Soldier, and may you come home safely and healthy...
I haven't made up my mind as to whether I love or hate this song. As a soldier in the United States Army, I have mixed feelings.
Members of the armed forces have joined on a volunteer basis. Obviously, they each have their own individual reasons, but I'm sure each and every one has a sense of pride for their country and the belief that they are doing something noble by enlisting.
However, I believe this song perfectly exemplifies how easy it is to change from a hero to a criminal. We are in the field, where absolutely nothing is certain. I believe being in the armed forced is quite possibly one of the most difficult jobs, because you never know what is coming the next second. Driving in a convoy, the car ahead with bystanders next to it could be people waving and thanking you, or waiting with a bomb in the trunk.
The first situation with the prisoner shows how a hero can become a criminal. There are rules of war, and when violated, you are most certainly in the wrong. This chorus angered me, because I know there are ignorant people in this country who will read it and immediately stereotype every soldier. Yes, this has happened, and it is an ugly scar the army must live with, but it does not mean the rest of the soldiers must sacrifice their innocence, heroism, and pride because of it.
As for the second situation with the woman being shot, I feel this shows by so many soldiers return from tours of duty needing counseling. The woman was running towards him ignoring commands, what else is he to do? She could have had a bomb strapped to her chest. In war, it is split second decisions. Him or her. He has a job to do. She ignored his command. He immediately becomes worried and scared for his own life. Only after does he realize the error in that the woman was not an enemy, but someone wanting peace. Certainly a mistake...but a mistake MUCH harder to avoid than the first.
God Bless.
bradley906 i completly aggree with u. i love this song and its my favorite by Rise Against. Its a very powerful song. I'm just a teenager but what u said about "split second decisions" is very true and u r rite.
bradley906 i completly aggree with u. i love this song and its my favorite by Rise Against. Its a very powerful song. I'm just a teenager but what u said about "split second decisions" is very true and u r rite.
First thank you for joining the armed forces, I have a younger brother that is a marine and is getting ready to go to boot camp in the fall. I also have other family that have been in different branches of the military and good friends that are currently in the military. And i agree with everything you said, the song is about taking pride in your country and in times of war terrible things happen some are avoidable while others are things that no one can expect or see coming. This song is great cause it shows how a...
First thank you for joining the armed forces, I have a younger brother that is a marine and is getting ready to go to boot camp in the fall. I also have other family that have been in different branches of the military and good friends that are currently in the military. And i agree with everything you said, the song is about taking pride in your country and in times of war terrible things happen some are avoidable while others are things that no one can expect or see coming. This song is great cause it shows how a person can believe in being a soldier and fighting for their country, but still have problems with what they have to do while they are at war. Again thank you for protecting our country and everything that you do for us. The men and women in the armed forces are not recongnized enough for what they have to do every single day. May you come home safetly.
Like assassination44, I am also a teenager. I have mixed feelings about the current wars. However, I do respect the soldiers and all that they do. I just wanted to think you for helping me put into words what I was unable to.
Like assassination44, I am also a teenager. I have mixed feelings about the current wars. However, I do respect the soldiers and all that they do. I just wanted to think you for helping me put into words what I was unable to.
I think that this song is about taking pride in your country, but when everyone does so in war you lose sight of the goal of peace. Sometimes in war immoral acts are committed and then it can be hard to tell who is and isn't a "hero of war".
I think that this song is about taking pride in your country, but when everyone does so in war you lose sight of the goal of peace. Sometimes in war immoral acts are committed and then it can be hard to tell who is and isn't a "hero of war".
I would just like to analyze one brilliant line at the end where it says "It's the only flag I trust". I think that what is trying to be said is that sometimes pride for your country becomes too great to trust other nations.
I agree, i am a young canadian, and i have a brother and two cousins who joined our reserves, so this song has alot of meaning to me. This amazing song, in my opinion, isn't just for one country or one soilder though, it's for the universal soilder, for every man or woman who has ever fought and or died for thier country,
I agree, i am a young canadian, and i have a brother and two cousins who joined our reserves, so this song has alot of meaning to me. This amazing song, in my opinion, isn't just for one country or one soilder though, it's for the universal soilder, for every man or woman who has ever fought and or died for thier country,
it's a very well writen haunting song.
it's a very well writen haunting song.
"And I brought home that flag Now it gathers dust But it�s a flag that I love It�s the only flag I trust" i think means that the flag (the one the woman had) represents a soilder's hope for peace after what they had to do and what they had seen, and the dust gathering is representing how no one is trying for peace. i have listened to this song over and over at least 15 times in a row and each time it's just as haunting as the first time i listened to it.
there are no heroes in war, because what makes you a hero in one person's eyes, makes you a monster in another's.
Thank you for posting this. I, myself am a fourteen year old girl. When I first heard this song - I cried. I'll admit it. And hearing it come from a soldier their self, I thank you, because I had mixed feelings. I mean, I loved the song, but the meaning and how fast someone can change to hero to criminal.. that got me confused. I know that in the war, things change in a split second. My mother's ex husband is in the war, and I worry about him like crazy, still. But back to my point, I just want to...
Thank you for posting this. I, myself am a fourteen year old girl. When I first heard this song - I cried. I'll admit it. And hearing it come from a soldier their self, I thank you, because I had mixed feelings. I mean, I loved the song, but the meaning and how fast someone can change to hero to criminal.. that got me confused. I know that in the war, things change in a split second. My mother's ex husband is in the war, and I worry about him like crazy, still. But back to my point, I just want to thank you for posting this because you gave us a soldier's point of view on this amazing song, and I think a lot of us needed that. -BrookeNichole
I'm not in the military, but I agree with you.
I'm not in the military, but I agree with you.
I won`t quesion that its the hardest job in the world to be a soldier. But you guys didnt questioned what they are actually fighting for. I mean NATO is fighting Taliban and Al Quaida in Afgahnistan and in Mali but sends them wapons in Syria and also gave them weapons back in the 80s. You all say you fight for your country, but in fact you dont fight for the people, you fight for the interests of your Governement. The sad fact is they dont give a fuck if you die. If you die you were worth five barrels...
I won`t quesion that its the hardest job in the world to be a soldier. But you guys didnt questioned what they are actually fighting for. I mean NATO is fighting Taliban and Al Quaida in Afgahnistan and in Mali but sends them wapons in Syria and also gave them weapons back in the 80s. You all say you fight for your country, but in fact you dont fight for the people, you fight for the interests of your Governement. The sad fact is they dont give a fuck if you die. If you die you were worth five barrels of oil. Gongratuliations.
I wouldn't believe it to criticize the troops, since my brother was one and he adored this song, but I think it shows the true nature of a soldier. Most people believe joining the ranks means killing the bad guys, from what my brother said, you do a lot darker.
I wouldn't believe it to criticize the troops, since my brother was one and he adored this song, but I think it shows the true nature of a soldier. Most people believe joining the ranks means killing the bad guys, from what my brother said, you do a lot darker.
Zjensen09 War can be a very complicated thing it's true. But don't claim to know everything about it because you can't. There's times when the government makes the wrong decisions yes. But you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. We help and get criticized, or we sit back and watch it all we get criticized for not doing something. Can't please them all no matter how hard you try. Making those decisions is not something I would want to do everyday.
Zjensen09 War can be a very complicated thing it's true. But don't claim to know everything about it because you can't. There's times when the government makes the wrong decisions yes. But you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. We help and get criticized, or we sit back and watch it all we get criticized for not doing something. Can't please them all no matter how hard you try. Making those decisions is not something I would want to do everyday.
@bradley906 i completely agree with you. i am also a fourteen year old, but when you wrote the post, i was only 7 years old. The whole meaning behind Rise Against is all about how corrupt the American Government is, and how they don't care if you die or live. I am not trying to be offensive, but this is what i believe, and i have read many other comments that say the same thing as me. If you don't believe me, listen to, Survivor Guilt or Kotov Syndrome. Those two songs send an extremely strong message to me about...
@bradley906 i completely agree with you. i am also a fourteen year old, but when you wrote the post, i was only 7 years old. The whole meaning behind Rise Against is all about how corrupt the American Government is, and how they don't care if you die or live. I am not trying to be offensive, but this is what i believe, and i have read many other comments that say the same thing as me. If you don't believe me, listen to, Survivor Guilt or Kotov Syndrome. Those two songs send an extremely strong message to me about how the American Government is stubborn, and selfish. People only get into Government, for money and fame.
May God have mercy on you, Soldier, and may you come home safely and healthy...