"A Soldier Who Got Tired Of Reading That Caitlyn Jenner Isn’t A Hero Wrote An Amazing Response"

RallyPoint Shared Content — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 09:16:27 -0400

From: Buzzfeed
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Last month, ESPN announced it would honor Caitlyn Jenner at the ESPYs with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Jenner accepted the award at Wednesday’s ceremony with a moving speech about transgender issues.

But ESPN’s decision to honor Jenner was criticized online soon after it was announced, partly due to a viral meme — which BuzzFeed News and others debunked — that said Iraq war veteran and amputee Noah Galloway was the “runner-up” for the prize.

One of the people frequently cited as “more deserving” was Lauren Hill, a college basketball player who died of cancer earlier this year.

But many of the people cited were members of the U.S. military. Including American Sniper’s Chris Kyle.

The social media chatter continued after ESPN’s announcement up until the ceremony this week.

But a U.S. Army soldier named Joey Vicente decided he had had enough of the negativity.

The 23-year-old, who serves as a behavioral health specialist in the Army, wrote on Facebook that Jenner is a hero, and those who don’t think so don’t get a say on the matter.

“Your definition of what or who a hero can or cannot be is irrelevant,” he wrote. “What if I told you that her speech last night saved even one human being from attempting to take their life. I’d call that a victory on any scale.”
Vicente said he posted to Facebook because he wants people to realize they need to be more respectful on social media.

“Bigotry in any form is unacceptable and I guess I was just fed up with seeing people’s offensive remarks about a person they know nothing about,” he told BuzzFeed News.
Although Vicente only shared his post with his friends, it began to make waves in his social circle due to his fresh take.

Vicente agreed to share his thoughts with BuzzFeed News, saying, “I posted what I posted because it’s what I feel.” He added, “I joined the service and picked my job because I love helping people. I love positivity and I love my country.”

http://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemcneal/a-soldier-had-the-best-response-to-those-who-thought-caitlyn#.kdmqvb0zR

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 9:22 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 09:22:53 -0400

In life everyone faces things that no one else knows or understands. Some things that mean nothing to you may mean everything to someone else.

We should not judge others because although we think we know we do not know what burdens they are bearing.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 9:32 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 09:32:19 -0400

"What if I told you that her speech last night saved even one human being from attempting to take their life. I’d call that a victory on any scale.” this quote

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 2:09 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 14:09:59 -0400

To some of you that think there's only one dynamic of a hero, such as combat action, need to take in reality of the world that surrounds us. I happen to think Einstein was a hero too. A hero is not just a person who gets blown up in combat but someone who makes a positive contribution to society. A hero also doesn't complain about other heroes while justifying their actions as being better than the other persons.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 2:19 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 14:19:08 -0400

How the hell is it "bigotry" to say that a sex-change is not heroic? And where the hell does this dude get off trying to silence those who disagree with him saying "those who don't think [he is a hero] don't get a say on the matter?"

Response by 1SG Adais Garcia made Jul 18 at 2015 2:34 PM

1SG Adais Garcia — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 14:34:46 -0400

Well 1st of all Spc Vicente you do not have the right to say that others do not have a say so in this Matter it is their
Freedom of speech and YOU also have to Respect their opinions or say so in this Matter if YOU don't like it well block them. The other thing is with Bruce Jenner issue he is Totally Lost that whole famlia is lost. Well just Pray for all of them and let God sort them Out.
Spc Vicente you posted that you Love to help people out well the ones posting the negative comments are also people so deal with it. And this is our Future Military WOW

Response by PVT Andrew Burd made Jul 18 at 2015 3:21 PM

PVT Andrew Burd — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 15:21:30 -0400

“Bigotry in any form is unacceptable and I guess I was just fed up with seeing people’s offensive remarks about a person they know nothing about,”

welcome to the world, kid. ...might want to brush up on the definition of BIGOTRY, dumbass.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 18 at 2015 4:07 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 16:07:19 -0400

Who the hell does Vicente think he is? I am an American citizen and 20 year veteran of the United States Navy so I very well DO get a say in the matter!
Bruce "Caitlyn" Jenner is no hero.

Response by SGT Joshua Emo made Jul 18 at 2015 5:19 PM

SGT Joshua Emo — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 17:19:15 -0400

To me heroism is putting others before self, did he do that? No. Is he courageous? Sure, but not heroic. Does that make me a bigot? Nope, just means that I don't agree with that defintion of heroism.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 19 at 2015 6:00 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 06:00:52 -0400

WOW! I love it. Just like in the Past. Leave it to the Military to Lead the Way in Tolerance and Acceptance. Big Salute to Joey Vicente!

Response by MCPO Katrina Hutcherson made Jul 19 at 2015 6:22 AM

MCPO Katrina Hutcherson — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 06:22:22 -0400

I took his Facebook post to mean negative and derogatory statements are wrong and have no place in our military and I have to agree. The SECDEF is currently studying the possibility of letting openly transgendered people serve and there are some serving already in silence and they deserve our respect. Gender dysphoria is nothing that they asked for and their lives are hard enough without having to hear all this vitriol. As far as him saying "you don't get a say in the matter" I took it to mean if you weren't on the ESPY hero award committee that you have no vote in the matter and he's right about that also...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2015 8:21 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 08:21:23 -0400

I agree, the negativity is annoying. Thousands of gays or transgenders or whatever in this country are taken out to lonely spots and get beaten, sometimes to death, just for being who they are. At best they face ridicule. So yeah, I think getting up in front of millions of strangers and identifying oneself as one of those "different" people *does* show some courage.

Response by SFC Daniel Alcivar made Jul 19 at 2015 8:24 AM

SFC Daniel Alcivar — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 08:24:07 -0400

I was traveling on Thursday this week and I heard on the radio that he made a deal with ESPN that if they did not present him with the award he was not going to do the Walters special on ABC

Response by Sgt Mark York made Jul 19 at 2015 1:09 PM

Sgt Mark York — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 13:09:36 -0400

So, anyone who doesnt agree with their agebda do t get a say? Typical.

Response by Sgt Mark York made Jul 19 at 2015 1:12 PM

Sgt Mark York — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 13:12:30 -0400

Personally, I find it tespulsive and disgusting that Mr. Jenner would be considered with these other true heroes.

Response by SGT Eddie Cesena made Jul 19 at 2015 7:05 PM

SGT Eddie Cesena — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 19:05:31 -0400

I speak for myself and possibly a few others:

First off, you should serve a tour or two and before publicly defining what true courage is. Secondly, nothing against transgenders, but you definitely DO NOT equate:
1) Announcing being a transgender in public
AND
2) Surviving an IED blast followed by IDF and small arms fire, wake up the next morning, receive mission brief, and do it all over again in the same category.

I'm proud and honored to have gay friends, so don't deem my opinion as bigotry, but I believe you need to think before you make a general statement with such inherited bravery.

Have a good day.

Response by CPT James B. made Jul 19 at 2015 9:38 PM

CPT James B. — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 21:38:12 -0400

So to all you butt hurt people out there, most of you said freedom of speech but when the truth is spoken about the comment made by a worthless POS person saying that, that it jenner is a hero can go piss on yourself. Do not like the comments on here then leave.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Jul 19 at 2015 10:19 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 22:19:20 -0400

Is John Mc Cain a hero? He flew the same missions that his men did. In my opinion he made the same sacrifices he asked his men to do. When being offerd with an out from the Hanoi Hilton because of who his father was he staid with his fellow prisoners. Would you call Ernest Shakelford a hero. His expedition was a failure. But he brought all his men home.
You can't quantify if Jenners ramblings saved any one. How can you prove a negative. My memory of Jenner is winning the gold medal in the Olympics. Now everyone knows him for being on a reality show of people who are famous for not being famous. And he reinvented himself. If it was anyone else would there be so much hoopla?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2015 6:42 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 06:42:42 -0400

He is no hero except to liberals.

Response by MSgt Mike Lucht made Jul 21 at 2015 8:00 AM

MSgt Mike Lucht — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 08:00:27 -0400

I think the question is the disconnect between the civilian world and ours. Our definition of courage is totally different from a group who live their lives by going to Starbucks everyday. This is the drawback of a professional military as the chasm between their world and our world lengthens.