Warning! Blasphemy coming: Okay. So a former NFL Player died in Afghanistan, Heroically serving Our Country. What a hero, they say, he turned down a $3.5 million contract to serve his country.

Hmm. How many men and women joined the Armed Forces in the aftermath of September 11, 2001? Gave up jobs? Careers? Education? Maybe they didn't give up $3.5 million, but they gave up all they had. Are we that much more impressed because a dollar amount has been scrawled across one man's face?

Most Americans who have died/are dying in the Middle East in the last 2 1/2 years gave up jobs, careers, education and families to join the Armed Forces. Most of them remain anonymous, among the hundreds of flag-draped coffins my government doesn't want me to see.