In response to “Exploiting disasters in media advertising,” from The Poly Post (Oct. 25):

I agree with Joshua Manly’s column about how the advertising industry has used recent ill-fated occurrences upon our country to somehow profit from their appearance of patriotism. The use of tragic events to try to present a mask of sincerity within a company and a product is misguided at best.

However, I strongly disagree with Manly’s trivial consideration of Pat Tillman as an American hero. We live in a country where we are fortunate enough to have the option to serve within the military, a job with a clear risk of danger and a low amount of financial success possible. Tillman turned down a $3.6 million contract to serve his country on the basis that he believed in the support of something greater than himself.

I am not saying that Tillman’s loss is any more significant they any other of the brave soldiers that have served and died in Iraq and Afghanistan. All I mean to say is that Pat Tillman was a man who embodied everything that is admirable and good about the American soldier, and to in any way lessen that claim by somehow belittling his individual sacrifice is appalling, and frankly, un-American.

Mike Montgomery

Sophomore in Communications