Heroism and the death of a soldier.

I learnt of the death of a young soldier today. His parents live in the next village and he was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan. It got me thinking about that terribly overused word 'Heroism'. Reading the weekend's newspapers, evidently Hull's players were heroic in defence against Arsenal. And Peter André is heroic in facing his split with Jordan. Has it really come to this in our country ? That we are so in hock to celebrity culture that we really think of these people as heroic ? No words I can say can ease the pain that this boy's parents are suffering. We all search for words, at times like this, to offer solace and all fail miserably. Some words that we think will cut through the agony and resonate with them. To say we sympathise is not enough. To say we empathise is not enough. Platitudes that fail on every level. That such pain should be faced by such a lovely family, by such a devoted couple with such a strong family bond, is heartbreaking in the true sense of the word. In modern England, that our young men and women, with all the comforts, distractions and suffocating cosseting that they endure in civilian life, are prepared to enlist and put their lives on the line to protect us, overwhelms me. Now is not the time for the anger I feel at our politicians. They are not worthy of the mention. As someone deeply affected by loss himself, I know there are no words. They are in my thoughts and will remain there. Your son WAS a hero. The old fashioned type. A true man in every sense of the word. Rupert Brooke wrote ' And think, this heart, all evil shed away, a pulse in the eternal mind, no less, Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given, Her sights and sounds; Dreams happy as her day; And laughter; Learnt of friends; and gentleness, in hearts a peace, under an English heaven'. This young man will come home to his loved ones. Not for him some corner of a foreign field. Wootton Bassett wil do us proud again, but the terrible grief will continue for his family. We owe them and him so much. A sacrifice that will never be forgotten.