I’m not sure if you’ve heard the story of the UCLA student who decided to buy a one-way ticket to Libya two weeks ago to join the rebels there. If you haven’t, you can read more here, here, or here. Right now, there are conflicting reports that he may have been sent packing, or may just be lost somewhere in Libya.
Photo Credit: Bradley Hope/The National
This Guy Is King of the Idiots
I have to admit this was my gut reaction. Here he is, untrained, doesn’t know the language, knows nothing about what he is getting into other than it would be a “sick vacation” [his words]. He shows up wearing a basketball jersey and asking someone to hand him an AK-47 and shouts “On to Sirte!,” the remaining Ghaddafi stronghold. Now here’s a guy who shouldn’t make any long-term plans…
This Guy Is A Hero
But then my wife Rebecca, always my devil’s advocate, said to me, “Wait a minute… This guy is doing what you are always telling people to do: take a risk, give your life for something worth fighting for, and live an adventure. What do you mean he’s an idiot, maybe he’s a hero!”
What Do You Think?
Is this a guy an idiot or hero? Leave a quick comment below and we’ll conduct a survey. It can be as short as one word… or maybe you’ve got more to say.
UPDATE: I figured it out: Chris Needed a Battle to Fight.
heroes can be idiots
Alright… I agree in some cases. But which is he?
Way to sit on the fence ;^)
I think he is a hero. He wanted to be part of a new changed nation. How often and how many people are part of something as amazing as this. A renewed nation after 42 in captivity. Now, would I do what he did? No. Would I like to be part of what is taking place in Libya is some sort of a capacity? Yes and would love too.
i think he is an idiot for the time being, but that can change. a hero accomplishes something, brings about radical change, has a hand in overturning evil. that does not happen just because he “showed up”
i dont know what is motives are, but seems like good self promotion
Hero. Your wife is right.
Good points. But don’t you think he could have gone about it a better/smarter way?
That’s usually the case, Joey. That’s usually the case…
Hey Zach, do you like my bio description for the comments? ;^)
I think maybe a little bit of both, heh. I think a big key to being a hero is throwing yourself into the right cause. Is the Libyan revolution the right cause for him? Maybe, maybe not :)
He’s an idiot until he proves otherwise. I don’t know of any off the top of my head, but I’m sure some of the heroes we remember were idiots who simply rose to the occasion and elevated themselves to the status of hero.
Thanks Kevin. I guess we’ll wait and see for this guy!
Maybe if he didn’t describe the civil war as a “sick vacation” I would have more sympathy for his motives… :^)
I think neither can best ascribe a characteristic of Chris. From what I’ve read, including a great interview with his dad, he is desiring to understand people, rather than make himself a symbol of heroism, or more appropriately, lunacy. I think this article paints a picture of a guy who wants to experience what conditions other people live through.
Now granted, it looks ridiculous, if not, ludicrous. However, there is something intriguing in his motives. “Cool vacations” is not the most eloquently stated reasoning to do involve yourself in a conflict of this caliber, but there seems to be more there. Read more here, http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/americas/fathers-relief-as-chris-jeon-dude-with-the-ak47-calls-from-libya. Check out where he went last summer and the year before.
How smart his choices were have nothing to say about him being a hero or not. I believe his intentions make the difference. Its what he is trying to accomplish despite the possible negative outcome for himself.
Since I don’t know what his intentions were I can’t judge if he is a hero but he might be. But it could also be that he is simply a kid influenced by to many computer games not realizing that this is not a game he is getting into.
There are battles, and then there are battles. The ones that you pick determine your life. No battle should be fought without wisdom and vision.
So true!
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