Comments by "Colonel K" (@Paladin1873) on "Best of The History guy: Medal of Honor" video.

The Medal of Honor is not won; it is earned. This isn't the Olympic Games. It is life and death.
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@TheHistoryGuyChannel Many of us who served in the military take exception. I know it is not meant as a slight, but the record should reflect historical fact, not perpetuate common misconceptions. I do appreciate your efforts to correct these misconceptions. Have you made a video explaining the way the Medal came about and how the standards for awarding it have changed over the last century and a half? Many people think it is awarded by act of Congress and still call it the Congressional Medal of Honor (misnomer).
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@unappreciatedtreehouse821 There is an important difference. Only one person or team can win an Olympic gold medal in any particular event. Only one team can win the Superbowl or the World Series. Only one person can win an Oscar for Best Actor or the title of heavyweight champion of the world. There are no limitations on the number of decorations awarded in the military. Anyone who meets the standards is eligible for any given medal. It is not a competition between peers to see who is number one, nor should it be. Heroism is not limited to a single person, so neither should its recognition be limited.
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@REALfish1552 The meanings of words matter. Does it bother you when someone says we live in a democracy instead of a republic? Are you concerned when a member of law enforcement refers to everyone else as civilians? Hazy thinking and the misuse of words is how misunderstandings and false beliefs begin.
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@unappreciatedtreehouse821 But our choice of words does matter. There is an arduous process for nominating, reviewing, and approving the award of the Medal of Honor. This process has long been fraught with accusations of favoritism, discrimination, and politicization. This has led to periodic reviews of some candidate's awards, denials, and delays, resulting in either rescission or award of the Medal for some of them. Mislabeling the process as a contest only tarnishes and denigrates these efforts.
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@heymakerphd1982 Using your logic, if the recipient of the Medal of Honor is a winner, are all other soldiers losers?
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@heymakerphd1982 You asked the question "If he's not a winner, is he a loser?" I'm pointing out why the term winner is never used, nor should be used in any official description of the Medal of Honor or in its awarding. I doubt any recipient of the award would say he won it or earned it (except possibly Douglas MacArthur). I've heard plenty of them say they accepted it on behalf of all those other men who did as much or more, but were never properly recognized for their actions. And don't refer to me as son unless you are in your 90s.
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@petergianakopoulos4926 Not intentionally, no. But those who do not understand the process of awarding it might think otherwise and treat it like a competition.
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