‘Who Will Go?”:What Pat Tillman’s Example Says About America

The tragic death of Pat Tillman has invoked some stirring tributes from columnists, bloggers, and politicians. The outpouring of grief and admiration for the young man has been extraordinary. All weekend I’ve thought about this young soldier’s death, and while I don’t have anything particularly profound to say about him, I think his example says some profound things about our country, especially our priorities as a nation.
For instance, almost every mention of Tillman refers first to his role as a football player for the Arizona Cardinals and then, almost in passing, that he was a member of the elite Army Rangers. I have a long-standing love of sports and a special affinity for professional football. But football is a game. A game. While it’s certainly an honorable occupation, it pales in comparison to the achievement of serving in the Army, much less to being a Ranger.
Why is pride of place given to his achievements on the gridiron rather than on the battlefield? And what does it say about a country that esteems its entertainers more than its warriors? Devote your life to the protection of your fellow citizens and you’ll get respectful nods and a livable wage. Devote your life to the protection of a quarterback and you’ll be worshipped as a hero and paid a king’s ransom. The absurdity of it all would be laughable if it weren’t so depressing.
And then there’s the money. Sadly, in America, it always comes around to money. Let’s be honest. Unless you lived in Arizona or were a dedicated fan of the NFL, you probably had never heard of Pat Tillman before his untimely death. The chances are just as great that he would have remained an obscure figure, like the other 39 who have died in combat in Afghanistan, had it not been for a remarkable number — 3.6 million.

The three-year, $3.6 million deal from Arizona that Tillman turned down to join the Army caught a lot of people’s attention. Almost everyone I talked to — from my wife to old Marine buddies — were dumbfounded that he would walk away from that much money. (Curiously, no one mentioned that he also left behind his new bride.) Though they would never admit that money was what they valued most, they found it unfathomable that Tillman would forego such a large salary in order to earn $18,000 a year.
The reaction didn’t exactly surprise me (I am, after all, realistically cynical about human nature) but it did cause me to wonder about the implications.
What if a member of the Taliban were to offer every able-bodied American male $3 million to join them in fighting against the U.S. The offer would be open to anyone who would simply pledge their commitment, regardless of their ability to contribute to the terrorist’s cause. My guess is that almost no one would admit they’d take the deal. In fact, they would undoubtedly be deeply offended if you were to presume that they would commit such an act of treason. No amount of money, they’d claim, would be enough to entice them into betraying their country.
But what if we were to slightly alter the scenario. What if the Taliban were simply to offer the same amount in return for not taking up arms against them. They would pay a handsome reward for every draft-eligible male who was willing to simply sit on the sidelines and do nothing. Let’s also assume that you cannot know how many of your fellow citizens will take the offer. Maybe you will be one of the few who take the money, leaving plenty of others to stand and fight. But, then again, what if everyone were to choose the payday, leaving no one to protect our country? What should you do? Would you take the money?
Let me make it clear that this analogy is in no way meant to be similar to Tillman’s situation. I use it simply as a thought experiment and to point out a peculiar economic assumption. Given Tillman’s choice, most people would have taken the money for the simple reason that the opportunity cost of joining the Army would have been exorbitant.
The truth is that this choice is made every day — and for a lot less than $3 million. Military service carries some form of opportunity cost for almost everyone who serves. Whether a delayed college education, a reduction in potential future earnings, or a position on a pro football team, many people who answer the call will pay a high price for the years they spend in sacrifice to their country.
The vast majority of Americans are, therefore, more than willing to let someone else (presumably someone with fewer opportunities than they have) carry their load for them. Of course they are able to rationalize the choice because of a single basic assumption: they personally don’t have to protect their country because someone else is willing to do so.
What makes Tillman truly special and unique is not what he walked away from but what he embraced. When his country was attacked he didn’t ask, ‘Who will go?” He didn’t wear yellow ribbons, fly the flag on his car, and talk about how he’d ‘support the troops.” He simply said, ‘Send me.”
God bless Pat Tillman. He made sacrifices for his country that were worth more than gold. He walked away from fame, love, and comfort in order to hunt down evil men who would harm his nation. If America is to survive we will have to find a way to make more citizens like Tillman. We already have more than enough who look around and wonder, ‘Who will go?” What we need are more who’ll respond, ‘Send me.”