Chris Hayes Apologizes for 'Heroes' Comment
After receiving heated criticism for his comments over Memorial Day weekend, Chris Hayes of MSNBC has offered an apology for his ill-timed comments.
The outcry came after he commented that he felt "uncomfortable" calling soldiers heroes as he was explain that the term can be used to justify unjust wars.
"I think it's interesting because I think it is very difficult to talk about the war dead and the fallen without invoking valor, without invoking the words 'heroes,'" Hayes stated.
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"I feel comfortable - uncomfortable - about the word because it seems to me that it is so rhetorically proximate to justifications for more war," he continued. "I don't want to obviously desecrate or disrespect memory of anyone that's fallen … there are individual circumstances in which there is genuine, tremendous heroism … But it seems to me that we marshal this word in a way that is problematic."
One of the first organizations to come out and confront Hayes for his comments was the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization who came out and demanded an apology.
"Chris Hayes' recent remarks on MSNBC regarding our fallen service members are reprehensible and disgusting," VFW National Commander Richard DeNoyer told FoxNews.com.
"His words reflect his obvious disregard for the service and sacrifice of the men and women who have paid the ultimate price while defending our nation. His insipid statement is particularly callous because it comes at a time when our entire nation pauses to reflect and honor the memory of our nations' fallen heroes," he added.
Hayes issued his apology on Monday.
"In seeking to discuss the civilian-military divide and the social distance between those who fight and those who don't, I ended up reinforcing it, conforming to a stereotype of a removed pundit whose views are not anchored in the very real and very wrenching experience of this long decade of war. And for that I am truly sorry," he said.
