A reader objects that I (unintentionally, he allows) overstated my case and

insulted Pat Tillman and our other heroes thereby:

“Someone’s decision to voluntarily put himself at risk in service of his

country demonstrates something positive about him. The tributes to Pat

Tillman say as much. If Pat Tillman had returned alive, you would have

properly given his opinions more weight than if he had stayed in the NFL.”

Hmm. I want to think about that one. Not sure I agree. I yield to no-one

in my awe at Pat Tillman’s strength of character, and the marvelous example

he set. His opinions, though? (On matters non-military, I mean. We’re

discussing citizenship and punditry here, not people’s special zones of

expertise. Of course I’ll value a structural engineer’s opinion about my

tree house more than a dentist’s, but his opinions about the nation, the

election and so on, are no better than anyone else’s.)