Legends? Well it depends on what kind of legends you are referring to.
If we talk about politicians who have become what one can call a legend, then the category was most likely attained by fraudulent means; possibly the finest example of prominent politicians who would fit into the category is Churchill himself. Wherever and whenever his words are quoted he is unavoidibly associated with justness and statesmanship. We know what sort of little thug he was in reality.
When talking about soldiers there are also several factors to be considered. As Primus correctly and sufficiently commented, all those who push beyond the limits of self-sacrifice. Nearly impossible to put it better.
There is also propaganda; all nations in a state of war, resort to propaganda. It applies for past conflicts just as it applies for the present day world.
It is true when said soldiers in the conflicts of the present day world have apparently lost any individuality to their governments in terms of propaganda. This is quite a significant change if we consider the events of world war two.
If we talk about politicians who have become what one can call a legend, then the category was most likely attained by fraudulent means; possibly the finest example of prominent politicians who would fit into the category is Churchill himself. Wherever and whenever his words are quoted he is unavoidibly associated with justness and statesmanship. We know what sort of little thug he was in reality.
When talking about soldiers there are also several factors to be considered. As Primus correctly and sufficiently commented, all those who push beyond the limits of self-sacrifice. Nearly impossible to put it better.
There is also propaganda; all nations in a state of war, resort to propaganda. It applies for past conflicts just as it applies for the present day world.
It is true when said soldiers in the conflicts of the present day world have apparently lost any individuality to their governments in terms of propaganda. This is quite a significant change if we consider the events of world war two.