Congress Approves a Coin for Medal of Honor Winners

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To respond to Jim W - Win and earn can be used interchangeably in certain contexts - true. However, there is such a thing as the proper use of language. We don't all need to water it down to "double-good" and "double-ungood." Win is the word that the romance languages use for earn when it refers to their incomes. This is, in part, because their cultures don't believe that something is earned, they believe it is gotten. It is taken. It is won. They do not earn wages - wages are something that they take from the employer. Just as they believe (culturally speaking) that jobs are "owed" to them. That employment is somehow a right. Witness the youth riots in Paris over unemployment. They believe that companies exist not to make profit but to employ people. We do not have this same cultural leaning.
This is why we have the word "earn" in our language and it should be used when it is the most appropriate word for the job. The dictionary changes all the time because it is a record of how words have been used, not a guide for how they should be used. This doesn't make it proper or correct.
The Medal of Honor is earned - not won. Though I hardly believe that you'll uyet see the distinction.

Bill Scott of MI 11:02AM November 18, 2009

Come now, please! Some of you seem like you're looking for a fight. If a guy, for example, treats a woman well for five years and sacrifices for her, and consequently gets her to fall in love with him, he "WON" her love, right? By earning it, right? You are a breadWINNER if you support your family, right? You were the Pulitzer Prize WINNER for your hard work as a reporter, right? Is that enough evidence? "Win" can be used in the sense of "earn," case closed!
As I say, some of you seem like you WANT to be offended!

Jim W of NY 8:53AM November 17, 2009

THANK GOD!!
I read the headline, read the last line in the "blog" and thought "Good grief!! No wonder newspapers and magazines are going under. Not only do they not publish news, not only do they get facts wrong, they can’t hire editors who know what AP style is!!!!’
You don't 'Win' any military award. You earn it. Little Johnny does not say, “OH look…I can get myself shot up today and win a purple heart. I want to collect more PH than anyone, lets dooooo it!”
Fortunately, there are people who have already read this ridiculous rag-tag-blog-slop and made the point for me.
As a prior service soldier, whose husband is still in service, I thank those of you who know the difference.

rachael of KY 8:36AM November 17, 2009

You are awarded an Honor, you win a contest.
There is nothing that even approaches the awe that comes from reading the citations that accompany these awards.
None ever strived for it, but their actions go to the nature of their courage.

Paul of GA 7:35AM November 17, 2009

How is it that a national news magazine could be so callous and ignorant as to refer to those soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen, who have received this nation's highest honor for selfless courage in the face of an enemy, refer to them as "winners". Your banner makes it look like these great Americans were in some kind of sporting event where the "winner" gets a medal for "winning" the contest. Well sirs, if you took five minutes of your ignorant life to read just one or two of the citations that detail what these Americans did you just may receive some insight as to what the difference between a recipient of this country's highest honor and a "winner" is.

SFC (Retired) Michael S. O'Neill of TX 6:54PM November 16, 2009