Soldiers killed in action are not martyrs. ‘Martyr’ has religious over: A martyr seeks to die. Soldiers want to live, their commitment to the cause they’re fighting for and their determination to prevail is even greater I have a problem with calling soldiers killed in action martyrs. I know it’s meant as respect and I’m well aware it’s intended as an honour, but that still doesn’t address my key concern which is that the term is singularly inappropriate. I’m not sure I can convince you but I’d like you to think carefully about my argument. How long will our martyrs be martyred and we will continue to dominate them?