A popular Jewish media personality was interviewing a well known Rav and told him that some soldiers walked into his studio when he was in Israel and he stood up for them. It was the first time he stood up for someone who came into his studio since his father came in 15 years before. Was this correct?
The Rav answered that he did the right thing b/c the Mishna says that they stood up for those who brought their Bikkurim to the Beis Hamikdash. So too, the soldiers are doing a mitzva so one should stand up for them.
Let me preface that both the media personality and the Rav mean well but I strongly believe that they are mistaken.
The din is that when someone is on his way to doing a mitzva one stands up. The soldiers were in his studio and not on their way to fight [which is a mitzva]. Instead of standing, he should have kissed and hugged them. There is no din to stand but there is a din to love them [as for every Jew] and to show gratitude for their great sacrifice.
However, when a Talmid Chochom or someone over 70 walks into his studio he is obligated to stand. THAT is a דין דאורייתא. Part of the distortion of Torah that is taking place is when soldiers, with all of the love and appreciation we have for their incredible sacrifice, supplant Talmidei Chachomim as the elite of our people. Our main heroes should be Tzadikim and Talmidei Chachomim. That is Judaism. When one stands for soldiers and reveres them and not Talmidei Chachomim that is a new religion invented a hundred plus years ago called "Zionism" which was designed to supplant Torah Judaism - as the founders openly said and wrote.
So kiss and hug and daven for soldiers.
For Tzadikim and Talmidei Chachomim stand up and give tremendous kavod. And teach your children that the ideal is to be the latter.
