Opinion On What It Means To Be A Hero?

[America]

O.K. cops, firemen AND other citizens...
for years I've heard people call movie stars heroes, and athletes heros.
I see a hero as a person who saves another person in some way (their life or another way) or protects them from pain or injury. I also might add that actor Tom Hanks, who is a seemingly caring and thoughtful person, has said at least twice -on camera- before, that he doesn't deserve the recognition of some of the TRUE heroes he has only portrayed.
Does it confuse any of you when people refer to celebrities as heroes or do you do it yourselves or what? Just curious.

In the song, "America The Beautiful", by Katharine Lee Bates, the 3rd stanza is really nice in the way heroes are mentioned: O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!

Signed, America

[Stump]

I guess it really depends on what your definition of "hero" is. I consider a hero a person who has great achievements and noble qualities.
I don't call firemen and cops heroes. If they do something extraordinary, then yes, they performed a heroic deed. But everyone performs heroic deeds at some point.
Actors that use their celebrity to help the less fortunate, that is a heroic deed. Actors are not heros in my mind. Their morals and values aren't any better than mine, and if I had that kind of money, I would be famous too.
Athletes can inspire people, but how are they heros?
I really can't think of anyone that I would call a hero these days - except my Mom and Mother Theresa.

[txinvestigator1]

The poeple of flight 93 who decided that terrorist would not attack another American building were heroes. The made a decision to intervene, surely knowing they would die.

Heroes in my book.

[P01IC3M4N]

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/Moh1.htm

http://www.behindthebadge.net/pmemorial/pmemorial.html

http://cms.firehouse.com/content/sec...p?sectionId=39

http://da.co.la.ca.us/_text/mr/2000/081600b.htm

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/...al/4839313.htm

those who selfishly put themselves in harms way for the safety of others regardless of their position in life. nobody decides to be a hero, it just happens.

[Sgt. Pepper]

I agree with what has been said so far i think that it really depends on what your definition of "hero" is. I consider a hero a person who has great achievements and noble qualities. I don't call firemen and cops heroes unless they do something extraordinary. I see what i do as my job. Anything i do to help a person makes the world a safer and better place I can't call my self a hero, i don't think i deserve that title hero. I maybe a semi-hero to all the childern's pets i saved. A herovto the lives i have saved but not really a hero in my eyes cause thats what i am supposed to do and any person should do. My hero is my loving girlfriend who suffers sleepless nights wondering if i am ok will i be home soon will i spend another night alone, my nephew and my mother who wonder will we ever see him again, they go through the greates pain while we do what we love. There are people who do kind things that doesn't make them heros but good people, i get embarassed when i am called a hero, it is just me doing what i do best, being the best person i can be, the best firefighter i can be, if you want to call me hero thats fine with me but i can't agree with you on what you call me, call me a brave firefighter, doing his job i perfer that over hero cause untill i do somethign to fit that i am not really a hero in my own eyes.

[Charlie]

I can only add to the other responses,--- most I am in complete agreement with.

I think the term "hero" is often easily & conveniently applied and thrown around by the media (Newspaper or TV News Networks). I have seen, (As I am sure you all have too), some people being dubbed a "hero" which, in my view, the individual or individuals are far from meeting my definition of heros. Professional sport athletes are generally NOT heros in my book but they are often portrayed as being such. To me, a lot of them are often over paid wealthy individuals who happen to play a sport well AND, who also happen to be seen sometimes frequently in the media or a magazines. Being wealthy doesn't make you a hero. You cannot purchase it!

Sometimes the media types have a twisted and dimmented form of logic. At times, some of the so-called "heros" are repulsive and are poor choices. BUT,...like it or not...often times the media can make virtually ANYONE a hero or villian overnight!

I agree with the post which mentions many types of public service workers are more accurately defined as "doing heroic deeds" as opposed to being labeled "a hero." I know I fall into the public service category too and I defintely don't view myself as a hero.

In my mind, I think earning such a title often comes at an incredible price due to a highly unusual event or situaiton. OR, due to the actions or sequence of events at hand, significant losses or lives are saved due to the "heroic deeds" of someone involved in the event in question. The example offered by TX above is one excellent example of what I would view to be an appropriate use of the term to describe those who lost their lives to foil the plans of extremist/terrorists on flight 93.

Nevertheless, that is my opinion about this issue. And incidently, heros typically seem to have a humble quality about themselves too!

Charlie

[America]

I can relate to what you have all said in response to my thread so far; good answers, too, I think. I did take time to think before about how being a hero is by "chance". Also, what I think makes someone like a cop or fireman special is that effort/attitude/heart they have. Potential counts alot. I also never take for granted the fact that we have cops around when no crimes are happening, because they're presence obviously does alot too. They're the street soldiers of America. Just like the military in WAYS. America

[darrell]

A old cop once told me that cops are not heros they only due what they are supposed to do their job. I think a hero goes above and beyond the call or ability of thier knowledge to help a person in need. A hero is a person willing to die for there country or belief.

[America]

But, we know some cops (even if its rare) go above and beyond the call of duty. Not that they're looking to be heroes either. Not saying that. America

[Island_Girl]

I like my heros with oil & vinegar and some crushed pepper relish. Mmmmm...yum. :p




I wish I were stateside. The things you miss and the topics that remind you of them. Sorry for the stray in topic.....my tummy is growlin' somethin' fierce. :(

[LBomb]

I don't know what everyone else had to say about this...I was rude and skipped right by. I do know that our heroes today are the men & women overseas in the U.S. Military keeping us free. Just my humble opinion....

[warlock]

This is a deep thread...and my view on this is my own based on my own personal opinions:

A hero is someone who risks his or her life in trying to save or protect the life of another, and acts selflessly, not expecting any type of reward or recognition.

They act merely out of love for their fellow man, and in their heart they would be willing to sacrifice themselves for someone who they never met or saw until this point in their life.

A hero would battle the situation to their end, even if it seemed hopeless, just because that stiriving might give them a 1% better chance of saving that individual.

In fact a true hero would be embarressed by the public recognitition and would shy away from the people who wish to reward them for their good deed.

A hero is anyone, from LE to civilian. Anyone who goes beyond the call of duty or beyond what is expected or asked of them.


People such as these were the fireman, police officers, and other rescue personnel who were both victims and survivors during the Sept 11 terrorist attacks as well as the courageous indivduals who died on flight 93 diverting it from its terrorist objective.


God Bless them, and may he rest their souls


James

[Sgt. Pepper]

Bravo Well said James

[allusivewolf]

I think that the meaning of the word "hero" or "heroic" is not placed on just one certain individual. everyone does something in there life time that could constitute being heroic.

however i do feel that a person that places his/her life in jeopardy to secure the safety of an other individual regardless of race, color, nationality or what ever. with out regard for there personal safety is a hero.

also going out on a limb to insure all that you believe in, and to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice so that another can benifit i consider a hero

[Area51]

Two quotes:

"A hero is no braver than an ordinary person - but is braver for just a little longer" - author unknown

"Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon

A hero then can be anyone who experiences fear but makes a conscious decision to carry on in spite of that fear.

As a distant onlooker I think all those police officers/ firemen who were running towards the Two Towers when everone else was running away from them rightly deserve to be called heroes.

On a day to day basis I don't think we are heroes for what we do. We have been extensively trained to deal with situations which otherwise 'ordinary persons' would perhaps shrink back from. It is just doing what we are paid to do.

"Actors that use their celebrity to help the less fortunate, that is a heroic deed." ? Sorry but I have to disagree.

Movie/pop stars or other celebrities who do good deeds may be selfless, generous, charitable or motivated by some other desire to do good, but I would suggest that their acts are not 'heroic' in the sense described.