Abraham,
Thanks much, and you reminded me that I did forget forget one well known hero from the list:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP0-XWHkTdc
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Return to “Is the word "hero" used to freely?”
- Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:37 pm
- Forum: Off-Topic
- Topic: Is the word "hero" used to freely?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2915
- Wed Nov 01, 2017 12:40 pm
- Forum: Off-Topic
- Topic: Is the word "hero" used to freely?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2915
Re: Is the word "hero" used to freely?
Here's the way I teach it to Li'l Miss VolTexan...
Hero: one who selflessly risks life, liberty, etc. in order to protect the life, liberty, etc. of others.
I'm guessing that your post here was in response to how easily the term hero gets thrown around. Hero-ification is hard to quantify. It really depends on perspective of the viewer.
But for me, a hero isn't 'someone who reads books to kids in the library on weekends'. Sure, that is to be respected, but that person isn't risking much to do the good deed. A sports legend is not a hero (no, not even TAFKAB* after transformation), although some of them walk in the halls of heroes (e.g. Jackie Robinson).
Bubba with a bass boat saving people during Hurricane Harvey was, in my mind, a hero. JJ Watt (although I think it was very cool what he did) raising millions for Harvey relief, not so much. Yes, he leveraged his influence to do a great thing, and he deserves respect for doing it, but what did he risk in doing so? Not much, therefore, not really a hero for this act alone.
Not all heroes are of the same caliber, of course. I consider anyone who swears a blood oath to defend our constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic as a hero (at some level), but those who go the extra mile in the face of immediate danger (MoH recipients, as one example) are certainly a hero of a different class, in my book.
* TAFKAB = The Athlete Formerly Known as Bruce
Hero: one who selflessly risks life, liberty, etc. in order to protect the life, liberty, etc. of others.
I'm guessing that your post here was in response to how easily the term hero gets thrown around. Hero-ification is hard to quantify. It really depends on perspective of the viewer.
But for me, a hero isn't 'someone who reads books to kids in the library on weekends'. Sure, that is to be respected, but that person isn't risking much to do the good deed. A sports legend is not a hero (no, not even TAFKAB* after transformation), although some of them walk in the halls of heroes (e.g. Jackie Robinson).
Bubba with a bass boat saving people during Hurricane Harvey was, in my mind, a hero. JJ Watt (although I think it was very cool what he did) raising millions for Harvey relief, not so much. Yes, he leveraged his influence to do a great thing, and he deserves respect for doing it, but what did he risk in doing so? Not much, therefore, not really a hero for this act alone.
Not all heroes are of the same caliber, of course. I consider anyone who swears a blood oath to defend our constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic as a hero (at some level), but those who go the extra mile in the face of immediate danger (MoH recipients, as one example) are certainly a hero of a different class, in my book.
* TAFKAB = The Athlete Formerly Known as Bruce