|
I might get a lot of flames for this but I have an opinion I would like to put out...
A man is walking down the street when he notices a burning building. He walks up to see if he can help. The firefighters are inside the building trying to get survivors out to safety. The man decides he will assist and grabs some wet rags to take to the firefighters to help them cool off. He notices a woman at the window and directs the firefighters to her location. The firefighters save her but the building falls and all the firefighters and the man die.
To me, the firefighters died doing their job. The man that decided he would help died a hero. The firefighters were brave and did a service that will always be remembered but it is not heroic.
I think we use hero too much. In mythology the hero was usually chosen by the gods and possessed mighty courage and strength. There was normally one per story.
Now, if you’re trapped in a mine and survive you are a hero, if you do a dangerous job and die you are a hero, if you fight for your life on an airplane you are a hero. Don't get me wrong, I think all of these people should be honored and remembered. I just think using the hero word so much is making being a hero not so heroic.
|