Can I Get a Hero?

What makes a hero?

It used to be a term reserved for unique individuals, those who sacrificed all on behalf of others. In ancient Greece, to be a hero was to be on a par with the gods. In Rome heroes excelled in war, often at the cost of their lives, and when the danger had passed, if they survived, they were expected to return to their regular lives. Or they might have sought high office, perhaps as Consul. As time went on, heroism was seen as a path to higher station, and not necessarily as an end in itself.

In later days we have heard countless tales of heroism, often in war time. The common assumption was that an individual did not seek glory, but did the hard thing. Maybe he was afraid, wishing he were somewhere else, but when bravery was called for, he stepped up. He didn’t brag about it. We usually heard about his courage from others. This was true throughout the Second World War, when “heroes” insisted that the truly brave ones were those who did not return.

Who are the heroes of today? Are they as rare, as special as they once were? Let’s see. I do know that you hear the word hero thrown around a lot more than ever.

For starters, every one who puts on a soldier’s uniform today is automatically called a hero. This is without regard to what they do, whether here in the U.S. or overseas. What would older generations of service men think, when they blushed at the thought of being referred to as heroic, knowing that they had done nothing to deserve it? You could sit on your ass in Ft. Dix for the duration, counting rations, but don’t worry, you’re a hero. Hey, that they sacrifice something for their country is not in question. It is notable, even special. But heroic?

This also goes for anyone who wears a uniform. Police or Fire, you’re a hero. Now, if you run into a burning tower believing that its collapse is imminent, knowing that you’re probably not going to survive, but running in anyway to possibly save a life, then not to worry brother, you are a hero, and you can have a statue erected in your honor. Hell, I’ll help to put it up.

So, to recap, anyone in uniform is a hero. Postal worker, boy scout, ticket taker, lunch lady. Heroes, one and all.

But just in case you think that the bar is still a little high, in this modern, no-effort life we have here in the U.S., think again. How many times have you heard children, when asked who their heroes are, cite their parents Yes, all you have to do is have a kid, and you too can be a hero. If you do the things a parent is supposed to do, you get patted on the back. What could be easier? None of that messy, dangerous stuff for you.

Maybe you don’t have kids. Maybe you’re a social disaster, or have problems with the ladies. That’s OK. There are millions of children who have been raised with an artificially lowered expectation of what should constitute a hero. Give them a candy bar, and they’ll probably think that you’re a hero! Yes, you don’t actually have to do anything!

And that’s not all. There is a new category of hero. One who not only doesn’t have to do anything, but has only to be alive. Yes, if you survive a terrible disease, you are considered a hero. For some reason, this only seems to work with cancer. If you have diabetes, or cholera, or rickets, you are just some schmuck who got sick, and then got lucky (on a count of you didn’t die). But, if you get cancer and come out of it, you are a survivor! You get a parade, and believe me, you are a hero. If you got cancer and died, it’s sad, but no matter how hard you fought, whatever spirit you showed, you’re not quite a hero.

Isn’t this a great country?