What IS a hero??

[Brutuskend]

There was a thread around a few days ago (I think MOST of you will know which thread I'm referring to) where people were calling someone a HERO for dieing for their country.

They were doing this without knowing the details of HOW this person died. But supposedly they had given their life for their country. (And it turned out they HADEN'T)

At any rate, this got me thinking. Is someone that died for their country an automatic hero because he died? What if they were running away when killed?

Is someone that fought for there country and LIVED less of a hero because he DID live? Or is it just that they risked their lives for their country that makes them a hero?

In that case ANYONE who served is by definition a hero, because by just serving you are risking your life.

There are a lot of people that served in wars that probably never got a scratch, but because they risked their lives for their fellow service men were awarded medals and dubbed heroes.

To me this seems to be the definition of a hero!

The firemen and policemen that died at the WTC are heroes because they DID risk their lives. But I bet if you asked any one of them if they considered themselves heroes, they would say "No, I was just doing my job"

Most servicemen would say the same I think.

 

[notfred]

According to the local news, 10 year old kids with leukemia are heroes because they haven't died and still go to school everyday.

Living and being sick at the same time does NOT make you a hero.

 

[khtm]

he·ro (hîr)
n. pl. he·roes
1. In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods.
2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: soldiers and nurses who were heroes in an unpopular war.
3. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field: the heroes of medicine. See Synonyms at celebrity.
4. The principal male character in a novel, poem, or dramatic presentation.

 

[Czar]

Someone you respect, look up to and admire. And usualy gets that status by one single action, if it is done over time that person is just respected and admired.

 

[Brutuskend]

BTW: I would say that the person in this thread is a hero.

But I think it's term that is used WAY to liberaly these day.

And THAT distracts from the REAL hero's.

 

[Looney]

Seriously, i don't consider myself a hero... i only did it out of anger. The heroes are my neighbors, who chased him down several blocks, and actually confronted him. Now, how many people would do that... the amazing part is, is that the last 3 times we've been robbed, our neighbors (different neighbors each time) have helped chased them down. One that happened 3 years ago, two guys came into the store, put a knife to my dad's throat while the other one took the money... as soon as they left, my dad grabbed a bat and chased them down the street. The neighbors saw (like 5 of them), and followed, but my dad had to stop early (he's 50), but htey continued... they went so far as to finally tackle one of the two guys, who eventually ratted the other guy out.

The other time, the neighbors next to me who run a pool hall, was outside for a smoke when they saw me running in my underwear after a guy, and joined in... i didn't even realize they helped that time, since i turned back early to run into the house for a pair of pants and shoes.

I think that's what heroes are, people who perform more than necessary.... who willingly perform more than necessary.

 

[Croton]

I consider a hero to be a person who performs acts of kindness that most people would not normally consider doing.

Hero's can range from the firemen & policemen who died in the WTC disaster to the man who pulls over on the side of the road to help you change your tire or push your car.

That's what I think.

 

[IBuyUFO]

A hero is someone who change people's lives. Example of that are teachers, parents, police, firemen, EMTs, and etc. Or someone who kills thieves. If moralpanic had killed that robber then he would be my hero but he didn't so he's a zero Just kidding about the zero part.

 

[thebestMAX]

Often misused by the media.

A hero or someone brave does something he or she did not HAVE to do or endure but chose to do anyway for the sake of someone or something else.

If there is no choice, doing what you have to do (including survive) does not make you a hero or brave.

My definition, flame if you wish.

 

[Brutuskend]

thebestMAX I wholeheartedly agree!

 

[dionx]

HEROES ARE MOST LIKELY FAKE.

Heroification is the degenerative process of giving quality features beyond that of a normal person while taking away any negative features about them in order to elevate them beyond what is normal and to give them a "hero" status.

Some examples are as followed:

George Washington - this man had many slaves and wouldn't release them upon his death. this wouldnt be a hero like quality so to keep with his "hero" status, history books tend to leave this fact out.

Helen Kelly - (the little blind girl who overcame difficulities to adapt to the world) - stories about her only talk about her childhood days for it told a "hero" like story of overcoming great odds and handicapps. yet no story ever goes into her adulthood where she was a very active radical and her views were widely flamed. if history ever told this part of her life, she wouldnt be a hero.

woodrow wilson - this guy was so racist. he tried to pass laws against african americans during his presidency. but history books today also leave this fact out in order to keep him as a "hero" in light of WWI.

this list goes on and on.... a good book to find out abou this is entitled Lies My Teacher Told Me written by Loewen.

 

[Brutuskend]

I think you mean Hellen Keller.....

 

[Tominator]

Hero?

I is an individual that without thought of their own survival risks themself to assist someone in mortal peril. They do so more on instinct than thought and hold no hope of reward of anykind. Total unselfishness.

Cops, Firemen, and EMTs are NOT Heros by default! If you think so, you are guilty of the terms overuse imho. Just like the term Love, it is so overused today it has lost it's true meaning.

"Greater love has no man than this. A man who lays down his life for a friend."

 

[luvya]

Looking for hero??
just take a look at me