Heroes

          The term hero is used so frequently in today's society that it has really lost its true value.Everyday there is a story in the newspaper or on the news about an athlete, a cop, or even a politician who is being referred to as a hero for what they said or did. I do not mean to say that some of these people may not in fact be actual heroes to some people, but for the most part I believe they have other motives. Even when you look up the word hero on the internet, most of the sites that come up are on people that I would never consider a hero simply because I think of heroes as being more than just a famous person. For example, some websites say that heroes of the twentieth century should include people such as Amelia Earhart, Michael Jordan, and even Muhammed Ali. I'm sure that some see these people in enlightening ways or as their own personal role models, which is perfectly fine, but I do not believe that makes them heroes. The may show heroic qualities like bravery or courage and I think that’s why we associate the word hero with so many different people.

         I believe that a hero is someone that is courageous, strong, brave and above all selfless. A true hero does not necessarily think before he acts because he is just doing or reacting to what he thinks is right. Heroes do not think of the peril involved in the act of saving someone's life because they are not thinking about themselves or what could happen to them. All the true hero is worried about is the person or people they are trying to help. I think the real heroes are the ones that do not take the credit even when it's publicized and brought to everyone's attention, unlike a lot of the fame hungry people we call heroes every day. It is the soldier who deserved the Purple Heart for saving so many people's lives but refuses to take it because he did not do it for the glory and recognition. Or the firefighter who ran into the burning building to get one more person out when they tell him it's too dangerous. In those two examples, I don't think its about that person "just doing their job", it's when they go above and beyond where not many other people would go to save someone's life, that to me is a hero.

         But it is because we just throw this word hero around so loosely and have such an indirect definition of it that we recognize people who are just doing good deeds to get attention or for ulterior motives like Sammy. I do not consider Sammy to be a hero because he was just trying to impress the girls by quitting his job. Yes I do believe that it would have been a very noble act in the way that he stood up for the girls, but I do not consider that act an act of heroism. And the only reason why he stood up to Lengel is to get the girls to see him and in hopes of catching their attention. I really do not think that standing up for something makes you a hero in most cases though and especially not when you look to gain something from it.