Are Heroes Justified?

The question "Should heroes be defined as people who say what they think when we ourselves lack the courage to say it?" implies that the typical hero of today can be defined in many ways. In other words, heroes don't always have to be people who have braved physical danger to defend a cause or to protect others. In my opinion, a heroes should be defined as people who stand up for what is right, and what is just. The evidence to support my claim is pervasive in the society and in every day life.

Consider the case of Martin Luther King Jr. who fought for racial equality in the southern states of the United States. In an era when the African Americans were oppressed, and when the whites had great domination over them, Martin was the one man who

questioned the system. It was unquestionably a condemnable act to make whites and blacks equal, and no African American even attempted to bring about this topic. But Martin had the courage to say what he believed, and this retaliation and effort to bring justice is what classified Martin as a hero, thus proving my cause.

Refer to Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. Once again, blacks where opposed by the whites and were considered as inferior in this era. Atticus Finch, a white lawyer, made a daring action in defending an African American who was falsely accused. To act for what is just and noble, Atticus is personified as the hero of the novel, and indeed should be considered a hero due to his actions.

Lastly, consider the infamous atomic bombing of Japan . In a war between Japan and USA, the United States government funded the construction of two atomic bombs built for the bombing of Japan. The scientists of these bombs knew about the drastic impact that the bombs would have on Japan, and deemed the bombing too dangerous to carry through. In an effort to oppose the bombing of Japan, the scientist created a signed document to prohibit the bombing. This courageous act to stand against an evil, defines the group of scientists as heroes, thus demonstrating that those who say what they think when others don't have the courage to are considered heroes.