Super-Human Deeds
Many people think of a hero as a person with superhuman powers and/or infallible
virtues. Superman, Batman and Spiderman are typical movie and comic book heroes. Superman
possesses super-human powers of strength and sight. Batman is a technical genius, using his
tools and wits to catch and outsmart the bad guys. Spiderman swings from a web and uses
his “Spider-sense” to catch criminals. However, they each start off as seemingly ordinary
citizens. Neither of them has any outward bad habits and neither ever hangs around to be thanked
for their good deeds, which is virtuous. Neither one was born a superhuman (except Superman).
Not every person can become a hero. Many people aspire to be heroic minded. However, many
people do not have the capacity to act heroically. Heroes are actually everyday people doing
what needs to be done or ordinary people making exemplary sacrifices.
People who are paid to perform a particular service are not heroes, in a pure sense. Sports
figures are not true heroes. There is nothing heroic about being paid for playing a sport that you
love. Sports figures do put forth effort that is to be greatly admired and can be used as great role
models for sportsmanship. Many people like to think of politicians as heroes. While they may
exemplify what is the best of human intentions, they are compensated greatly for the effort they
put forth in order to serve the people. Society is taught to revere sports figures, Hollywood stars
and politicians as heroes. Too much emphasis is put on people that are highly compensated for
performing a service. Many of them are even idolized but most of the idols have fallen from their
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pedestals. At times they have exemplified the human foi...
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...s in this society.
He is owed a debt of thanks that he never received while he lived.
Heroes are all around us, everyday, living, learning, working and playing. They do
not wake up thinking that perhaps they will be a hero today. They just observe the immediate
situation and follow through with the action necessary to get the situation taken care of, in a
timely manner, without thought of personal gain, comfort or safety. Society cannot put a dollar
sign on what they are worth because there is not a dollar amount large enough to compensate
true heroism.
Works Cited
King, Jr.,Martin Luther. “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” The Mercury Reader. ed. Danner, Natalie.
New York: Pearson, 2009. 193-212. Print.
LeGuin, Ursula. “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.” New Dimensions, Vol. 3. ed.
Silverberg, Robert. New York. Nelson Doubleday. 1973. 1-8. Print
George Orwell once offered this definition of heroism: ordinary people doing whatever they can to change social systems that do not respect human decency, even with the knowledge that they can’t possibly succeed.
Generally when you think of a hero, who do you envision? Most likely, you picture a strong and imposeing figure, someone capable of performing in high pressure situations, demonstrating bravery and passion to help his/her fellow man. Those who typically fit that role in society are firefighters, policemen, and soldiers. Those people deserve all the credit and recognition they receive for their courageous acts. However, what about individuals or groups who aren’t necessarily on the “frontlines” physically protecting others and saving lives, but who work extremely hard to improve the lives of others in some way? These everyday people deserve credit as well. After all, to the people they help, these volunteers or activists are heroes. An example of such a group is the Greensboro Four, a few African American college students in the early 1960s who helped change the landscape of segregation in the Jim Crow South.
Anyone can truly be a hero, even in real life. Heroes can be people who simply have an idea and decide to grow onto that idea and have it done. For example, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi were real life heroes who started out as ordinary people but had a dream and made a huge difference in the end. Nelson Mandela, a Civil Rights activists, once said, “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference” (Lazaro). Nelson Mandela was trying to say that anybody can make a difference, but it is up to that person or people to make that change. One simple change could cause any simple person to have a major change in lifestyle just because they decided to step up and do something. Furthermore, anyone can be a hero, it doesn’t matter what one’s background is, one can make even the simplest of changes and become a hero to oneself and the people around them.
Christopher Reeve once said, “ A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” The difference between a hero and an average person is that, one will give up and the other will keep fighting. Heroes are willing to sacrifice themselves for others, they are brave when other others cower, and do not run away from the terror.
So what defines one as a hero? Well, a definition of what a hero is “A person noted for special achievement in a particular field” (hero, n.d). Our concept of a hero alters drastically from person to
Some Athletes in society today are considered heroes despite their double lives. Their drug use and violence are brushed aside while leading their teams to victory.
Heroes and role models can inspire people to accomplish and achieve meaningful goals that may not just benefit themselves, but other people as well. A hero, by touching the hearts of some people, can inflict change on a whole society and even the world. For example, right before World War Two in the 1936 Olympic Games, Hitler wanted to prove that his Aryan race was superior by winning all events. However, a black man named Jesse Owens won four gold medals, winning the most gold medals over any other athlete. He showed to Hitler and the whole world that Aryans were not superior and embarrassed Hitler in his own country. This caused all of Germany to question Hitler’s word and gave people in the United States and all of Europe hope against Hitler. This hope channeled into bravery in war and exerts believed to have played a major role in the war by crippling the Nazi’s confidence and inspiring all of the allied powers. Even though Jesse Owens was successful during the Olympic Games, what he is remembered for was starting a movement and showing up Hitler. While the medals are small and just physical things, what they meant to the world was crucial. Jesse Owens became a role model and hero for people to look up to so that when they had their own battle against the
...ts heroes should be those who display the work ethic, success, and incredible performance through exemplary moral means. The macho and stereotypically masculine attributes that can manifest themselves in corrupt ways cannot benefit the young boys looking up to the men who are their idols.
An English proverb states, “ A hero is a man who is afraid to run away”. I agree with this proverb, because when you see a hero in a comic book, they have super cool back stories, are not afraid to fight, and stare danger in the face and not blink. They are not afraid of anything. That’s nice to look up to, but they are not real. Our definition of a hero is too much for one man to become, you can do something honorable, heroic, but you will never actually be a hero because it's too much, in real life. Heroes don’t just do it so they can get paid, or respect. What really determines whether someone is a hero is if they choose to do something about it in a bad situation. We have people that do heroic acts, for example, people putting their lives before others. Those people cannot be heroes because they get paid to do it, they are, firefighters, cops, and military, they get paid to help people, so they aren't considered a hero.
...without giving up in order to achieve their goals. And that is what you call a hero.
people are to some extent a hero. It is normal for people to face obstacles and barriers when
There is another type of hero that almost no one is aware of. In the poorest areas of the country, live mostly minorities and other ethic background. All their lives they’ve been expected to work harder and expected not succeed in life. Some individuals living in poverty with a determination to succeed work hard all of their lives to become what everybody doubted they could. Escaping the crime, drugs, and prostitution is enough to escape hell, even if they don’t go to college. Despite of their financial problems, drug and crime surroundings, or difficulties in the language skills, their desire to triumph fuels their persistence. Those who make it to success are the few living examples of the purest form of hero anyone can be. They are not only their own heroes but also the heroes of the poor children who dream of becoming like them someday.
To better understand what a heroic quality is it may be easier to describe what a hero is not. Nearly everyday on television people talk of athletes and celebrities as being heroes, but are they? To put it mildly, they are not heroes at all. Possibly role models, but for the most part, not in possession of heroic qualities. When Michael Jordan and Bruce Willis, by risking their lives, save an abandoned child from a typhoon they will possess the qualities to be called heroes in my opinion. Policemen and firemen are at times classified as heroes. Until they prove themselves they are just ordinary people. The title heroic is not given by occupation, rather by achievement.
Heroes can be can be anyone; they can be everywhere. But every society needs heroes (The Making of a Hero). Surprisingly every society has one; we just don't see them because we don't bother to open our eyes. But if you open them you shall see, they can be anyone, and that's why you must look carefully.
What makes the acts of heroism different from the daily lives of others? To people, the act of heroism can be from their favorite sports player or an actor. But, to some, they could be their family members. Each heroic act in the society is faced with great challenges, but the hero never backs down. In addition, heroic acts have many different purposes in our society.