It is rare indeed when the world comes together to celebrate something extrodinary. I believe that many tears were shed around the globe as the last Chilean miner emerged from the tiny man-made capsule that brought him, the last of 33 miners, 700 meters underground (half mile, I think) for 68 days, to the terra firma of his homeland. There are many heros surrounding this story from the men themselves who kept each other going and shared their meger rations, to the rescuers who NEVER gave up in spite of discouraging results along the way. (It took 17 days to even locate the miners.) What makes a HERO really? One who is not afraid to do the hard, brave thing, or do the thing that is right? Just the opposite, really. A hero is a person who IS afraid, but does the hard, brave, right thing anyway. I feel that there is such a dirth of heros in our world today. Do you feel the same? Of course, the men and women defending our country every day are heros; they are the reason we live in freedom. But who else? Sadly, I think, most potential heros of today have gone the way of big money or political advantage. Can our country survive without real, genuine heros? I don't think so. Bill Gates, and his wife Melinda are examples, I think, of what one person, persons can heroically do to make the world better. This country needs more heros like them, me included, which makes me ponder here at my desk what I might do in my very small speck of the world to be hero-like. What can I do? Hmmmmm.
2 comments:
We need be careful who it is we label heroes. All fireman are not heroes, only those few who do something truly heroic. Likewise, not all soldiers are heroes, only those few who are brave and do something heroic, regardless of whether they are afraid or not. Doing something heroic and not having some level of fear likely means the individual is playing with something less than his or her 52 cards. Athletes are not heroes. They may have accomplishments that are held in high esteem, and may do good deeds and lead good lives; but they are celebrities, not heroes. Survivors are not heroes, they are survivors, which is a wonderful thing. Someone who risked his life to save a survivor may well be a hero. There is a distinction here. Bill and Melinda Gates have done some very good things with their fortune, but that is not heroic. We may hold them in high esteem, and want to emulate their actions, but we should not label them heroes. Doing so cheapens true heroes, who have bravely risked their lives for others' benefit.
Tom,
Thank you for your thoughts and insights;you have some very good ones.
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