Hero
–noun
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
According to the above definition(s), it seems that heroes may be everywhere. And in some ways, I can't argue that. From rescuing an elderly lady from a burning house to rescuing a malnourished kitten, heroic acts are performed everyday. However, I'm beginning to question the difference between a hero and a heroic act. Are they one in the same?
This Thursday's slaughter at Fort Hood is undoubtedly very tragic. These pointless deaths are mind boggling, no matter the amount of media coverage that can provide background information. There is never any validity for such events and it is it's very senselessness that leaves us scratching our heads and shaking our fists in outrage.
One common thread woven through any such catastrophic happening like Fort Hood or even the shootings in the Orlando, Florida office building this Friday is that victims aid other victims in the heat of the moment. These crises trump everything between the victims. Age, sex, ethnicity, socio-economic standing and so-on...none of it matters. Something more important takes over: survival instinct. These victims have an immediate bond with the experience at hand and one collective thought emerges: getting AWAY.
And this is where heroic acts take over. People, regardless of any training, cling together and tend to wounds: both physical and emotional. Clothing is ripped off and utilized for compresses and tourniquets. Words of both mutual horror and comfort are exchanged. People shelter one another. Bodies are covered. All of this occurs while the shooting continues and everyone is at the same risk of death.
Are these people heroes to one another? Are they heroes to everyone? Is it, in fact, only thier actions that are heroic? Are these people just acting on instinct and doing what anyone would do in the same horrid siuation? Is it really just human life that matters and not the answers to these questions or any label that may be put on it?
I can't answer these, other than a resounding "yes" to the last one. I do figure this much: no one person, after living through such a life altering event, walks through the rest of their life calling themselves "hero." I'd imagine they're much more focused on their ability to keep walking. They know something the rest of us don't know...how damn lucky we are to keep living.
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ttomtarr
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Nov 7 @ 10:36AM
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There are many kinds of heros.
I have been a half hour hero, risking my life to save others..
But that was nothing, compared to the heros who give day in and day out, often without help, support, or even recognition.
I am talking about Single Moms, Who give and give more, their heroic efforts lasting for over a dozen years. To me, what they do takes real courage, and a lot more . And they are literally the ones who make our whole nation move ahead.
  
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Wing_Zero_75
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Nov 7 @ 10:52AM
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Normaly I dont like "wait for approval" and will not respond, but......
The word hero has become warped and has lost its meaning anymore. It seems like the "hero's" of today are just media whores looking for their 15 minutes of fame. I do believe that what these people did were heroic acts. When a situation like that happens, mans first response is to ensure their personal survival. Those that go beyond that fear, are mearly just people who cherish the life of others and make the decision to help another. Unless you are in a situation like that, its hard to explain. I guess its personal values that make the final decision. Look at people who have a family that risk their lives to save others from harm. They value life first. In a second, they could lose everything. The car explodes, rafters collapse in a burning building, and so on. They think of their family and what if it was them. Wouldnt they want someone giving their all to help save a life? I would think yes.
I dont like the term hero though. It seems to give people an undue ego boost for doing what should be natural in the first place. You mentioned saving a kitten. The people who do that should not have to be commended for showing compassion to a helpless animal. That should be a NORMAL trait, not a praise worthy thing. I am not trying to degrade what they do though. Anyone who knnows me, knows I value animal life over that of humans, especially cats. I think if more people helped others out, the term hero would not be thrown around like candy on halloween.
They are not heros to me, but people I respect, and if you know me, thats not an easy thing. I respect them for doing what is right, and saving their fellow man. They could have just as easily walked away....ran away and hid. That is true strength. To conquer your fears and move forward while doing the right thing.
Larry
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ladyvampire
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Nov 7 @ 11:42AM
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Ok, to me, a hero, is someone who despite their fears, goes into a dangerous situation to try to resolve some type of conflict or save a life. A hero, basically is someone who meets their fears head on to make things better for others! Especially in situations where many are in danger of losing their lives, including the "Hero"
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ladyvampire
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Nov 7 @ 11:46AM
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[/QUOTE]They value life first. In a second, they could lose everything. The car explodes, rafters collapse in a burning building, and so on. They think of their family and what if it was them. Wouldnt they want someone giving their all to help save a life? I would think yes.
I dont like the term hero though. It seems to give people an undue ego boost for doing what should be natural in the first place. You mentioned saving a kitten. The people who do that should not have to be commended for showing compassion to a helpless animal. That should be a NORMAL trait, not a praise worthy thing.[QUOTE]
I do agree 100% with this. In addition to my former statement, let me add this:
When someone volunteers to go fight for our country, knowing the odds are not in his or her favor of coming back alive, that would definately be defined as a hero.
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ragtopcookie
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Nov 7 @ 12:16PM
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I agree......id much rather be known as a father......a brother......a coworker.....or a pet owner.....hero to me is just a sandwich...... .....cookie
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Always_Striving
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Nov 7 @ 1:11PM
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I will attempt to answer some of your questions with what I currently know or believe.
Are these people heroes to one another? Yes, particularly if the person being rescued or saved from harm values their life and well being.
Are they heroes to everyone? No, unless society at large happens to put that value on them by "voicing out", then they are only heroes to the people whom they directly affect and heroes to the families, loved ones, or the people who depend on the life and well being of the saved or rescued person.
Is it, in fact, only their actions that are heroic? I tend to agree with the definition of "what a hero is" stated at the beginning of your blog Jalon (Particularly the second entry).
Are these people just acting on instinct and doing what anyone would do in the same horrid situation? Each individual will react differently to situation set before them. Please read Acute stress reaction and Fight-or-flight response as there is too much information to answer this question than the blog space provides.
Is it really just human life that matters and not the answers to these questions or any label that may be put on it? I've heard stories of firefighters climbing ladders to rescue kittens from trees also rescuing kittens from house fires and later breathing "the breathe of life" into them (resuscitating them).
Some pet owner or local town might consider that to be a heroic act worthy of label "hero". I think that the definition of "Hero" or "Heroic Act" goes beyond saving human life.... it's more of an ideology or tool to lift the hopes of people and comfort their minds from all the terrible things happening to others around them day to day. I think that people use divine worship in much of the same way. I think that parading the Mercury Astronauts in the 1960's in the news as heroes before they ever entered into outer space was a ridicules idea.
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