Real Heroes

One of the things that bothers me is the misuse of the word Hero. We hear it used all the time to describe sports figures and even politicians!!! Unfortunately we only infrequently hear it used to describe the true heroes that defend our Nation. In our local school with a great deal of arm twisting and yes a few judicious threats, we have gotten them to us the website I am attaching below to show the kids who and what a Hero really is. THe information is presented in a "baseball card" type format.

I am sharing with you in the hopes that you share it with the young people in your lives.

http://www.defenselink.mil/heroes/

And an example of what the "card" looks like

I think the word "Hero" is overused, period.

Every profession has its share of heroes, some much more than others.
But I can't imagine a 100% of people in a particular profession being heroes.
Then how does one distinguish between someone who has done a heroic act,
won medals, etc., etc. from someone who is just doing his job?

Do we need a new label like Uber Heroes or the Masters of Heroism or what?

Perhaps a selfless disregard for ones own safety while attempting to help someone?

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Originally Posted by Pal334

Perhaps a selfless disregard for ones own safety while attempting to help someone?

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That's heroic for sure.
But does EVERYONE do that?
How do you distinguish between doing what you signed up to do and going above and beyond the call of duty?

I've been pondering that one for a while.

I would suggest you take sometime and review that site. Read about the people and their actions. Read interviews of them. Read the criteria for their awards. It will show what they did that their puts them in the Hero category. A status that even their peers agree with. And I am not saying the military are the only ones that deserve this "label" , there are any number of people that have really earned this type of recognition.
It will also show you that it is utterly silly to use the term hero to describe a sports figure for example.

That site certainly does not list every member of the military, nor should it. Not sure what you were getting at Benese.

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Originally Posted by crashdive123

That site certainly does not list every member of the military, nor should it. Not sure what you were getting at Benese.

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I was merely commenting on the first sentence of Pal's post: The misuse of the word Hero. And then I took it a step further, because I too am bothered by the misuse. (Perhaps I misunderstood the point?)

While there are true Heroes that defend this Nation and the site Pal posted certainly portrays Heroes in the truest sense of the definition, more often than not, the media uses the word Hero to describe ANYone serving in the military.

Now I think that all who serve are brave, just for signing up. It takes guts to put yourself at that kind of risk. (I certainly couldn't do it)

HOWEVER, they are not heroes. Yet.
It takes extraordinary action above and beyond the call of duty to earn that honor. That's ALL I was saying.

I appreciate and respect everyone that serves. My heart and prayers will go out with them and their families as long as they face danger.
They might have known they were brave going in but perhaps couldn't have imagined at the time they had it in themselves to become Heroes.

Gotcha. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by BENESSE

I was merely commenting on the first sentence of Pal's post: The misuse of the word Hero. And then I took it a step further, because I too am bothered by the misuse. (Perhaps I misunderstood the point?)

While there are true Heroes that defend this Nation and the site Pal posted certainly portrays Heroes in the truest sense of the definition, more often than not, the media uses the word Hero to describe ANYone serving in the military.

Now I think that all who serve are brave, just for signing up. It takes guts to put yourself at that kind of risk. (I certainly couldn't do it)

HOWEVER, they are not heroes. Yet.
It takes extraordinary action above and beyond the call of duty to earn that honor. That's ALL I was saying.

I appreciate and respect everyone that serves. My heart and prayers will go out with them and their families as long as they face danger.
They might have known they were brave going in but perhaps couldn't have imagined at the time they had it in themselves to become Heroes.

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If I could just input here. Anyone who puts themselves at the risk to save OUR lives and OUR country is a hero. So what if they didn't save the dying guy next to them or jump in front a bullet, they are putting there own lives and their families lives on the line to save our butts...wether they have done anything YET or not, that is a heroic enough in my book.

Now, I also agree that the use of the word Hero is misused and over used. But people need to really realize what a hero is.

Yes, the word hero is certainly overused. And, IMO, the definition of what a true hero is has changed in recent years as well.

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Originally Posted by rwc1969

Yes, the word hero is certainly overused. And, IMO, the definition of what a true hero is has changed in recent years as well.

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You are right there, the meaning of almost everything has changed in recent years.

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Originally Posted by rebel_chick

You are right there, the meaning of almost everything has changed in recent years.

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Yeah, now all the kids that play sports are winners (no loosing teams) they all get trophies and are told how special they are.
Everyone's a hero just for getting out of bed, and doing their frigging job.

What happened to the school of hard knocks?
What happened to starting at the bottom and working your way up?
What happened to proving yourself?
What happened to EARNING your stripes?

And I'm not even that old to appreciate this.
What happened here?!

What bothers me more than people labeling others as a hero are people who claim to be a hero.

First of all....who gets to make the distinction of who is or who isn't a hero? Who gets to be the judge of that?

There are many "heroic" people. Is a guy who runs into a burning building more heroic than a Soldier who jumps on a grenade and dies? Is a doctor a hero for saving lives day in and day out? What about the single mom who works two jobs and still finds time to spend with her kids and teach them morals and intergrity, is she a hero? If they are not hero's, than what are they?

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Originally Posted by doug1980

What bothers me more than people labeling others as a hero are people who claim to be a hero.

First of all....who gets to make the distinction of who is or who isn't a hero? Who gets to be the judge of that?

There are many "heroic" people. Is a guy who runs into a burning building more heroic than a Soldier who jumps on a grenade and dies? Is a doctor a hero for saving lives day in and day out? What about the single mom who works two jobs and still finds time to spend with her kids and teach them morals and intergrity, is she a hero? If they are not hero's, than what are they?

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I agree with you on this one. Heroes in my book are someone to look up to. A person who puts themselves in harms way to protect others, or as you mention a doctor, and of course the single parent who can manage to bring her children up correctly are all heroes.

Gallantry however, now that, for me is the preserve of those who do commit an entirely selfless act above and beyond what is generally expected of them, and often die in the process. It doesn't matter under what circumstances, or who.

This is interesting. I would generally reserve the term Hero for folks like Winnie described in her definition of gallantry:
"Gallantry however, now that, for me is the preserve of those who do commit an entirely selfless act above and beyond what is generally expected of them, and often die in the process. It doesn't matter under what circumstances, or who."

The mom who as Doug describes, struggles and brings her kids through trying times as good citizens , I personally would describe as being an extrodinary person, someone that persevered. She is definitely worthy of admiration and congratulations.

I think the good thing is the word hero can mean so many different things to different people. It seem that a prevailing theme in all our definitions, is some one who acts in an unselfish manner to help someone else.

I think the point that I was trying to make when I started this post is that we need to share our (even if it is different) definition of hero with our children. They need to be taught and reminded that we live as a community and should strive to help each other.

Stumbling down from my soap box now

Not stumbling at all. Well said.

From what little I have seen a so called hero seems to be a person in the wrong place at the right time. Just happen to be in the wrong place and forced to do something to either save yourself or take somebody with you. I know a couple of pilots & door gunners during the Nam era that were real heroes and no recognition, now not so healthy from flying in agent orange to pick up wounded, living & dead. Yet I know a man in the wrong place at the right time during WWII, Silver Star, Purple Heart and a few others that happened to be caught behind German lines with 18 others and he and a few made it back to American lines. He is and always will be in my opinion a rotten SOB and a coward(saw him hit a man in the back of the head with a 2X4 and ran), even got a bridge named after him by a state. My personal observation only is there are very few heroes and most are never recognized, and they didn't want it. I expect a lot of disagreement with what I just said but this is only my personal opinion and observation that doesn't mean squat, but it's mine.

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Originally Posted by Ole WV Coot

From what little I have seen a so called hero seems to be a person in the wrong place at the right time. Just happen to be in the wrong place and forced to do something to either save yourself or take somebody with you. I know a couple of pilots & door gunners during the Nam era that were real heroes and no recognition, now not so healthy from flying in agent orange to pick up wounded, living & dead. Yet I know a man in the wrong place at the right time during WWII, Silver Star, Purple Heart and a few others that happened to be caught behind German lines with 18 others and he and a few made it back to American lines. He is and always will be in my opinion a rotten SOB and a coward(saw him hit a man in the back of the head with a 2X4 and ran), even got a bridge named after him by a state. My personal observation only is there are very few heroes and most are never recognized, and they didn't want it. I expect a lot of disagreement with what I just said but this is only my personal opinion and observation that doesn't mean squat, but it's mine.

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You said it Coot, better than I ever could!

I remember a time when we didn't have these debates about who real heroes were, they just stood out and we knew.

Now it's become fuzzy because doing one's job, (whatever that may be) is apparently rare enough that it deserves a Hero recognition.

Call me jaded, call me insensitive, but...
A doctor is SUPPOSED to save lives that's part of practicing medicine. Those that screw up are sued for malpractice.
A mother (any parent) is SUPPOSED to take care of her children and sacrifice for them if necessary. Who else should do it instead?

And Pal, you are absolutely right about teaching our children to appreciate and recognize all acts of extraordinary endeavor no matter what label is put on it.

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Originally Posted by Pal334

I think the point that I was trying to make when I started this post is that we need to share our (even if it is different) definition of hero with our children. They need to be taught and reminded that we live as a community and should strive to help each other.

Stumbling down from my soap box now

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Pal, I didn't mean to take away from the sentiment your terrific post.
May not sound like it but I do agree.

Benesse: Not at all. Every one gets to express their opinions. None are wrong.

And it is a shame. Because it used to be apparent who and who wasn't a hero. Now days with instant media, and a different mind set (me, me society), some very good people are not getting recognized, and I think our kids are penalized by that.

Differing opinions are always welcome