My First Military Institute At Fort Sam Houston

A hero's place in society has remained relatively consistent since the very beginning of time. Throughout the years, people have seen many different versions of larger-than-life heroes, who have completed seemingly impossible tasks and persevered through immense adversity. The common denominator between all of these heroes has always been that each and every one of these beings has put his/her own life in danger and fought great battles in the pursuit of a better life for mankind as a whole.

A hero in general is someone who stands foe strength, endurance, humbleness and shows great bravery. In our modern day society, we have many heroes, such as, firefighter, police officers, lifeguards, soldiers, doctors and even ordinary man and women whom risk their lives everyday. For example, soldiers fight wars on the borders of our country to keep civilians safe. Firefighter control deadly situations in spite of putting themselves in danger to save someone’s life. Ordinary men and women fight incurable diseases like cancer, AIDS, mental and physical disabilities and still have the strength to face life with a positive approach.

What defines a hero? Is it how they appear, what they do, or is it in their nature? All throughout history, stories about handsome, strong men accomplishing herculean tasks have retained popularity. The hero saves a maiden, rushes into a burning building, or kills a terrifying monster. Beowulf is a common example, but modern heroes, soldiers, for example, should also be considered. Although Beowulf is fictional and soldiers are real, they both demonstrate bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice.

“It’s not true that there are no heroes anymore…” (Oliver Stone SB 63) Heroes. Today when we hear heroes we think of superheroes with powers. but have we really thought what heroes really are? Heroes are your regular everyday people that work to the best of their abilities to make a difference in the world. A hero is not someone who thinks about themselves but someone who does things that they believe are right and are admired or idealized for their courage.

What comes to mind when you think of the word “hero”? Some people would think of a fictional character such as Superman, a comic-book character who has great strength, and can fly. Others might think of a historical figure, such as Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States. While the aforementioned examples are not only noteworthy, but also well-liked for their courageous characteristics, there are many other qualities to being a hero.

When labeling a hero, society seeks out certain traits or variables they find important to fulfill this job. “We look not only to public figures, but we look more broadly across culture, for the kind of values that we think are important during a time of crisis” (Cannon). The modern day hero has evolved based on the needs of the people of the time. For example, in the year 1200, war was fought by man-to-man combat resulting in great warriors to be viewed as heroes. However, in today’s society, the requirement of a hero has changed. We depict them based on the lives they have saved and how they have accomplished that deed. Many times, martyrs are considered heroes because they have died for the people they have protected, but not all heroes come face to face with war. They may be off site hidden from the battle grounds, while still fighting for our lives. Two outstanding heroes in history are Beowulf, King of the Danes, and Achilles, an important warrior in the Trojan

The word hero stimulates distinct ideas within each individual’s mind; some people may imagine a strong, muscular, super-powered, and confident human being. This type of thought process is what some people would believe is the ideal way to describe a hero, while other individuals may believe that a brave, honest, selfless, and courageous individual, that sacrifices him or herself for a good cause, to be the best way to portray a hero. In the article, “The Thematic Paradigm”, Robert B. Ray categorizes the official hero and unofficial hero. The introduction of the official and unofficial heroes allowed other types of heroes to be discussed such as the anti-hero and the reluctant hero. However, whether or not these heroes remain prevalent in

Heroes are those who have gone above what the average person would do to ensure the welfare of others. Natural disasters, terrorism, poverty, and war are some of the many things that destroy and end people’s lives. Throughout history, many people have made a difference. However, as history progresses, what we consider to be socially normal changes along with our definition of a hero. In Ancient Greece, Theseus, Hercules, and Perseus were considered heroes, but today only Theseus and Perseus would be considered heroes because Hercules would be shunned by society.

Heros come in all shapes and sizes, some use powers or brute strength to save lives while others use their intelligence. Stories have been written and movies made about amazing super heros saving lives from evil villains, but there have also been stories written about the everday heros, like the soldiers who fight to keep a country safe from the enemy. While these soldiers might not have superpowers to fight the opposing side they still go in fighting knowing that they may die, but they do so anyway for the ones they love. Some heros fight for the same reasons, like Beowulf and Superman.

Critics may argue that there are no heroes in the world today because they do not fight in actual battles against an enemy to defend a certain area or group of people. However, there are many ordinary people that do extraordinary things every day. Current heroes save and help people in numerous ways with their “undaunted courage” (line 572), like that of Beowulf. Military personnel help defend their country in a way similar to that of a warrior. They put their lives in danger to protect the rights and safety of those from their country. Firefighters and police officers also risk their lives for the safety of others. Doctors, nurses, and paramedics respond to those in need of medical care and save many lives. Obviously these people are heroes according to today’s terms because of their selfless acts, but there are even smaller things that people can strive to do to be a hero to someone. Donating money, helping others, or even just being there for someone who’s going through a rough

Throughout history, heroes have exhibited a common theme: save the lives of as many people as possible. Achilles, Napoleon, and Alexander the Great were idolized as the ideal figures of historical times, and common traits of a dignified social position and a militaristic past could be found in most “heroic” figures. Even through the 20th century, standout icons included Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, both World War II heroes in elevated government positions. Nonetheless, the new century would prove to bring change to the definition of a hero; the September 11th attacks ushered in a tidal wave of social change. On the horrific day in American history, ordinary people rose to the occasion and risked their lives for the survival of countless others. From this act of terrorism, the definition of a “hero” was redefined; no longer does a hero have to be a war hero or save the lives of the entire nation, but a selfless act of bravery for others can be truly heroic.

When you hear a conversation of heroes, what comes to mind? Do you think of fictional characters such as Batman or Superman? Those who have superhuman abilities and profoundly advanced technology to assist in their war on crime in their respective cities? When I hear the term hero, I think of courage, bravery, strength, and sacrifice. The men and women of the armed forces, police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) also come to mind. Whether it is a service member defending the front lines, or a first responder answering the call of someone in need, neither knows what awaits them, or if they will ever return home. These valiant souls who exhibit courage, bravery, strength, and sacrifice in their everyday lives are silent heroes.

Heroes are prevalent in everyone’s life. Whether someone’s hero is a living person or a fabled character from a movie, everybody has come into contact with some sort of hero. In fact, the concept of heroes has existed for hundreds of years, dating all the way back to Ancient Greece. Over time, heroes have drastically changed. As society has evolved, our heroes have evolved with it. Their goals and motivations have changed to coincide with the views of modern society. Modern day heroes have less selfish motives, better qualities, and are portrayed differently than ancient heroes.

There are many heroes, but there are those who sit back and question what or who makes a hero in today’s society. It has never been a set standard for heroes. In this modern world, there are many types of heroes. In today’s media, there is a contrast between million dollar sports figures, glorified celebrities, and the normal people we call heroes. Some heroes receive no recognition and others receive hero status with ease. However, it has yet to be determined whether our meaning of heroes has changed due to this influence. We have known about the

The idea of a hero is very prominent in today’s society. At the start of a person’s life, a hero is a grown man wearing tights who flies around saving helpless citizens from evil scientists. As we age, however, the definition of what a true hero is will change. A police officer charging headfirst into a hostage situation is undoubtable a hero, but a father who works eighty hours a week, so his children can have a brighter future, and still makes time to be there for all of their important moments is just as heroic. After my superhero phase, I had a fairly common hero for young boys, the men and women of the United States military. With over one million men and women serving in the United States armed forces, this may be the largest group of heroes in the world. These men and women devote their lives to maintaining the freedoms that we enjoy each and every day. While many serve, and then return to their families, far too many never make the journey home. Standing for bravery and strength, the men and women of the United States armed forces were, and still are, my heroes. With the dream of carrying on the great tradition of service to my country, I planned to join the army after college. I longed to be the person that people looked up to and appreciated for keeping them safe. The plan was to become a commissioned officer leading a team of infantrymen with bravery and determination. Reality, however, reared its ugly head in the form of a pair of thick glasses. My dream was